I am passionate about learning, particularly, the varied paths to developing skills for observation, inquiry, critical thinking, critical reflection and cognition. These skills value discovery, enhance life, and lead to an engaged citizenry. Art, design, and cultural production advance the literacy of both maker and interpreter in ways critical to a healthy society.

My art practice, cultural/community engagement, and involvement in the teaching arts are integrally linked. Each provide opportunity to transcend what is already know. In my teaching practice, I aim to help develop an individual's passion for meaningful communication through experiential learning, driven by inquisitiveness, a desire to communicate, and self expression. The development of organizational, conceptual, and technical skills can inspire previously unrevealed possibilities for insight, creation and exchange.

I encourage research, dedicated studio practice, asking hard questions, and critical reflection. Research utilizes existence as an ever-expanding library and is fuel for creativity. Critical reflection involves interrogating ideas, debating, and probing deeper levels of understanding. I find these activities fun, engaging and survival enhancing. I seek to help people discover previously unknown points of connection, communication, meaning and purposefulness.

I value an anthropological approach to art (emphasizing arts' social context), rather then a formalist approach (emphasizing visual qualities as central to meaning). Like learning, artistic development is a life-long activity. I encourage on-going exploration of diverse media and life-long study in the arts, contemporary theory, popular culture, and graphic communication.