Arts Directory

About

Artist Bio

Art, taught with passion and purpose, encourages a child’s creative spark and is an essential part of the fabric of a child’s education. This belief has guided my 25-year journey as a visual arts teacher, district administrator, and working artist. Today, I have come full circle, returning to my foundational passion as a Teaching Artist.

My career is anchored by a proven track record of regional leadership. As the former Assistant Superintendent of Visual and Performing Arts for Spartanburg School District One, I spearheaded the district’s first five-year Strategic Arts Plan and oversaw the designation of seven Arts in Basic Curriculum (ABC) Institutes and five Distinguished Arts Program sites. To date, I have secured over $1 million in grant funding to elevate rural K-12 arts initiatives. These contributions have been recognized with the state’s highest honors, including the SC Governor’s Award for the Arts and the 2023-24 Thomas A. Hatfield Lifetime Achievement Award. Despite these administrative milestones, my artistic core remains evolving and active. Operating out of my rural studio, Chicken Coop Art Company, my recent work focuses on organic clay sculpture and multimedia collage, exploring the intersection of art and science. This commitment to practice is reflected in my recent and upcoming exhibitions with Tryon Painters and Sculptors, including the 2025 All Members Exhibit and the 2026 “You Belong Here” and “Feeling Good” features. I believe that for the arts to be truly transformative, the educator must remain a lifelong learner. In 2025, I enhanced my practice through Arts Integration training with Eric Booth and the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and the inaugural South Carolina Arts Leadership Institute with the SCAC and ABC Institute.

In early 2025, I took my advocacy to the national stage, meeting with legislators in Washington, D.C., to champion arts education. Currently, as an SC Arts Commission (SCAC) Teaching Artist, I am honored to have led Teaching Artist professional learning for the SCAC and the SC Governor’s School for the Arts and Humanities. I equip the next generation of artists with the tools to foster inclusive and therapeutic creative environments. My recent residencies—from Mary H. Wright Elementary to Polk County Schools—implement collaborative models that move teachers away from professional isolation and toward a supportive community of learners.

Ultimately, I believe the arts demand the internalization of concepts, allowing students to personalize their academic journeys in profound ways. Whether serving on the board of Tryon Fine Arts Center, consulting for Chapman Cultural Center, or facilitating a tactile clay workshop, my goal remains the same: to empower educators and ensure every child has the opportunity to experience the transformative power of the creative spark.

Artist Statement

Based in Gramling, South Carolina, my work is deeply rooted in the rural landscape that surrounds my studio, Chicken Coop Art Company. Operating out of a 99-year-old bungalow, my practice is a dialogue between the tranquility of the setting and the “spontaneous dance” of the creative process. Whether through the fluid strokes of pencil and paint or the tactile resistance of clay, my work seeks to capture movement and life. I am driven by a creative spark that calls me to translate the natural world into iconic interpretations, exploring themes of identity and organic growth through mark-making and form. I have a new interest in graphite.

While my foundation lies in realism and traditional media—pencil, stone, glass, and brush—my recent work has evolved into a cohesive exploration of organic clay sculpture. I am drawn to clay for its inherent contradictions: its suppleness and delicacy balanced by its enduring strength. This shift represents a growth in my practice where the relationship between art and science becomes visible. By focusing on ephemeral art and the process of transformation, I emphasize that the act of making is as significant as the final piece. My multimedia collages and sculptures serve as a starting point for exploring the intersection of texture, form, and the human experience.

My career is defined by a commitment to arts education as a therapeutic and communal act. I believe that a variety of materials and hands-on experimentation are essential for reclaiming one’s creative voice. This philosophy informs my work with the South Carolina Arts Commission (SCAC) and the Governor’s School for the Arts and Humanities, where I was honored to share my professional toolkit to promote arts integration and reflective practice.

For me, the studio and the classroom are inseparable. By sharing my skill set with students of all ages, I facilitate a space where they can find confidence and success. My goal is to bridge the gap between high-caliber professional artistry and accessible, community-based learning, ensuring that the arts remain a powerful tool for communication, self-expression, and regional celebration.