Tactile Artist

Art Accessibility

Educational Design

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Artist STATEMENT

"Using art as my vehicle of engagement, I am working to harness simple gestural strokes in my work to trigger shared understandings, memories and feelings. My art is grounded in meaningful connections with people, places, pleasures, and play. Through the sensory experiences of sight, sound and touch, I utilize play as a platform for viewers to exploring what it means to connect with themselves, others and the greater world around them. I use my art to teach appreciation in alternative means experiencing and expressing life through the investigative, curios, and imaginative power of play. My art is more than object, it is an invitation."

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Marketing and Graphic Manager, Salem Art Association Winter 2021 - Present | Salem, OR

Events Coordinator & Assistant to the Executive Director, Salem Art Association Spring 2018 - 2021 | Salem, OR

Assistant Manager, Dragonfire Gallery Spring 2015 - Winter 2017 | Cannon Beach, OR

Created new website showcasing PNW and local artists, design process included distillation of key business elements for accessible presentation of the collection. Daily responsibilities include managing sales desk and floor, collector and customer relationships, vendor accounts, shipping and receiving, display curation, art handling and inventory. Collaborative event organization, work included advertising in local publications, scheduling artist demonstrations, and day-of coordination. Other management tasks include newsletter design, social media, collection handling and storage, organization of file system, improved efficiency of workspace, evaluation of artist submissions, and attracted new artists.

Wood Shop Attendant, Sullivan Fabrication Studio, The School of the Art Institute of Chicago Fall 2011- Fall 2014 Chicago, IL

Responsibilities included sales, material recommendations, returns, material exchange, organizing, handling complaints and resolving conflicts, answering incoming telephone calls, inventory of shop materials and supplies, and providing daily educational assistance to students, staff, faculty and alumni. Operation of Workforce Sales System, stocking materials, maintaining the cleanliness of the Resale location and helping the on site manager with daily tasks and equipment maintenance.

Interactive Exhibit Design, International Museum of Surgical Science May 2-30th 2014, Chicago IL

Part of the art show: Fractures and Dislocations, created kinetic interactive exhibit Muybridge in Motion & The Sight Unseen. An Interactive work utilizing sound and touch by inviting visitors to unpack the historic question, “When a race horse runs, do all four hooves leave the ground at once?” answered by Eadweard Muybridge’s pivotal 1878 photographic documentation The Horse in Motion. The design challenged visitors’ reliance on sight as the primary modality of perception that “seeing is believing” Worked with museum staff as part of an art curatorial team. Installation and de-installation. Served as a visitor guide during the art opening.

Fine Arts Instructor, Oregon State University Craft Center Summer 2013, Corvallis, OR

Designed syllabus and lesson plans for a 5-week introductory adult drawing course titled Shadow Play. Course combined traditional drawing tools and techniques while demonstrating fundamental approaches of drawing through light, perception, and negative space created by silhouetted forms. Students were encouraged “embrace the negative” by becoming immersed in creativity at the shadowy edges of their own imagination.

Special Program Organizer and Adaptive Designer, Blind Service Association Spring 2013, Chicago, IL

Reestablishment of a partnership between The Blind Service Association and The Art Institute of Chicago through designing an educational tactile adaption of Picasso's 1945 Series of 11 lithographic Bulls, which was being displayed at the museum. Conducted research and interviews for the design and creation of hand carved clay tiles and vacuformed models, both used as tactile interactive work for blind and visually impaired viewers. Taught two lessons and lead a group trip to AIC.

Assistant Project Manager South Side Community Art Center. Spring 2012, Chicago, IL

Assisted in project management and artistic collaborator at the South Side Community Art Center. Documentation & outreach leadership as well as project management for SAIC class partnership with SSCAC. Acquired supplemental project funding, and negotiating donations of materials. Organized, recruited & led two volunteer workdays bringing in collaboration from the SAIC Humanitarian Club. Documented progress throughout the project. Facilitated space redesign and restoration. Helped design two lesson plans for the local Elliot Donald Youth Center that culminated in an unveiling including youth art show & panel discussion. Mural design & installation crew leader. Ambassador to the community at opening event.

Lead Graphic Artist & Interactive Experience Designer, ViewPlus Technologies 2009 - 2011, Corvallis, OR

Headed unique design and production of hands-on interactive art for educational curriculum in math, health, and science for visually impaired and blind students in K-5th grade. Worked with a team of educators, artists and engineers to design curriculum around art as seen visually and art as felt texturally with direct audio feedback and interface design. In the production of interactive multimodal visual interfaces, created alternative sensory experience in education accessible to children with and without disabilities. Attended regular staff meetings, worked with marketing team, responsible for company presentations of ongoing art production, goals and benchmarks, hired, managed and trained additional staff.

Apprentice & Personal Assistant, Nautilus Fiber Arts 2005 - 2009, & Summer 2013 Corvallis, OR

Assisting in the ancient Traditional Japanese art of Katazome Dyeing involves application of a rice paste resist through hand carved stencils to various silk & cotton fabrics, then painted or dyed in a traditional indigo vat. Other tasks: filing & inventory, handling and disassembling, packaging, of antiques kimonos, studio upkeep, seasonal production of cards & other merchandising.

EDCUATION

Bachelor of Fine Arts, The School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago, IL 2011 -2014

Oregon State University Corvallis, OR. 2006-2009

National Association for Interpreters (NAI) Certified Interpretive Guide Active certification Jan. 2023 - Jan.2026

SKILLS

Event Coordination, Art Handling, Customer Service, Sales, Client Correspondence, Management, Public Relations, Public Speaking, Exhibit Design, Art installation/ Dismantling, Art History, Volunteer Coordinator, Community Engagement, Telephone Reception Experience, Filing, Record Updating, Organization, Display, Documentation, Public Programing, Asset Mapping, Grant Writing, Social Media, Photoshop, illustrator, Microsoft Office Suites, Google Docs, Cash Handling, Opening and Closing, Maintenance and Facility Cleanliness.

FINE ART EXPERIENCE

Ceramics, Painting, Drawing, Design, Illustration, Sculpture, Woodworking, Welding, Kinetic Art, Fiber Arts, Print Media, Photography, Tactile and Multi-Sensory, Fused Glass, Photography, Digital and New Media, Art History, Art Education, Assistive Art & Technology.

ADDITIONAL EXPERIENCES

Sept 2014- Dec. Tierra Vegetables. Customer service, sale, display design, started seasonal children art show, seasonal pricing, stocking, marketing, shipping, cash handling, organization, opening and closing.

2011-2013 Lead Marketing & Design Specialist for Central Midwest District UU Young Adult Steering Committee. Managed list of over 200 past conference attendants with multiple personal follow up to ensure future retention and ties to our events. Planned two conferences, created logo, wrote advertisement copies, distributed flyers, created, maintained social networking & website.

Summer 2012 Show Hanging at The Main Street Artist Collective Summer, Quincy CA.