This March I was delighted to spend two weeks as an Artist in Residence at IslandWood, a ‘School in the Woods’ on Bainbridge Island, just a ferry ride away from the city of Seattle. I worked with competent, considerate 5th graders from Aberdeen, Bremerton, and Mercer Island; and junior-high/high school age students from Seattle and Pennsylvania. This was my tenth year as a visiting artist at this wonderful residential environmental learning center. I’ve grown as a teaching-artist through the rich exchange between the education team of scientists, technology specialists, graduate students, volunteers, and all the supporting staff, who also teach the students through their work at IslandWood; those who prepare the food, maintain the grounds and buildings, and the many people who in a multitude of ways, keep the program running.
I’m grateful to Jessica Henderson, the present Art Education Coordinator; to Maketa Wilborn, for his many years of support in this position; and especially I’d like to thank Dr. LeeAnn Woolery, for setting up this wonderful program a decade ago and inviting me as their first Artist in Residence in the Pilot Program.
