CV 2024
Artist Bio
I have a portfolio of large-scale public sculptures and installations currently on display at sculpture parks in the Midwest, and my smaller sculptures are on display at major science museum maker spaces around the nation. I have a background working with science museums as an education and exhibit project manager, most recently with the Carnegie Museum of Natural History about the Anthropocene and Climate Change. I have participated in several Artist Residencies around the US, and have received grants from the Minnesota State Arts board, Northern Lights, Public Art Saint Paul, Institute on the Environment, and the Knight Foundation.
Professional Experience
Anthropocene Project Manager, Science Communicator, Anthropocene Studies, Carnegie Museum of Natural History, Pittsburgh, PA
2020-2022 (2.5 years)
Project Management skills in team and role development, cross-departmental communication, meeting management, document organization, curatorial vision advancement, project planning, budget management, reporting and presentation, managing contracts, invoices, check requests, event planning, activity development, evaluation planning, intern management.
Project Managed and worked with Associate Curator Nicole Heller to develop Anthropocene vision and focused themes for the exhibit We Are Nature: A New Natural History
Produced exhibit components Messengers, three Tardigrade shaped time capsules. Worked with Anthropology and Anthropocene curators for accessioning documents for Messengers, the first pieces to be a part of the Anthropocene collection.
Co-founder, Managing Director, REcharge Labs, Minneapolis, MN
2014-2019 (5 years)
Facilitated 80 Teacher workshops, training over 2,000 K-12 educators, traveling to 24 states, Canada and the Caribbean
Collectively raised over $230,000 through grants, contracts and sponsorships to support outreach programs
Developed 9 nationally sold products connected to standards based, hands-on curriculum around STEAM wind and solar energy. Managed custom molds, national manufactures, shipping, warehouse and light manufacturing contracts
Director of marketing materials, promotional videos, newsletters, guidebooks, documentation, social media, website and annual reports
Presented in 18 national education and renewable energy conferences, engaging over 60,000 participants
Led the yearly REcharge Academy, a weeklong intensive professional development program, and trained 125 educators from 34 states
Brought in new partnerships, collaborations and contracts with Xcel Energy, WPPI Energy, IPS Solar, Just B Solar, YOXO, Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum, St. Paul Public Libraries, Children’s Museum of Denver, Como Park Zoo and Conservatory, Museum of Discovery in Arkansas, Sparkfun Electronics, Hummingbird Robotics, Midwest Renewable Energy Association, CREATE Lab at Carnegie Melon and the Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh
Outreach Director, KidWind Project, St. Paul, MN
2012 – 2014 (2 years)
Facilitated 40 Teacher workshops, training over 1,000 K-12 educators, spanning 10 states
Collectively raised over $150,000 through the Iowa STEM Scale Up Grant
Presented in 20 national education and renewable energy conferences, engaging over 80, 000 participants
Supervised the KidWind Challenge, a large scale science fair-like event, culminating from national challenges, with a yearly average of 320 middle and high school youth all sponsored by the wind industry
Saved the organization an average of $15,000 annually by streamlining the warehouse production of kits, outsourcing labor to local artists and craftspeople
Developed the KidWind Sound and Light Board and the KidWind Wind Tunnel, sold internationally through a licensing agreement with Vernier Software and Technology
Project Specialist, Program Coordinator, Learning Technologies Center, Science Museum of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN
2006 – 2013 (7 years)
Learning Technologies Center
Coordinated, managed, trained, evaluated 18 LTC Instructors and 8 teen Instructor aids for camps and classes
Developed a low cost professional development program to maintain Instructor enthusiasm and curb burnout, then initiated the teen instructor aids to sub for instructors, saving the department 25–45K a year
Improved attendance for technology and science camps and increased female attendance from 30% to 48% by altering descriptions, focusing on cultural trends and providing a welcoming and inclusive atmosphere
Playful Invention and Exploration (PIE) Institute
Artist and activity developer for an NSF grant which organized learning institutes with partners such as the MIT Media Lab, Exploratorium and Fort Worth Museum of Science and History
Science Math Informal Learning Educator (SMILE) Pathway
Partner in a NSF grant through the New York Hall of Science, which developed a digital activity database for informal educators
Making After Hours
Initiated and managed a monthly adult workshop series led by artists; partnered with local businesses, libraries, and universities
Engineering Studio Project
Worked with a team of exhibit engineers to prototype activities and exhibits about the engineering aspects of fluid power and motion
Adult Learning
Collaborated with the Marketing, Education, and Exhibit department to develop interactive exhibits and activities for the monthly after hours Social Science event
Playdates
Created learning objects and activities for a weekly program for 5 and under; worked with the volunteer and floor managers and trained/coordinated 15 volunteers
Teen Tech Squad
Provided training for Hennepin County Library teens, focusing on integrating programming, art and music with technology
Co-owner and Lead Artist, AAA&E, LLC, Minneapolis, MN
2014 – 2016 (2 years)
Garnered local and national attention through radio, news, print and social media for the Plume Project
Raised $35,000 for the Knight Challenge match grant for the Plume Project, totaling $70,000
Gained fiscal sponsorship through Public Art St. Paul and The Miami Foundation
Partners and sponsors included District Energy St. Paul, Ever-Green Energy, Science Museum of Minnesota, The Landmark Center, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Saint Paul Riverfront Corporation, Saint Paul College and 85 individual contributions through Indiegogo
Artistic Practice
Education
B.F.A. Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, 2000
M.F.A. University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, 2019
Grants, Commissions and Fellowships
KidWind and Department of Energy Artist Lead for National Wind Energy Coloring Contest, project commission, Washington, DC, 2024
New Visions, New Castle Public Sculpture, sculpture commission, New Castle, PA, 2023
New Castle Public Art, sculpture commission, New Castle, PA 2023
Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh, Tough Artist residency, Pittsburgh, PA 2023
Osage Park, Walton Family Foundation, sculpture commission, Bentonville, Arkansas, 2020
Assemble Artist Residency stipend, Pittsburgh, PA, 2020
Scott Family Amazeum, sculpture commission, Bentonville, 2018
Scotland MFA Research Grant, Duncan Jordanstone College of Art & Design UK/University of Minnesota CLA, 2018
University of Minnesota, College of Liberal Arts Graduate Fellowship, $25K for first year, plus tuition remission, no teaching assistantship duties, by faculty nomination, Minneapolis, Minnesota, 2017
University of Minnesota, College of Liberal Arts MFA, tuition remission, with 50% teaching assistantship stipend year 2 and 3, Minneapolis, Minnesota, 2017
Minnesota State Arts Board, Artist Initiative Grant, St. Paul, MN, 2018
Nobel Peace Price Forum, sculpture commission, Augsburg University, MN, 2017
Hennepin Theatre Trust, Made Here, Minneapolis, MN, 2017
Institute on the Environment Mini Grant, University of Minnesota, MN, 2016
Franconia Sculpture Park/Jerome Fellowship, Shafer, MN, 2015
Knight Arts Foundation, Knight Arts Challenge, District Energy, St. Paul, MN, 2014
Public Art St. Paul, City Art Collaboratory Artist Grant, St. Paul, MN, 2014
Northern Lights, Northern Spark Grant, St. Paul, MN, 2014
Minnesota State Arts Board, Artist Initiative Grant, St. Paul, MN, 2012
Northern Lights, Artists on the Verge, Minneapolis, MN, 2012
Public Art St. Paul, City Art Collaboratory Artist Grant, St. Paul, MN, 2012
Anderson Center at Tower View Fellowship, Red Wing, MN 2011
Northern Lights, Northern Spark Grant, St. Paul, MN, 2011
Blacklock Nature Sanctuary/Jerome Fellowship, Moose Lake, MN, 2008
Minnesota State Arts Board, Artist Initiative Grant, St. Paul, MN, 2008
Elgin Community College, Liberal Arts Fellowship, full tuition scholarship, 1997
Solo Exhibitions
Gould Library, Engineering and Art, Carleton College, Northfield, MN, 2016
Ames School of Art, Merwin Gallery, Den, Illinois Wesleyan University, Bloomington, IL, 2015
Phipps Center for the Arts, Gallery One, Perspective, Hudson, WI, 2014
Rosalux Gallery, Scene from Above, Minneapolis, MN, 2010
Kiehle Visual Arts Center, Kiehle Gallery, Creatures, St. Cloud State University, St. Cloud, MN, 2006
Museum of Contemporary Art, Emerging Artist Gallery,Growing Up, Fort Collins, CO, 2000
Group Exhibitions (Selected and Upcoming)
NEMO Science Museum of Amsterdam, Animatronic Creatures, Amsterdam, Netherlands, 2024
Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh, Tough Art 2023. Lily, Pittsburgh, PA 2023
Carnegie Museum of Natural History, We Are Nature: A New Natural History, Messengers, Pittsburgh, PA 2022
Osage Park, Wetland Grass, Bentonville, Arkansas, 2021
NRW-Forum, Cute Cute, Düsseldorf, DE, 2020
Scott Family Amazeum, Sammy the Sea Monkey, Bentonville, Arkansas, 2019
Regis Center for Art, Katherine Nash Gallery, House/Yard, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, 2019
Textile Center, Artists in the Kitchen, Minneapolis, MN, 2018
School of Life Sciences, Fiddleheads, University of Dundee, Collection, Dundee, UK, 2018
Silverwood Park, Three Rivers Park District, Wetland Grass, St. Anthony, MN, 2018
Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art & Design, Fiddleheads, Dundee, UK, 2018
Nobel Peace Price Forum, Grasp, Augsburg University, MN, 2017
Hennepin Theater Trust, Made Here, Future, Minneapolis, MN, 2017
District Energy steam plume, Coloring Contest, Plume Project, St. Paul, MN, 2016
Franconia Sculpture Park, Solar Tree, Shafer, MN, 2016
Gould Library, Engineering and Art, Carleton College, Northfield, MN, 2016
Artists in Storefronts, Made Here, Brilliance, Minneapolis, MN, 2015
Public Functionary, Antarctica, Minneapolis, MN, 2014
Northern Spark, Electric Hopscotch, Minneapolis, MN, 2014
Soap Factory, Artists on the Verge (AOV4), Subterranean, Minneapolis, MN, 2013
Teaching Artist
Erie Arts and Culture Teaching Artist, Erie, PA. 2023 - current
Assemble, Artist in Residence STEAM education, teen program, Pittsburgh, PA. 2020
Franconia Sculpture Park, Teaching Artist in Residence for high school STEAM art and renewable energy workshops, Taylors Falls, MN. 2013 – 2019.
Hennepin County Library System, Teaching Artist for teen technology programs, also adult art and renewable energy education, also art and technology education, Minneapolis, MN. 2009-2019
St. Paul Public Library System, Teaching Artist for teen technology programs, also adult art and renewable energy education, also art and technology education, St. Paul, MN. 2009-2019
Silverwood Park, Three Rivers District, Teaching Artist in Residence for teen art and nature programming, St. Anthony, MN. 2018
Science Museum of Minnesota, Instructor for Learning Technologies camps and classes, also teen art and science educator, also Maker Space and Tinker Space educator trainer, St. Paul, MN. 2006-2013
Bell Museum, Teaching Artist for 2nd-5th grade art and nature workshop, St. Paul, MN. 2014
Minneapolis College of Art and Design, Teaching Artist for STEAM workshop, Minneapolis, MN. 2010
College of Fine Arts, Artist in Residence for STEAM workshop, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY. 2009
Walker Art Center, Artist in Residence, teen program, also art education for public event, Minneapolis, MN. 2007
Kulture Klub Collaborative, Artist in Residence for homeless and at-risk youth art education, Minneapolis, MN 2005
Franconia Sculpture Park, Teaching Artist for K-12 sculpture workshops, Kids Make Sculpture, Taylors Falls, MN. 2003, 2005
Student Teaching
College of Visual Arts, University of Minnesota, 2 years, Teaching Assistant, 50% 20 hours per week. Minneapolis, MN
Facilitated Formal Education Teacher Training
Recharge Labs
Facilitated 80 teacher workshops, training over 2,000 K-12 educators, traveling to 24 states, Canada, and the Caribbean
Facilitated teacher workshops in 18 national education and renewable energy conferences, engaging over 60,000 participants
Led the yearly REcharge Academy, a weeklong intensive professional development program, and trained 125 educators from 34 states
KidWind Project
Facilitated 40 Teacher workshops, training over 1,000 K-12 educators, spanning 10 states
Facilitated teacher workshops in 20 national education and renewable energy conferences, engaging over 80, 000 participants
Supervised the KidWind Challenge, a large scale science fair-like event, culminating from national challenges, with a yearly average of 320 middle and high school youth all sponsored by the wind industry
Artist Residencies
Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh, Tough Art 2023, Pittsburgh, PA, 6/1/23 – 9/1/23
Franconia Sculpture Park, Taylors Falls, MN, 7/01/15 – 10/1/15
The Blacklock Nature Sanctuary, Moose Lake, MN, 7/01/08 – 8/01/08
The Weir Farm Art Center, Wilton, CT, 3/01/07 – 4/01/07
Kimmel-Harding-Nelson Center for the Arts, Nebraska City, NE, 5/01/07 – 6/15/07
The Hall Farm Center for Arts and Education, Townshend, VT, 9/01/05 – 9/30/05
The Neuwirth Institute for the Arts at Wormfarm, Reedsburg, WI, 8/01/05 – 8/31/05
Volunteer
Hoyt Art Center, board member, New Castle PA, 2023 - current
Creatives for Climate, website designer and artist member, 2 years, Pittsburgh PA, 2019-2021
Industrial Arts Workshop, board member, community education, 1.5 years, Hazelwood, PA, 2019-2021
Midwest Renewable Energy Association, Industry consultant, presenter, 4 years, MN, 2012-2016
Public Functionary Artist in Residence, special events, installation production, 2 years, Minneapolis, MN 2012-2014
MNKINO community film showing, Event Coordinator, 1 year, Minneapolis, MN 2012
Minnesota State Arts Board, selection panelist, Artist Initiative Grant, St. Paul, MN 2012, 2014
Blacklock Nature Sanctuary, selections panelist, Jerome Fellowship, MN, 2009,2010
Rosalux Gallery, artist, member, intern manager 6 years, Minneapolis, MN, 2006-2012
L.O.F.I Gallery, artist and member 3 years, Fort Collins, CO, 1998-2000
Skills, certifications
3D
MIG welding, stick welding, Oxy-Acetylene welding, torch cutting, plasma cutting, blacksmithing, grinding, metal jewelry making, cold welding, riveting, soldering, lost wax bronze casting, stained glass, plaster, modeling clay, ceramics, plastic welding, plastic shaping and molding, heat shrinking, carpentry, wood cutting with miter saw, band saw, scroll saw, wood sanding, hand sewing, basic circuitry, basic mechanical and electrical engineering, 3D printer, laser cutter, CNC router, embroidery machine, paper cutting machine, Arduino and microcontrollers, fork lift, wood mill, skid steer, gantry
3D software
Rhino 3D CAD modeling, SketchUp 3D design, Adobe Illustrator, Arduino
2D
Pen and ink, oil pastel, pastel, colored pencil, watercolor crayons, watercolor, oil painting, wood cut, linoleum, lithography, intaglio, Adobe Creative Suite
Media
Arduino Creative Suite, Microsoft Office, Zoom, Arduino C/C++, Final Cut, iMovie, Stop Motion Studio, Scratch, Qualtrics, SketchUp, Squarespace, Wordpress
Additional Certifications
North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP) training and award for photovoltaic site assessment, design, and installation