I am a yo-yo up and down between art work and job jobs this is all I can remember in chronological order starting from the most recent going way way back also including my volunteering and some random experiences everything I do feeds into my art

ART EXPERIENCE

Instructor, Traditional Ways: beginning handwork for kids – finger knitting, accordion book, wet felting

Volunteer, Barebones Puppets: puppet making for Halloween show, 2024

Volunteer, Heart of the Beast Puppet and Mask Theater: May Day puppet maker, solstice lantern maker, 2012 and 2024

Volunteer, Art Buddies: art pen pal with a Minneapolis Public School student, 2024

Consultant, Hoot Your Words, 2017 – 2022

• Teach self-publishing classes through The Loft and libraries
• Support authors through self-publishing project completion

Performance: Puppet Cabaret!

In the Heart of the Beast Puppet and Mask Theater (HOBT): puppeteer for Peter Foster’s Baba Yaga, 2018

Book Talks: Many Ways to See the Sun

2021

Many Ways to See the Sun, Humanists Meet Up Group Family Program, Minneapolis, MN

2019

Many Ways to See the Sun, Rosemount Writer Festival, Rosemount, MN

2018

Many Ways to See the Sun, Mompreneurs Speak, Minneapolis, MN

2017

Many Ways to See the Sun, Cracked Walnut Lit Fest, Bloomington, MN

Using Nature, Meditation, and Story for Positive Behavior Strategies, Teacher Profession Development, Armatage Montessori Elementary School, Minneapolis, MN

Many Ways to See the Sun QCTV – Quad Cities Community TV, Beyond the Book, episode 3, Anoka, MN

Igniting and Reinvigorating Your Imagination, Fort Myers Beach, FL

2016

Anoka County Library Local Author Fair, Anoka, MN

Sisiterhood Camp, St. Croix Falls Middle School, Many Ways to See the Sun writing activity, St. Croix Falls, WI

Igniting and Reinvigorating Your Imagination, Naples, FL and Black Mountain, NC

Many Ways to See the Sun reading, The Farm, Summertown, TN

Many Ways to See the Sun radio/podcastinterview with The Farm Radio WUTZ 88.3, and Radio Free Nashville WEN-LP Pasquo 103.7 and 107.1

Author Fest, Beagle and Wolf Books, Park Rapids, MN

Many Ways to See the Sun reading, Ellsworth Public Library, WI

2015

Many Ways to See the Sun book launch, Hiawatha Park, Minneapolis, MN

Publication: Many Ways to See the Sun, Nature Meditations for Children and the Adults Who Love Them, 2015

Grant Funding: Kickstarter: Many Ways to See the Sun, 2015

Founder and Teacher, Southside Family School Morning Program, Minneapolis, MN, 2013 – 2015

• Managed program including: contracts, banking, insurance, accounting, promotion, hiring
• Co-created and co-taught arts, science, nature, and fitness curriculum

Performance: With Joy! Toy Puppet Theater Show, HOBT, Minneapolis, MN, 2014

Performance: Bloomingtown at the HOBT MayDay Parade and Festival, food justice team, Minneapolis, MN, 2012

Founder and Manager, Hummingbird’s Garden Kids Club, Minneapolis, MN, 2011-2015                                                                            

• Managed program: contracts, banking, insurance, accounting, policy creation, marketing, and hiring
• Managed teachers, especially in curriculum development and daily problem solving

Founder and Teacher, Summer Art Camp, Lamar, Centuria, WI

2006, 2007, 2010, 2017

• Created curriculum and taught art, theater, and nature program

Performance: Director, Lamar Theater Camp Performance, St. Croix Falls, WI, 2006

Commissions: Letterpress birth and change of address announcements, business cards, Christmas cards, coasters, 2006-2008

Instructor, Polk County Community Education, Frederick, WI

2006 – 2008

• Planned and taught art programming for students after school

Instructor, Music Together, St. Croix Falls, WI, 2006-2007

• Lead weekly toddler music class using Music Together curriculum

Library and Fine Arts Teacher, Chicago Public Schools, Plamondon Elementary, Chicago, IL , 2001-2004          

• Planned, taught, and evaluated fine arts and library curriculum to students in grades Kindergarten through 8th grade using self-designed curriculum based on the state standards
• Managed the library including purchasing, organizing, promoting and distributing books
• Coordinated yearly, school wide fall art exhibitions

Grant Funding: Oppenheimer Family Foundation, Teacher Incentive Grant: Plamondon Elementary School Student Newspaper and Student Book Club, 2002 and 2003

Assistant to the Director , Northwestern University Block Museum of Art, Evanston, IL,  1999 – 2001                                                    

• Maintained relations between the director and museum staff, university constituents, the museum’s board, donors, and local, national and international exhibition collaborators
• Performed administrative support for Director’s projects such as strategic planning, fundraising, educational programming, exhibitions and web site projects
• Researched, reported and assisted in obtaining grant funding for operations, exhibitions and special projects
• Supervised and trained work study students

Lead Teacher, PEACH Club, Chicago, IL, 1998 – 1999                     

• Lead after-school arts program at a magnet school in Chicago helping children progress in their reading and writing skills through a planned curriculum of art projects
• Created a profile for each child through artistic and written assessment

Special Project Coordinator, Northwestern Settlement House, Vittum Theater, Chicago, IL, 1998-1999                 

• Organized and managed special events including planning, supervising volunteers, overseeing day’s events, and follow-up tracking
• Assisted staff with theater productions including ticketing, ushering and set changes
• Designed marketing materials for children’s performance series

Added to Chicago Public Library Artists Archive: https://www.chipublib.org/fa-chicago-artists-archive/

Artist/Teacher, Northwestern Settlement House, Integrated Arts, Integrating Education AmeriCorps Program, Chicago, IL, 1998

• Created lesson plans and team-taught to integrated art into current class curriculum in Chicago public elementary and high schools
• Collaborated and taught with local art organization in after school art and theater programs
• Planned and participated in community events

Performance: Hunky Dunky, Otis Elementary Public School, Chicago, IL, 1998

Volunteer, Jennifer Kunin – Artist: papermaking intern, 1997

Studio Assistant, Stoneware Specialties, St. Paul, MN, 1996 – 1997

• Pack, ship, and inventory pottery mugs, bowls, pitchers, and plates
• Photography and graphic design for brochure
• Assist with waxing, glazing, air brush, and handle forming

Volunteer, Minnesota Museum of Art: fundraising and events, 1995

Cafeteria and Bar Worker, Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, London, England, 1993

ART EDUCATION

2025 University of St. Catherine, courses towards a BA in Art

2010-2019, 2023 WI Traditional Ways Gathering: Skills gathering on south shore of Lake Superior (knitting, weaving, basket making, crochet, hide tanning, pit fired pottery, beading, sewing, felting, dolls, soap making, candle making, aromatherapy, homeopathy, herbalism, foraging, astrology, astronomy, ayerveda, African dance)

2022-2023 Foci (Minneapolis, MN): Glass Blowing and Flamework

2012-2025 Minneapolis Community Education: pottery – wheel, yoga, watercolor, American Indian art history, ballroom dancing, capsule wardrobe, pottery – hand building, modern dance

2015 Driftless Folk School, Decorah, IA: song leading

2014 Minnesota School of Botanical Art: drawing

2014 In the Heart of the Beast Puppet and Mask Theater, Minneapolis, MN: With Joy! puppet workshop

2012 University of St. Thomas, St. Paul, MN: Art History, Theory and Methodology

2006 Music Together Teacher Training, Stillwater, MN

1996-1997 Minneapolis College of Art and Design: foundational drawing, painting, and sculpture

1990-1993 University of Minnesota, Twin Cities: Bachelor of Arts in English, Minor in Studio Art

ADDITIONAL EXPERIENCE

Staff Accountant – Accounts Payable, St. Catherine University, St. Paul, MN, 2024 – Present

• Process vendor invoices, staff reimbursements, student refund, and grant payments: obtain approvals, entering in database, review, process payment via ACH, check, and virtual credit card, tracking payment data, and archiving invoices
• Audit and 1099 support

Accounts Payable Specialist, Minneapolis Public Schools, Minneapolis, MN, 2023 – 2024

• Oversaw automated payment process: routing, errors, review, and approval of invoices, employee mileage, and employee expense for payment
• Researched and responded to vendor and employee inquiries regarding payment
• Developed written and video procedure on accounts payable processes for staff training
• Year end such as budget close out and audit

Accounts Payable Specialist, Curio Brands, Minneapolis, MN, 2019 – 2023

• Process vendor invoices: obtain approvals, match packing slips, voucher and pay
• Research discrepancies and communication with vendors
• Month end tasks such as employee expenses, and paying insurance and rent invoices
• Process and track purchasing card expense including sales tax
• Prepare and issue 1099s to required vendors
• Provide documentation for internal audit

Accounts Payable Specialist, Bellacor, Minneapolis, MN, 2018 – 2019

• Responded to vendor inquiries, and reconcile vendor statements with database research, pulling reports, and communicating with key internal partners
• Reviewed and approve vendor invoices, submit vendor credits

Reserve Teacher and Associate Educator, Minneapolis Public Schools, Minneapolis, MN, 2015 – 2018

• Assist teachers in educational functions to maintain a safe and productive learning environment
• Work with students individually and in small groups to reinforce classroom learning and positive behavior
• Provide instruction during teacher absence

Research Analyst – Development, University of St. Thomas, Minneapolis, MN, 2008 – 2015

• Partnered with gift officers to monitor donor relationships
• Researched and compile profile reports for strategizing high-level donor relationships
• Analyzed internal and external data to surface potential donors
• Participated in team meetings to develop best practices for research partnering
• Board service: Service Learning Advisory Board and Staff Exempt Council

Lead Clerk, Starbucks Coffee, Minneapolis, MN, 1994 – 1996

Legal Receptionist, Stoneking and Goullette, Minneapolis, MN, 1994

High School and College Jobs, 1984 – 1993, jobs in descending order

Kay’s Kitchen

Regency Coffee

Underground Bar

All Seasons Cafe

Rainbow Foods

Sunplace Tanning

House of Wing

Dirk’s Family Restaurant

Dirk’s Diner (haha this was my first job pouring coffee age 8 at my dad’s restaurant in Divide, CO)

ADDITIONAL EDUCATION

Avivo Institute of Career & Technical Education: Accounting Support Certificate, 2018

American Federation of Teachers: ELL Trainer Certificate, 2016

Northwestern University: Master of Science in Education and Social Policy, 2004

Normandale Community College: Associate of Arts, 1990

 

ADDITIONAL VOLUNTEERING

(timeline in descending order)

Adopt an Inmate: pen pal with an inmate in Tampa

Feed My Starving Children, Eagan, MN: packing food to send around the world to children in need

Compassion International: send funds and letters to a child in Ethiopia

Meals on Wheels, Minneapolis, MN: food delivery

Prepare and Prosper, Minneapolis, MN: tax intake specialist

Twin Cities Cohousing Network, St. Paul, MN: board member, secretary, treasurer, workshop co-facilitator

Southside Family Charter School, Minneapolis, MN: parent volunteer

St. Joseph’s Home for Children, Minneapolis, MN: community gardener

Community Table Cooperative, Minneapolis, MN: committee member, speaker, communications lead, website design

Food Preservation Network, Minneapolis, MN: instructor

Transition Towns, Minneapolis, MN: steering committee, events, speaker

Lamar Community Center, Centuria, WI: board member, treasurer, publication and website design, secretary, summer camp coordinator

MN Literacy Council, Minneapolis, MN: English language tutor

Catholic Charities, St. Paul, MN: data entry

Nativity of Our Lord, St. Paul, MN: Sunday school