Visual Art

Vermont follows the National Core Art Standards for a visual arts curriculum.  We use the Elements of Art and Principals of Design as our base vocabulary and weave in the standards in a wide variety of ways. I try each year to allow for the exploration of as many different materials and techniques as possible. My favorite mediums include nature ephemeral art, collage, painting, group projects, and fiber of any kind!

Michelle has a BFA from the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth College of Visual and Performing Arts, formally the Swain School of Design. There she studied Textile Design and Fiber Arts with a concentration in Computer-Aided Design and Printmaking. 

She grew up between Barnard, VT with her father, and Cambridge, MA with her mother. She attended Woodstock Union High School and Middle School for half of high school. After college, she worked as a Colorist and Wallpaper Designer in Boston. She then relocated to Burlington, Vermont where she continued working as a fabric, linens, and clothing designer as part of the April Cornell design team. She began volunteering as a domestic violence crisis advocate in 2002 and joined the staff in 2004. This led to twelve years of advocacy work for women and children in a shelter and managing the 24/7 crisis hotline. This work included equity and social justice training and program implementation. 

Parallel to her advocacy work she began her family and was active in organizing local programs for children ages 0-6 and their families through Building Bright Futures of Vermont. 

Michelle, her husband Matthew, and three sons now enjoy living in Bridgewater, VT. Michelle is currently the Visual Art teacher for the Woodstock, Killington, and The Prosper Valley (Pomfret) Elementary Schools. She teaches at Artistrtee Community Arts Center in Pomfret, during the summer. She serves on the board of the Bridgewater Area Community Foundation which is currently working to reopen the Bridgewater Village School as a childcare and community center. Her interests and passions include weaving together family, textiles, community, nature, and fun!