Art at Work: Education

Art at Work: Education

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Art at Work: Education
October 7, 2020

Welcome Meredith Arcari, one of our new teaching artists who will be leading a weekly virtual program for our CHAMPS after-school enrichment program! Growing up in Hartford helped spark her love of exploring different regions and has shaped everything she does. A painter, photographer, gardener, and educator, Meredith also loves viewing exhibitions, exhibiting her own work, traveling for inspiration, immersing herself in nature, creating lessons for her students, and running her own business. She has worked at Hartford Performs, Green Street Art Center, Charter Oak Cultural Center, and the West Hartford Art League, and holds a Connecticut Teacher's Art Certification and a Master Gardener Certification.

We can't wait to see what Meredith and our CHAMPS kids create!

Art at Work: Education

Art at Work: Education
March 11, 2020

Meet Brianna, a first-year student at Northwestern Connecticut Community College and an AMP intern! She is currently working with our CHAMPS after-school program to help kids find a love for art. She was an avid volleyball player for seven years and is now going to school to become a school psychologist. She loves working with kids

Art at Work: Education

Art at Work: Education
February 25, 2020

Students from the House of Arts Letters & Science (HALS) Academy in New Britain visited AMP last week to finish glazing tiles that honor the work of Stanley Black & Decker and its contributions to the New Britain community. The finished product will be a tile mural that will become part of the permanent installation at AMP; a two-dimensional version of the mural will be displayed at the school.

Art At Work: Education

Art At Work: Education
February 10, 2020

We are excited to welcome another new teaching artist to AMP! Shana Bazelmans has worked as a guest teaching artist in our collaborative CHAMPS after-school enrichment program and will be the lead instructor for "Engaged Creativity—a collaboration with the homeschool community—that she is co-creating alongside Michelle Begley, AMP's education programs director. 

Shana is a visual arts educator with 11 years of experience in the art classroom. She has taught in several different capacities from the public arena to the private sector, with students K–12 and with adults. She has written art curriculum for schools and has designed a sensory-based art curriculum for special education students. She attended The Fashion Institute of Technology and New College of California, and graduated from Ramapo College with a BA in Visual Arts and Art History. Shana believes the key to being a good educator is to always be actively learning. She continues to learn new art forms and hone her skills through classes and is currently enrolled in graduate school. "I want to help build creatively confident learners. Fostering and facilitating the collaborative, creative process is one of the things I was put here to do. In my mind, it's the little piece that I'm adding into a much bigger framework."

Art at Work: Education

Art at Work: Education
December 19, 2019

Our ceramic tile project at the HALS Academy in New Britain kicked off this week, with 57 sixth-graders working on the start of a tile mural highlighting their community and the work contributions of Stanley Black & Decker, which is headquartered in New Britain. The tile mural will become part of the permanent installation at AMP, with a two-dimensional print of the finished project remaining at HALS. These tiles are going to be incredible!

Art at Work: Education

Art at Work: Education
November 7, 2019

AMP is partnering with the House of Arts Letters & Science (HALS) Academy in New Britain to create a mural highlighting their community and the work contributions of Stanley Black & Decker, which is headquartered in New Britain. Made possible through partial funding from the Community Foundation of New Britain, the project will include a student visit to Stanley to see work underway and a chance to talk with employees, as well as the opportunity for the students to create a mural of their work from ceramic tiles, and visit to AMP in Winsted. Watch for photos and videos of this exciting program!

Art at Work: Education

Art at Work: Education
October 23, 2019

Another AMPmazing intern joins our crew! Clara Koch is a senior at Northwestern Regional School District No. 7 in Winsted. She's assisting with the CHAMPS after-school program at AMP, helping kids enjoy, learn about, and appreciate the joy of art and work. Clara is an artist who loves painting, drawing, and kids—and hopes to be a professional artist in the future!

Art at Work: Education

Art at Work: Education
September 11, 2019

We are excited to welcome Julie to our amazing group of teaching artists! She will be working with students in our CHAMPS after-school program.

"Sewing and art enrichment for elementary and middle school children has been a passion of mine in the Winchester Public Schools since 2005. Creating art in public spaces—both interior and exterior—is my educational background in interior and textile design. I am looking forward to having this year's CHAMPS students create a group project that can be displayed in a public space, either at AMP, their school, or another public building. Give us an empty blank space that cries out for pattern and color, and we will transform it into a joyful visual expression!"

Welcome, Julie!