ARTIST’S STATEMENT
As a teacher and artist, I play with a toy box of materials and techniques. I love working with found objects. It satiates my curiosity and my love of repurposing and up cycling. While teaching art in a Middle School, I found the students shared my excitement and creativity. I became a sophisticated and professional dumpster diver. Used pizza boxes became a foundation for three-dimensional personal pizzas.
I rescued a mountain of corrugated cardboard and the students created three-foot high Cubistic musicians. Outgrown jeans became canvases for expressive personal paintings. For years, I worked with broken plates, tiles, glass, mirrors and mugs designing figurative mosaics with my students. There are several permanent installations at South Orange Middle School created by my students. I designed several figurative mosaic installations at Congregation Beth El in South Orange. Congregants donated all kinds of Judaica, broken Seder plates, dreidels and Menorahs so that it became a community venture.
After retiring from teaching, I knew I needed to continue the trajectory of using materials that were intriguing and easy to get a hold of, i.e.: free or cheap. So I turned to magazines, flyers, wrappers, old maps and newspapers to tickle my creativity. I love the mix of graphic print and endless color and texture.
I am challenged and intrigued by portraiture. Each work has an under painting to map out color and dimension. Then I get lost in an avalanche of papers, textures and colors. It soothes my spirit and I am lost in a world of layers. It is my intent to capture a moment in time with expression and feeling. I invite the viewer to get lost in both parts and the whole.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Art Teacher 1986-2015
South Orange Middle School, South Orange, NJ
Art teacher in 6-8 Middle School
Adjunct Teacher 2010
Seton Hall University, South Orange, NJ
Professor of Art Education
Art Teacher 1985
Mount Pleasant Elementary School, Livingston, NJ
Art teacher
Art Teacher 1973-1976
Washington-Jefferson Elementary School, Altoona, PA
Art teacher
EXHIBITIONS
Juried Art Show and Sale 2025
The Gaelen Gallery, West Orange, NJ
First Place in Sculpture
Juried Art Show and Sale 2024
The Gaelen Gallery, West Orange, NJ
First Place in Sculpture
Women by Women Artist’s Exhibit 2024
The Gaelen Gallery, West Orange, NJ
Invitational Mixed Media Entries
Gaelen Winning Artist’s Show 2023
The Gaelen Gallery, West Orange, NJ
Sculpture- Ceramic Portraits 12 works of art
Juried Art Show and Sale 2023
The Gaelen Gallery, West Orange, NJ
First Place in Sculpture
Juried Art Show and Sale 2022
The Gaelen Gallery, West Orange, NJ
Mixed Media
Art Show 2022
Arts Council of West Orange, West Orange, NJ
Mosaic exhibit
Juried Art Show and Sale 2021
The Gaelen Gallery, West Orange, NJ
Mosaic Face Platters
Art Show 2021
Arts Council of West Orange, West Orange, NJ
Objet Trouve’ - Mosaic Face Platters
Solo Artist Show 2020
Arts Council of Livingston, Livingston, NJ
Paper Paintings exhibit
Group Exhibition 2019
Temple Sharey Tefilo-Israel, South Orange, NJ
Paper Painting Portraits
Solo Artist Show 2019
Congregation B’nai Jeshurun, Livingston, NJ
Paper Paintings exhibit
Juried Art Show and Sale 2019
The Gaelen Gallery, West Orange, NJ
“Second Place-Best in Mixed Media” Paper Paintings
Portrait Show 2018
The Gaelen Gallery, West Orange, NJ.
Five artist exhibit
Mixed Media- Paper Paintings 2016
The Gaelen Gallery, West Orange, NJ
“First Place Best in Mixed Media” Two artist exhibit
Juried Art Show and Sale 2015
The Gaelen Gallery, Whippany, NJ
Winner of the Best in Mixed Media Award for “Three Faces.”
Sister Rose Thering Education Award 2014
South Orange/ Maplewood Interfaith Holocaust Remembrance Committee
The award celebrates individuals whose lives have exemplified
Sister Rose Thering’s commitment to education as a tool for
creating tolerance and preventing future genocides.
Guided students in creating art through ceramic sculpture,
drawing and painting to express their thoughts on the holocaust
and the danger of bigotry.
Reaching Out, Reaching In 2010 & 2015
Pierro Gallery, South Orange NJ 07079
Fine Arts Faculty Exhibit demonstrating the diverse and professional
talents of the art staff that are exhibiting artists in their own right.
Permanent Mosaic Installations 2007-2012
South Orange Middle School, South Orange NJ 07079
Guided 75 students in the design and construction of a series
of figurative panels composed of ceramic, metal, glass, and wood
depicting student life at SOMS.
Permanent Mosaic Installations 2005-Present
Congregation Beth El, South Orange, NJ 07079
Life size figures composed of ceramic, metal, glass, and wood.
EDUCATION
Kean University, Union, NJ 1997
Master’s in fine arts education
Pennsylvania State University, State College, PA 1973
B.A. Art Education