Juliana Crooks

Teaching Autobiography

When I discovered woodworking in college, that spark exploded and made me confident that the intersection of art and craft was where I wanted to be. Not every student will be as lucky as I was to be provided with a well-maintained woodworking program and supportive professors to foster that love of craft, especially at the high school level, so I am aiming to run a classroom that gives students another path into the arts other than the traditional fine art route. I believe that a design-based prompt or the challenge of crafting a functional vessel can be a strong motivator for students who might otherwise shy away from art classes. Having a functional component to drive design decisions gives students direction and can ease the pressure of making something from nothing. In my teaching practice, I implement the Studio Habits of Mind to help students, and especially those new to making art, learn how to create work in this manner. This method of learning and teaching broadens the scope of what students think of as art, which makes space for a greater diversity of artists.

EXPERIENCE

University of Wisconsin Madison - Woodshop Assistant 06/2025-08/2025

Ensuring safe use of tools and equipment in the woodshop; Coaching and advising students individually about design processes and procedures; Maintaining a clean and functional shop environment and restocking shop supplies

University of Wisconsin Madison - Woodshop Monitor 01/2023 - 05/2025

Ensuring safe use of tools and equipment in the woodshop; Coaching and advising students individually about design processes and procedures; Maintaining a clean and functional shop environment and restocking shop supplies

Edgewood High School - Student Teacher 03/2025 - 05/2025

Creation and implementation of age appropriate curriculum using national standards; Group/individual instruction and classroom management for high school students

Madison East High School - Student Teacher 10/2024 - 12/2024

Maintaining a ceramics studio: kiln loading, unloading, glaze mixing and supply maintenance; Instruction and reteaching to groups and to individual students; Navigating instructing students learning English as a second language; Designing and implementing formative assessment

Madison Textile Arts Center - Instructional Assistant 09/2024

Reteaching and assisting students in freeform basketry techniques; Preparing and managing cane and other materials

EDUCATION

University of Wisconsin - Madison - Bachelor’s Art Education Degree 3.99 GPA

Expected Graduation Date: May 10, 2025

Peters Valley School of Craft - Lighting in Woodworking Workshop With Jamie Herman

August 2024

SKILLS

Woodworking

Ceramics

Small scale metalworking

Relief Printmaking

Papermaking

Book binding

Drawing and Painting

Adobe suite, Rhino 3D modeling

Some basketry & weaving experience

Some wiring / electrical experience

EXHIBITIONS

Something I’ve Seen Before - Art Lofts Gallery November 2024

Chit Chat and Woodchips - Art Lofts Atrium December 2023

Not-A-Spoon Exhibition - Faux Show Gallery December 2022

Metals Exhibition - 7th Floor Gallery May 2022

Foundations Show - 7th Floor Gallery December 2021