Creatively Going Home

Where are your roots located and how strong is the pull to go home? I love the below quote from one of my favorite authors and it's exactly how I feel about my upcoming return to The Art School at Old Church in New Jersey, as a workshop instructor this time around.

An accidental encounter during a walk in the woods close to my home is how I found the job as Executive Director back in 1999. I thought I was happily employed for a documentary film company in NYC at the time, but... when my neighbor told me the local art school was looking for someone I thought, "what the heck" and threw my hat in the ring.  The next six years would be my happiest at work, outside of my studio.

I had joined a community of passionate creatives with a small staff, an army of volunteers, an active board of directors, and a devoted artist/founder, the potter Mikhail Zakin. For a real treat, watch this video about Mikhail's journey and the beginnings of the Art School at Old Church!

A side benefit of the job was that I got to take studio art classes, and I really took advantage of that! During my six years I would take over 20 classes at the school, from studying handbuilding with Mikhail herself to painting, collage, jewelry making and more, I was endlessly fascinated and learned so much!

All of it has helped inform my current path and I know I would not be here, working as an artist, had it not been for those years. I will be forever grateful for that accidental encounter in the woods.

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Register NOW for classes at The Art School at Old Church :
The Zen of Embroidery - June 13-14, 10am-4pm
Creative Collage with Fabric - June 16-17, 10am-4pm
Full Summer catalog is here - and squeeee! look who made the cover :)