ROOTS

I was born and raised in upstate New York through the eighties and nineties. Starting in Buffalo (year 1980), and moving around the state for many of my younger years, my closest relationships were always in my family. Being the oldest of four children (all of us with ADHD), I was, in many ways, a leader in my family. Most of all, I was a leader in the mischief and finding creative ways to entertain myself and my brother and sisters. My Dad and Ma are incredible. They always found ways to channel our outstanding energy, while never sacrificing our individual visions or goals.

Coming from a big Italian family of artists, I had plenty of inspiration and encouragement to explore. My biggest inspiration, my Papa, was a high school and college art professor in Brooklyn and Syracuse. He is an expert craftsman and innovative creator of stained glass, jewelry, and furniture design. My Nana, a skilled watercolorist, also taught art for a number of years. Papa and Nana’s house was always my favourite place to be. When I wasn’t working on an art project of my own with them, I was playing music with my uncles. My first love was the drums and cherished every moment I could go downstairs and wail on Uncle Fran’s drum kit. Like every kid, I live for playing. And, while I grew older, I never grew up.

By playing, I found and continue to find, my passion to explore. Whether it is using new media and discovering its possibilities or going on roadtrips with no destination, I learned to believe in experimenting and genuine experiences through doing.

INTERESTS

I am an artist and art teacher, explorer and creator, musician and music enthusiast, writer and listener, baseball player and fan, virgo and monkey.

I keep busy. Sometimes I wear myself thin, but I work hard. I play hard. Traveling, hiking, yoga, snowboarding, playing chess, climbing trees, and immersing myself in my artwork: visual and musical... that's my idea of relaxation. I play guitar, baseball, and with my dog Luna. I am never bored.

EDUCATION / EXPERIENCE

After high school, I went to State University of New York (Fredonia) to study art and music. In 2002, I earned a BFA in Media Arts and escaped the bitter cold of western NY for the mountains and sunshine in Colorful Colorado. I taught middle school art for two and a half years in Denver Public Schools and then went back to school to earn my Masters degree. In 2006, I earned my MA from University of Denver in Art Education. I have been teaching drawing and painting at Wheat Ridge High School ever since.