3Degreestudio

INSTRUCTOR DESCRIPTION

The artist residencies I am involved in are developed and presented around the concept of connecting art as a visual language to areas of the curriculum. In practice the goal is to use an artistic context to explore creative and diverse methods of problem solving I believe to be essential to a well-rounded assessment and understanding of  the world. {top}

Humanity has always used the arts in one form or another to express and explore its existence. Creative thinking, decision making, problem solving, learning ability, collaboration and self-management are just some of the attitudes required to create art, attitudes that transfer to many other disciplines in life. More importantly the open and questioning mind, necessary to create new ways of seeing the world, is a fundamental strength of the artistic approach and one that has lead to many great discoveries in science and math.{top}

Since 1999 I have worked with all grade levels. I usually begin by presenting students with many of the fundamentals of visual language. This is done so the students can begin to develop a broader visual vocabulary they can apply to problem solving and the exploration of new ideas. Most, but not all work is done around themes students are currently working on in other subject areas. While I work with them on one aspect of a theme the teacher can build upon the experience in other areas such as a story or a poem.  In some circumstances schools have involved a local scientist or mathematician in the school to cover different, yet linked aspects around the art residency theme. In other cases perhaps a dance teacher or theatre group may add a varied perspective to give students another degree of understanding.  Each theme is designed to flow into the next, with each diverse experience hopefully adding to a more holistic understanding, thus increasing student’s potential for analyzing and problem solving.{top}

Within each residency I do almost any type of art (excepting murals) with a strong focus on drawing skills so that students are actually able to express their ideas through the visual language. I always try and work with supplies a school may currently have in stock with perhaps only a few cost effective items needed.{top}

TEACHING EXPERIENCE

1993 – 09 School Residencies:

Fred J. Scott, Erin Woods, Harold W. Riley, Fish Creek, Deer Run,

West Dover, Richmond, Pineridge, West Dalhousie,

Master’s Academy, Red Deer Lake, William Reid, Acadia,

University Elementary, Bowness High, Bishop Carroll High,

Mountainview, Dalhousie, Ethel M. Johnson, Colonel Walker,

Douglasdale, Haultain Memorial, Bishop Pinkham, Banff Trail,

Beddington Heights, Rideau Park, Dr. E.P. Scarlet, Glenmeadows,

Harold Panabaker, Prince of Wales, Coventry Hills, Wildwood, Grant Mckewan, Penbrooke Meadows, and others in Calgary.

Westminster & Hillcrest Junior High, Archbishop MacDonald High in Edmonton.

Iron River School in Iron River.

Holy Trinity School in Okotoks

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Other Teaching Experience:

{2009}

Cochrane Art Society: Perspective Workshop

{2002}
Calgary Teacher Inservice: CLC 2 and CLC 4

Alberta Printmakers Society (Calgary): Monotype Print workshops

Canmore Artists Association: Printmaking Workshop

{2000 – 09}
Riverrock Studio:

Mixed Media Drawing workshops and Advanced Drawing workshops

{1991 – 01}
Red Deer College:

Series Summer Art School – Printmaking & Drawing Courses

{2000}
Calgary Separate School Board: Teacher In-service

{1995 – 98}

University of Calgary Sessional Instructor:
Printmaking, Drawing & Painting

Red Deer College Sessional Instructor: Drawing

{1997}

Drayton Valley Artist in Residence:
Art From The Heart Printmaking Workshop and Lecture

Red Deer: A.T.A. Conference

{1996 – 97}

St Albert Artists Association:Printmaking Workshop

{1996}

Canadian Bookbinders and Artists Guild (Calgary): Printmaking Workshop

Calgary Jewish Academy:Printmaking Workshop

{1995}
Alberta Society of Artists (Calgary):Printmaking Workshop

Blue Willow Studio (Calgary): Instructor, Printmaking Workshops

{1994}

Meeting Point Artists Association (Calgary): Printmaking Workshop

{1990 – 96}Red Deer College:
Summerscapes Art SchoolDrawing & Printmaking Instructor

{1986 – 87} Red Deer College Continuing Education:

Drawing & Painting Instructor

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EDUCATION

{1993}

MFA, University of Calgary (Printmaking) (Fine Art Nominee for Gold Medal Award)

{1993}

Royal College of Art, London England, Printmaking exchange program

{1991}

BFA, University of Calgary (with distinction & the dean’s list)

{1986}

Art Diploma, Red Deer College, (with distinction)

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AWARDS

{1992} Alberta Art Foundation Scholarship

{1990} George Milne Award for Printmaking

{1986} Princess Margaret Award for Fine Art

{1986} Governor General Michener Medal for Fine Art

{1985, 88, 89} Alberta Culture Arts-Study Grants

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Description Teaching Experience Education Awards