Category Archives: art education

Check out my classes at the Brookline Arts Center!

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Beginner ceramic classes for adults on Tuesdays!

I’m pleased to announce a list of classes I’ll be teaching at the Brookline Arts Center, just outside Boston proper (right off the Green Line). The fall term begins September 16th! To register, go to the Brookline Arts Center‘s website, or call, 617-566-5715.

  • Drawing & Painting, ages 4-6, Monday or Wednesday, 3:30-5:30pm

This class is designed to introduce students to the basic techniques of drawing and painting humans, objects, and animals with a slight animated twist. We’ll focus on value, color, shape, and the other elements of art. Students will learn to give realistic expression to their drawings of original characters and creatures. With their creations, students will draft and compose unique stories that highlight their imagination.

  • New & Improved Clayworks!, ages 10-12, Tuesday, 3:30-5:30pm

Under the tutelage of popular teen instructor, Steven Wilber, have fun learning methods and techniques of working with the potter’s wheel. Students will learn how to create their own mugs, bowls, other unique pieces, and glazing techniques. This class is for serious artists who like to laugh and are looking to explore their creativity.

  • Beginning Ceramics, Adults, Tuesday, 6:30-9:30pm

Curious in learning how to throw on the wheel? Interested in creating interesting and functional sculpture with clay? This is the perfect class for beginners or those looking to continue working on their skills in the ceramic studio. Class will cover wedging, centering, pulling, trimming, glazing, and basic studio etiquette. Dress for mess and suitable footwear. One 25 lb of clay is provided with additional clay available for purchase.

Upcoming fall term

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Really Sayin' Somethin'I’ve received a few emails from parents asking my plans for the fall term in regards to the New Art Center. Unfortunately, I am no longer with the NAC (read more here). I realize  the center is still hosting classes I formerly taught, some I created myself. I wish the upcoming instructors nothing, but the best! That’s not to say I’m done with teaching. I’ll be announcing a list of classes at the Brookline Arts Center in the near future. Thank you for all your continued support and I hope to see you in the fall. Meanwhile, enjoy the rest of summer!

Possibility for another year of Culture for Change collaborating!

Possibility for another year of Culture for Change collaborating!

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I’m pleased I’ve been asked to help plan the curriculum for another year of Culture for Change programming at Boston Asian: Youth Essential Service! The YES staff and I are  putting out as much good energy into the universe as … Continue reading →

More on my latest collaboration

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The pièce de résistance of “Force for Good” ready to be attached.

For the last several months I’ve been working with ten teen artists (and their friends) to create an installation that speaks out against racism in conjunction with the Culture for Change program of Boston. The group and I are finally ready to present our nearly 24′ piece to the public tomorrow evening. What follows is our artists statement. For more on the process, please check out the YES for Change Tumblr page.

A Force For Good (Against Racism)

papier-mâché (head), clear tape & saran wrap (spine), wooden frames (body), sequined fabric (skin), mirrors, and other medium.

Being given the opportunity to create some sort of artwork that educates the cause and effect of racism is both exciting and a little daunting. The subject of racism is very broad, as were our choices of art to use to translate our message. Following the process of an artist, starting with an idea, continuing with research, practicing with trial and error team building projects, and finally execution, we arrived at what stands before you.

During the course of the year we researched a variety of issues and events related to racism and in particular our community of Chinatown. We also sought out to learn more about the broad medium of installation art, knowing we did not want to necessarily produce standard 2D artwork. We learned about the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882, one of the most significant restrictions on free immigration in the US. Our investigation of racism and installation art brought us all over Boston and beyond. Our group visited the Chinatown Library where we viewed an Atlas timeline of Chinatown. It was a way for us to learn and find our roots and to see how it was like for our grandparents and great grandparents to deal with the obstacles presented to them in a new country. We visited the ICA to view installation art and hopefully inspire us. We learned about Ai Wei Wei and how he used installation art to oppose the Chinese communist government. Another famous installation artist, Yayoi Kasuma, taught us that much of installation art is conceptual, meaning that the artist’s ideas or concept are more important that the actual beauty of the piece.

Our team combined ideas collected from months worth of projects and field trips and drafted a final form for our installation. What we present to the community is a Chinese inspired dragon, its spine built of interlocking lit hands, surrounding a plastic figure and several mirrors. The mirrors reflect our audiences’ faces and positive phrases allowing viewers to become a part of the piece. The encircled separated plastic figure amid the sea of reflections is used to show the effects of racism, something, at one point, everyone has encountered, making us feel isolated or less than a whole. The dragon represents our main message, coming together we become an unstoppable force against racism. We are equally proud of our final piece and of all the work our team has done. This installation is our reward to show everyone what we’ve learned about art, racism, our culture, and each other.

Saying goodbye is hard to do

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Getting excited in the middle of a ceramic lesson!

Saying goodbye is never easy to do, not when you’ve shared such success with amazing students, both talented, lively, and eager to learn. But, unfortunately, weeks ago I notified the education department of the New Art Center that I would be leaving the NAC at the end of the current term. I’ve needed a change for a few months and I think focusing more on my art and social work is where my heart lies. I still plan on teaching a class or two open to the public in the future, but possibly closer to my home in Boston. I cannot thank enough the wonderful support youth, adults, and families have shown me as both an educator and teen program coordinator. I’m also grateful to the center for allowing me to teach so many fun art-related courses this past year. It’s been a blast!

Because you demanded it!

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252cfac0b12611e2b12b22000aaa04d7_7FLASHBACK: Nearly five years ago, a busy graduate student started as a lowly intern for the outreach program of the Education Department of the Worcester Art Museum. He quickly moved his way up to become a member of faculty working beside well established artists and published authors.

Fast forward to now, I’ve maintained my position, but took a break from teaching WAM classes as the commute from my home in Boston to Worcester grew increasingly daunting. Though I always promised I would return for a class or workshop because of (surprising) demand. I have a special spot in my heart for all of the young artists and parents I’ve come to know through each course I taught. I love my WAM family dearly and have remained in contact with all my friends at the museum. Their love, guidance, and support helped open such wonderful doors towards my career path as an educator.

Anyway —

Good friend, Brett M. Holtz, author and illustrator extraordinaire will be busy signing copies of his various books during Free Comic Book Day and was kind enough to ask if I would cover his morning Saturday class. Not known for doing anything small, I’m using the opportunity as a Character Creation workshop for young cartoonists, Grades 3-5. The class and I will spend between 15-20 minutes exploring some of the museum’s exhibits and use our discoveries to help influence our work as we create a life size 2D fictional character. We’ll also be talking about specific character fashion, motivation, design, history, and more. I know it will be a ton of fun for all involved! This is a one-time only class, May 4th and goes from 10am-noon. To register, call Elaine at, 508-799-4406. I hope to see you and your child there!

Let the debate — BEGIN!

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The Fall of the Roman Empire

The Fall of the Roman Empire

One of my favorite times of the year is when I begin to explore Impressionism and Expressionism. Often times students and I (with our imaginations) transform the art room into a time machine to travel back in time to learn of our past and how it influences us now. This week we’ll be stepping into a classical senate and dividing classes into two groups to discuss the importance of each era. Each group will conduct its own research and present evidence of artists’ work to support its cause. Two students take the floor at a time, each member of each group will have a chance to take the floor and prove his/her point, plus argue against the teammate of the opposing group.

The idea came to me late last night watching the 1964 film, The Fall of the Roman Empire. One never knows where inspiration will come from! This should prove a great introduction into Impressionism and Expressionism, with projects following dedicated to both that will likely take us right to summer.

End of Winter Term

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Greenware, bisqueware, and glazeware, collectively. 5th Grade.

The winter term has wrapped up in public school and slowly at the art center where I teach afternoons. This week has been a perfect week for me to reflect on students’ progress by reviewing past lessons and projects since mid-January. As a whole it seems everyone’s had fun and learned quite a bit. I’m pleased with the successes had then till now.

6th Grader working intently on his comic book.

I get ‘a little’ excited talking about art.