The university system provides an atmosphere within which individuals can investigate, experiment, and discover, while planning for a future. As an instructor, the students enrolled in my classes are made aware that I support their decision to further their education and they realize that I will treat them as intellectual individuals while they explore. It is my intention to regard students, even at the beginning level, as potential/developing artists and expect a high level of intellectual thought processes, focus, and growth on their part.

I facilitate communication among students as soon as the semester begins so that they learn from their peers in conjunction with a well-planned curriculum. One of my goals is to develop energy in the classroom. I believe student development is enhanced when there is a communal spirit, an interactive environment, and an encouraging climate. I find that students learn from their own investigations combined with their fellow classmates’ explorations concerning material manipulation and conceptual inquiries. Demos are given that pertain to class assignments and introduce literature, visuals, and other sources of information that pertain to the curriculum in order to increase their interest in contemporary and historical art and theory. I am proficient in a range of processes dealing with traditional and non-traditional sculpture making. In many cases, the technical and material knowledge needed to execute the art differs from student to student; therefore I incorporate demos into the classroom on a one to one basis to serve specific needs. My aim is to energize and nurture their education by introducing them to a wide range of informational sources. I also share my art, its content, the process through which it is derived and researched, and how these contribute to my development as a working artist.

I believe the critique process is the basis for evaluating student work. Students are to be concerned with how to exhibit and talk about their art. I look for a high level of participation, vocabulary development, idea building, visual and conceptual investigation, and professionalism when formalizing the work via exhibition. My goal is to teach the integration of material and content pertaining to visual language and conceptual thinking.

I gain a great deal from teaching and it keeps me in touch with the basic fundamentals for articulating and making art. I enjoy being reminded of the beauty behind learning. Educating allows me to keep in touch with the importance of having an open mind towards new information and multiple ways for responding to the art making process. I find that my teaching skills are enhanced when I am in a position to help students that have specific needs to accomplish their work. I look forward to evolving as an artist, educator, and facilitator.