Biographical Summary
I have been working with children as a teacher and teaching artist for 36 years. Over time I have developed a unique and innovative approach to nurturing learning through creative play. This approach achieves great results, and my students have won awards and gotten their work published.
I am a published author, graphic novel editor and the puppeteer-in-residence at the Bank Street College of Education Bookstore. I have both an MFA in English and Creative Writing and a Masters in Communications. I have taught Writing, Web Design, Animation, Computer Design, Comics and Cartooning, Art and Puppetry.
I have worked with inner city youth and adults on art and literacy projects, and dedicated many volunteer hours to activism and education for free speech, artists’ rights and human rights.
Education
| 2008 | Master of Fine Arts, English & Writing: SUNY Southampton |
| 2005 | Master of Arts, Communication Arts: New York Institute of Technology |
| 1999 | Stop Motion Animation (course): School of Visual Arts , NY |
| 1988 | Video and Performance (Masters course): New York University |
| 1985-1986 | Performance, Printmaking (courses): Converse College, Spartanburg SC |
| 1982 | Bachelor of Arts, Studio Art: University of California, Santa Cruz |
| 1981 | Krishna Reddy Printmaking Workshop: KALA Institute, Berkeley CA |
Selected Grants and Honors
| 2005 | Merit Scholarship, LIU Southampton MFA Writing Program |
| 2004 | New York Institute of Technology, Graduate Teaching Fellowship, Long Island News Tonight: Broadcast Journalism and Web Design |
| 1989 | Emerging Artists Grant, Franklin Furnace Fund for Performance |
| 1988 | Interdisciplinary Artists Grant, Nexus Contemporary Art Center, Atlanta, GA |
| 1988 | Honorarium and Invitation to Exhibit, South Carolina State Acquisitions and Collection Committee |
| 1988 | Small Grants for Artists Award, South Carolina Arts Commission |
| 1988 | First Honorable Mention, NCNB Annual Art Exhibition; Juror: Mr. Salvatore G. Cilella, Jr., Executive Director, Columbia Museum of Art, South Carolina |
| 1982 | Chancellor’s Discretionary Honorarium, to attend Krishna Reddy printmaking workshop at KALA Institute, Berkeley, California |
| 1978-1982 | Regents’ Scholar, University of California |
Teaching Experience
Improvisational Puppetry, Word Up Bookstore, NYC. 2015
Graphic Novel, Arts for the Environment, Storytelling and Puppetry workshops, Bank Street Bookstore, NYC. 2012-15
Graphic Novel Course – Etta Center for the Arts, Amherst MA. 2010-11
Computer Illustration (Adobe Illustrator) – Nassau Community College Art Department, 2007-8
Web Design for Artists –Graphic Artist’s Guild of New York Professional Development Workshops.Lectures on Web Design, Licensing, Copyright and Artists’ Rights. 2005-6
Graduate Teaching Assistant, Long Island News Tonight; New York Institute of Technology.Broadcast journalism; designed the LI News show web site. 2004
Teaching Artist, Community Workshops Program: Jamaica Center for Arts and Learning.Cartooning, ages 8-12; Doll-making, ages 8-adult; Cartooning & Animation, ages 12-adult; Civic Cyber Arts Program: Web Design, grades 7-8. 2002–2004
Teaching Artist, Media Arts Specialist, Curriculum Coordinator: Police Athletic League / TASC After School Program, PS 214.The Comic Book Literacy Project, grades 4-6 (prize-winning group); Puppet Making, Poetry, grades 2-4. 2003–4
Guest Speaker, Fashion Institute of Technology. Copyright, Artists’ Rights and New Media. 2000
Guest Speaker, Parsons School of Design. Copyright, Artists’ Rights, New Media. 2000
Classroom Teacher, New York City Public Schools. 1989-90
Selling Cool: Demystifying the Media Image of Youth Art WorksPresenter, NYCATA/UFT Curriculum Workshop. 1990
Director, Nature Studies Program, Breezemont Day Camp.Armonk, NY. 1989
Education Department Docent, Año Nuevo State Wildlife Preserve, Año Nuevo, CA.Tour guide, Educator; created Display Materials for Museum. 1980-82
Publications
Books
The Graphic Canon The Awakening by Kate Chopin (Graphic Novel Adaptation). Seven Stories Press, 2013
The Bohemians Ed. Paul Buhle. Verso Press, 2014
The Design of Dissent Milton Glaser and Mirko Ilic, editors, Forward by Tony Kushner. Poster designs. Rockport Press, 2005
Words and Pictures
Ana and the Calabash 2009; –Author, Illustrator
Fools Gold 2007; –Author, Illustrator.
Agent Alpha, The Pentagon’s Tiniest Covert Operative 2006; –Author, Illustrator.
Crime And Punishment 2004 –Author, Illustrator.
All of the above published in: World War 3 Illustrated Magazine.
War Is Hell (Part I and Part II) by Penny Allen; World War 3 Illustrated Magazine. –Designer. 2005-6
The Last Mermaid Redflagsdaily.com. 2002
Ear Fetish Sound Views Subterranean Music & Culture, Brooklyn. 1997
The Spoonworms/From Percy’s Lips Sound Views, Brooklyn. 1997-2000
The Red Hat Rogue’s Harbor Literary Review 1997
Zombie Punk, SubversEve self published comic books. 1996, 2008
Journalism
– Selected Art and Performance Reviews and Previews
Dining, art, culture and music reviews, The Brooklyn Paper: Ed. Gersh Kuntzman; GO Brooklyn, The Brooklyn Bride, Ed. Lisa Curtis. 2006-7
X-Ray Visions Corridor Gallery review
Future Archaeology Brooklyn Waterfront Arts Coalition’s annual exhibition
Magical Hands Performances at The New York Puppet Library
Share a Moment Joe Mangrum at Ch’I Contemporary Fine Art
Wild Style Graffiti Artists at the Brooklyn Museum
Flying High Floyd Bennet Field’s Tuskegee Airmen exhibit
Design, Illustration
World War 3 Illustrated Magazine
Art Director, 2005-8; Editorial Committee, 2005-2009
Physical Magazine Illustrator 2003
British Television Magazine Art Director, Illustrator 1997-8
The Walford Gazette Art Director, Illustrator 1996-7
Verdict, Vol. 1, No.1 National Coalition of Concerned Legal Professionals.
Cover and interior illustrations. 1995
Editorial
World War 3 Illustrated Magazine –Editorial Committee. 2006
Computer Applications:
Adobe Photoshop CC Adobe Illustrator CC
Adobe After Effects CC Adobe Premiere CC
Adobe InDesign CC Adobe Acrobat Pro
Adobe Audition CC Adobe Flash CC
FinalCut Pro AVID
Wordpress iMovie
Microsoft Office: Word Microsoft Office: PowerPoint
Microsoft FrontPage QuickTime Pro