For Home page- Place my large photo on this page
Top right gray area add instagram and facebook widgets (later add youtube, pinterest and linkdin) Keep the social media widgets at the top right of each page
Leave the video from the About page here as well.
Add a newsbrief sign up (4-6 x per year) to this page (See www.lesleyriley.com for example)
For About page – remove the big photo and add a pull down page with the following:
1. Artist statement – with photo of self (making art – the batik photo?) and the artist statement (with toggle for languages)
2. My story – add photos and my story below – My story
As a young girl I often had paper and pencil in hand, drawing
still life scenes within my home. My favorite classes at primary -secondary school were always arts and textile related, so when given a chance, I chose fine art, or arts and crafts as my elective courses. When I completed high school I didn’t have the chance to attend college and the art classes I longed for. My life headed into a different direction- working, working, working. I supplemented my boredom with evening classes at the local college, completing a bachelor’s degree in Marketing and Business Administration. But my heart drew me towards the Creativity courses I attended and the Creativity conferences I sought out were always positive and life affirming. I followed my heart to obtain a Masters in Creativity in Education which I combined with a doctorate in Social Justice.
It wasn’t until later in life that my right brain craved time to keep my hands busy with something other than clicking keys on a computer. I found the squares of a sampler quilt I had started at age 20 and chose to finish it at age 48. I grabbed the knitting needles I long had forgotten and attended a weekly Stitch and Bitch group in Amsterdam. I attended waterpainting, clay sculpture, art quilting, and any other class or program I could find in my local area to appease my creativity.
When the financial crisis hit in 2008, I lost my job and turned towards my passion- Creative education and textile arts. In 2010 I started DIY Textile School, an amateur arts school with fiber as the medium. Since 2010 I have:
- Taught creativity and a variety of mixed media and surface design classes at DIY and other locations
- Curated yearly live and online student exhibitions
- Empowered many people to continue their own career in creative arts
- Trained others to teach and empower students’ creativity
- Contributed to local and international magazines and affiliations
- Invested in my own creativity by attending a variety of art classes both at DIY, online and afar
- Exhibited my own work with varying groups and associations
Since the Covid pandemic the DIY bricks and mortar school has closed and my focus went to my ageing parents living in the US. Finally after 11 years of teaching creativity and various mixed media techniques, I have more time to focus on my own art.
https://youtu.be/bo1k_UKJzJY
3. CV
Education:
University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts
1997 Doctoral Program Social Justice Education, completed all but dissertation
1993 Masters in Education, Human Development and Creativity
Gwynedd-Mercy College, Gwynedd Valley, Pennsylvania
1990 Bachelors in Science, Business Administration and Marketing
Graduate Magna Cum Laude, Honors for scholastic achievement and community service
Professional Memberships:
NL: Concullega’s, Quiltersgilde, Nationale Associatie voor Beeldende Kunstenaars,
US: Studio Art Quilt Association, Surface Design Association
Work Experience
2010 – present Director, DIY Textile School, providing education in amateur textile arts, located in Amsterdam, Netherlands
• Teach a Mixed Media and Surface Design series
• Organize a two year Textile Arts Program for amateur artists
• Create Art Quilts and other textile art forms
2007 – 2009 Regional Manager, SIT Study Abroad, Europe and the Middle East, located Amsterdam, Netherlands,
1997 – 2007 Academic Director/Adjunct Faculty, Amsterdam, Netherlands Program for SIT Study Abroad, accredited institution of higher learning, Vermont, USA
1991 – 1996 Adjunct Faculty, Undergraduate Instructor & Professional Staff Trainer for University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts, USA
Gwynedd-Mercy College, Gwynedd Valley, Pennsylvania
Hampshire Educational Collaborative, Amherst, Massachusetts
1993 – 1997 Educational consultant
Youth Power Project, Northampton, Massachusetts
Men’s Resource Center, Amherst, Massachusetts
Stonewall Center, UMASS, Amherst, Massachusetts
EveryWomen’s Center, Amherst, Massachusetts
Mather Career Center, Amherst, Massachusetts
4. Group Exhibitions
2021 – Textielfestival Leiden 2021 – Online Festival with Concullega’s – various
2021 – Tussentijd, Huis Kernhem – Ede NL with Concullega’s – various
2019 – Weeribben Festival – Oldemarkt NL with Concullega’s – various
2018 – Textile Plus Festival – N. Brabant with Concullega’s – various
2018 – Masteryear Program – Amsterdam NL – various
2017 – Handwerk & Quiltdagen – Nieuewegein NL with SAQA – Whoosh
2015 – Textile Festival 2015 – Leiden NL – Holmes in Venice
2015 – Diversity, OEQC – Maastrict, NL – 180 nationalities
2014 – Twentsewelle Museum – Enschede, NL – City Windows
2013 – Biezenmortel collective – Deventer, NL – Amsterdam at Night
2013 – Open Atelier Westelijke Eiland – Amsterdam, NL – Rising Sun & NY Bubblegum factory
2012 – Elementen, Steekplus – Sappenmeer, NL – Amsterdam at Night/Day
2012 – Open Atelier Westelijke Eiland – Amsterdam, NL – Yellow Flowers
2011 – Quilten Special X, Quiltersgilde – Leiden, NL – Marveling the ordinary
2011 – Beweging en contrasten, Steekplus – Terneuzen, NL – To dive for…
2011 – ABC Treehouse – Amsterdam, NL – various
2010 – Quiltersgilde – Deventer, NL – Birds of a Feather