Teaching is a major part of my creative life, providing energy and inspiration to my work. I offer classes for all ages in
- Woolcraft: knitting, crochet, spinning, needle felting, wet felting, cross stitch, and more.
- Creative Writing
- Wild Foods: both foraging and cooking
Here’s a rather large and unruly photo album from past classes.
I’m listed as a member of the Alaska State Teaching Artist Roster (STAR). Artists included in the STAR have been vetted through an application process by a panel of arts professionals. To be included in the roster, artists must demonstrate a high level of artistic accomplishment, experience with and understanding of a variety of educational including the classroom, and the flexibility and willingness to practice as a teaching artist in Alaska.
I am also a member of the Juneau Arts and Humanities Council Teaching Artist Roster, and have completed multiple teaching artist training and continuing education courses sponsored by the JAHC.
During the pandemic school closures, I taught virtually in Juneau schools. I’m looking forward to future in-person residencies.
In 2019, I completed a creative writing residency at Yaakoosge Daakahidi Alternative High School. We worked on journaling and poetry inspired by the plants and wild foods of the landscape around the school. The residency culminated with a wild food celebration and Haiku project.
In January 2018, I taught “Tessellations in Wool,” an exploration in geometry, felting, and design for K-3 at Mendenhall River School in Juneau. Past in-school residencies include:
Harborview Elementary School, Juneau, Alaska, December 2013. “Painting with Wool, a wet and warm study of landscape, color, and perspective.” Wet felting with approx. 200 students, grades 1-5. Students created wet-felted landscapes and studied wool science while learning basic art concepts needed to create landscape. Finished pieces were embellished with embroidery and beads and displayed in school commons. Teacher workshop offered in conjunction with residency.
Montessori Borealis, Juneau, Alaska, October – December 2014. AMP (Grade 7-8) classroom. A quarter-long survey of fiber arts. Students met weekly to explore wet felting, needle felting, and spinning.
Juneau Douglas High School, Juneau, Alaska, January 2015. “Fire and Fiber Break the Ice.” This residency with 3 high school ceramics classes explored communication and relationships using fiber and ceramic as metaphor. Students created wet-felted wearables with hand-made ceramic beads, and wrote reflections on their work. Residency culminated in a student art show at the Juneau Arts and Culture Center. Teacher workshop offered in conjunction with residency.
Glacier Valley Elementary School, Juneau, Alaska, October-November 2015. “Straw into Gold. The Science and Art of Spinning a Yarn.” 185 Students grades 3-5. Students built Turkish-style spindles, and learned the basics of spinning yarn by hand. Students studied quantitative, scientific, literary, and historical tie-ins to spinning and wool. Teacher workshop offered in December 2015.
Juneau Youth Services, Montana Creek, January – March 2016. “The Hook and I – Crochet for Busy Minds and Eager Hands.” Fiber artists have learned through research and experience that rather than being a distraction, having something to do with your hands–like crochet–can make you a better, more attentive listener. Fiber arts engage the left and right hemispheres of the brain in exciting ways: Students think geometrically as they measure and calculate how much yarn it takes to make a finished item–they can get creative with design incorporating color, shape, and texture. In Amy’s residency at Montana creek, she helped students develop a service project wherein they can donate finished items to those in need.
Feel free to get in touch if you’d like to know more about my classes and teaching offerings.