Artist Residency at Pinney Library!

May - October 2026

We don’t have to wait until the new Kindling studio opens in the fall to mess around with some arty play together! You can come visit me at Pinney Library in their lovely art studio.

My inspiration for the residency theme, The Art of Neighborships, comes from an obsession with my very special neighborhood friendships as well as the buzz in the zeitgeist about how strong neighborly relationships increase safety and belonging. I love the clever word play nodding to what’s actionable: Neighboring, Neighborism, Neighborships, Neighborhoodies. We know how important community is, but “building it” can feel abstract. Neighborships are specific. We can use art experiences to explore these unique relationships!

More details below and also at the library calendar!

The Art of Neighborships

Olbrich Gardens Summer Breeze Party!

June 12 & 13, 4-8pm

Olbrich Botanical Gardens and Garver Events are teaming up to throw a Summer Breeze block party! I will be joining them for two nights filled with pop-up artmaking activities, classic lawn games, dance parties, and local food cart fare.

I’ll be offering a playful Sun Streamers project, which celebrated summer in all is sunshiny glory! We will doodle, paint, and stamp on sheer fabric panels which can be added to a collaborative garland or taken home to hang in your sunniest windows. Fun for all ages!

I will be set up inside Olbrich Gardens, along other artists, musicians, live DJ’s, lawn-games, and a story slam. Be sure to grab your ticket!

Olbrich Summer Breeze Tickets

Harry Whitehorse Sculpture Festival

Kindling art activity: Wed, June 24, 1-3pm.

Experience creativity in action at the Harry Whitehorse International Wood Sculpture Festival, a free, week-long outdoor artist residency on the shores of Lake Monona in Monona, Wisconsin. In partnership with the Friends of San Damiano, the festival brings together world-class sculptors to craft large-scale works on site while engaging with visitors throughout the week. Enjoy live sculpting, hands-on cultural experiences, an artisan marketplace, live entertainment, and a vibrant lineup of global food vendors.

I will be there offering some arty play for the kids. Using glue, wire, and scraps from the festival wood carvers, kids can create sculptures of their own! Maybe they will create a tree house, a fairy cottage, a wild animal, or something abstract! This project encourages imaginative play for any age.

Festival Details

More on my Madison Public Library Artist Residency at Pinney!

The Art of Neighborships: A Space to Creatively Attend Our Community Connections

Sometimes we need reminders that we can use our creative spirits for good to build safe, welcoming, and inclusive neighborhoods. We will use playful art experiences to explore how we can show up for each other, what resources we have or need, and simple ways to strengthen the fabric of our neighborhoods.

You can get excited to:

Be together: Try your hand at portraiture or sit to be drawn by me! Share stories of community.
Build together: Add your touch to community-made cardboard worlds, slowly built together over time.
Reflect together: Create projects and reflections from prompts about ways we can forge strong neighborships, wherever we live.

Drop-in Open Studios: (all ages, kids with grown-ups)

June-August: Wednesdays 6-8pm, Thursdays 9-11am
September-October: Wednesdays 6-8pm, Thursdays 11-1pm

Workshops: (adults, registration required, spots are limited and registration opens 2 weeks prior to class)

Library Date Nights! Fridays June 26, July 24, or August 21. 5-6pm. Explore serious or silly portraiture play! Your date could be your crush, your pal, your parent, your new friend, whoever! (One million bonus points if you bring your neighbor) Little treats included. (caregivers, it’s ok to bring your tween/teen as a date. 12+ please!)
Live Model Sessions! Saturdays June 20, July 11, or August 8. 1-2:30pm. All experience levels welcome for some lightly instructed live model drawing or painting time! Our model will do some short poses to warm up and one longer pose (about 45min). Supplies provided, though you are welcome to bring own medium and tools if preferred!

See you in the new Kindling studio! Eastmorland Community Center, Fall 2026!

Kindling Community Arts studio is eagerly awaiting the construction of our new studio home at the Eastmorland Community Center.

We hope to start up full steam in late fall 2026! Below are some examples of what to expect.

Stay tuned and be the first to know when classes open by signing up for the newsletter!

Tinkering Tots

Sensory exploration of colors, textures, shapes, and patterns to encourage the wild imaginations of our littlest creators. These child-led play sessions use non-toxic mixed media materials like paint, clay, textiles, and much more. Creative confidence starts here!
Kids Art Play

Prioritizing child-led exploration of materials and ideas, these fun art play sessions will use stories and mixed media to explore themes such as: Tiny worlds. 2D and 3D worlds. Light, shadows, rainbows. Creatures big, small, real, and magical. Machines. Seasons, cycles, time and place. More!
Family Art Play

Time to make an arty mess (without the clean-up!). Meet up with neighbors and friends, explore new art materials, learn new tips and tricks, and bond with your kiddo in this happy space. Makers will have access to a stocked studio, prompts, and inspirations to get you started.
Medium Exploration

These sessions explore specific mediums like drawing, weaving, printing, and clay with a little more depth of practice. Still focused on exploration and process, these sessions give kids a chance to build confidence in a specific interest.