Mission

Fire in the Belly Artmaking sessions are for children through adults and are grounded in process-based art making, with an emphasis on self-expression, experimentation, and the exploration of different materials and mediums. Fire in the Belly workshops support personal growth and empowerment and the cultivation of artmaking as another language. Making art together with people strengthens community. It opens up new conversations and raises open-ended questions, inviting people to engage with one another, to collaborate, and to share ideas, all in the service of moving the world toward becoming a more just place.

Fire in the Belly Artmaking is committed to re-purposing and upcycling a range of different materials in the studio and for artmaking whenever possible to keep up with our commitment to sustainability.

Teaching Philosophy

I am the Mom of both a 4th and 9th grader. I am a working artist, educator and activist and have worked nationally and internationally for more than 20 years with a broad range of people from children to the elderly. I have taught in both academic and non-academic settings, including higher education and community-based organizations. My own socially engaged practice has deepened my ability and appreciation for creating spaces that feed the creative impulse in all of us. Making Art invites people to engage around similarities and differences, new perspectives, and to expand their understanding of one another.

Safety & Inclusion

Our priority is to give everyone a fun and safe experience. Of course, in this time of Covid-19, all workshops are outdoors. I am a working artist/educator and all workshops take place in my garage-studio and driveway. If the weather is too cold or wet, we will complete the sessions on Zoom, but only when absolutely necessary. Everyone stays masked throughout the entire workshop. We keep the maximum number of participants to 12 per workshop.

Fire in the Belly Artmaking Workshops are for those who enjoy making art. Rules for acceptance and participation in the workshops are the same for everyone regardless race, color, national origin, gender, age, sexual orientation or disability. It is understood that all participants will be treated as individuals with respect shown for reasonable differences in tastes, preferences, abilities, and range of behavior patterns. Fire in the Belly Artmaking reserves the right to dismiss a child from a workshop whose special needs we are not able to meet or whose conduct is not in the best interest of the group.

Expectations

• Everyone will have fun!

• Everyone will be coached with kindness; everyone is a creative genius in her or his own way.

• Safety is a priority with respect to the materials and tools we use, and I will provide detailed instruction accordingly.

• Children always have the opportunity to talk about their art and artmaking choices in the Open Studio Sharings we do at the end of each session!

• We will make creative messes and some really cool Art!

• Your children will get messy!