Artwork
What I Make
My studio practice significantly enhances my capacity to effectively demonstrate various techniques, provide informed guidance on material selection, meticulously plan intricate projects, and facilitate differentiated instruction tailored to diverse learner needs. This comprehensive engagement in studio work fosters a deeper understanding and mastery of these essential skills, which are critical for successful project execution and educational support.
What Studio Practice Brings to My Teaching
My ongoing engagement with studio practice provides me with a comprehensive understanding of various materials and artistic processes. This hands-on experience enables me to effectively instruct students in key areas such as experimentation, strategic planning, iterative revision, problem-solving techniques, presentation skills, and the sustained development of projects. Because I consistently apply these methodologies in my own creative work, I am well-equipped to guide students through the practical challenges they encounter. Whether they are involved in constructing, drawing, testing, documenting, or revising their work, I can offer informed insights based on firsthand experience regarding potential points of failure within a process, strategies for making necessary adjustments, and methods to maintain momentum in advancing an idea toward its completion. This practical foundation enriches my teaching by bridging theoretical concepts with real-world application, ultimately fostering a deeper understanding and more effective learning outcomes for students.
How the Following Artistic Works Inform My Teaching
The selected projects outlined below encompass a variety of forms such as installation, sculpture, performance, video, drawing, and constructed works. These pieces combine traditional art methods with contemporary media and practical material challenges, creating a bridge between classic techniques and modern artistic practices. Through these diverse approaches, they offer valuable insights that shape and enrich my teaching methodology.
HomeSweetHouse
This Master of Fine Arts thesis project investigates domestic architecture and building materials to examine how individuals create, organize, and interpret the concept of home. The project was displayed at the 2014 Interdisciplinary Arts MFA Thesis Exhibition at Columbia College Chicago. Its presentation was recorded through installation photographs and video stills. HomeSweetHouse continues to shape my teaching approach by encouraging me to link materials, space, and personal significance. In the classroom, this translates into assignments where students construct with intention, reflect on how form conveys meaning, and refine a structure until the craftsmanship aligns with the concept.
W.I.P. - Work in Progress
This series draws upon my experience in both construction and athletics, integrating frequent physical activities like building, lifting, climbing, falling, and marking. Through these repeated movements, the artwork establishes a connection between manual labor, endurance, motion, and the human body. The concept of Work in Progress significantly influences my teaching approach by emphasizing the importance of making the creative process visible. It reinforces the method I encourage students to follow: to reflect thoroughly before considering a piece finished. Additionally, this series serves as a valuable tool for illustrating how physical exertion, taking risks, perserverance, and continuous revision can all contribute meaningfully to the intended message.
