As an artist I conceptually pull from the emotional and personal, but it's those everyday aesthetic experiences that strike a spark for me: moments of mist flowing over mountain passes, the spikes and hollows of a sweetgum ball, the scintillating color of a gasoline puddle. As an educator, I see my subject as a conduit for connection. Through discovering contemporary practices, historical contexts, and a variety of techniques and media, I strive to provide opportunities for students to feel their own spark of connection. Then, I seek to create space and access for them to dig deeper. I resonate with the principles of Teaching for Artistic Behavior and believe the creative process is for everyone. Through my work in this program, I aim to contribute to our understandings of how art benefits the mental health of genderqueer adults and youth, the role of art in the healing power of community, and how to make classroom art practices more environmentally sustainable.