Hello! I’m Carrie.

Your Community Art Studio Creatrix

I’ve always been a maker, builder, and tinkerer. What I think of as my artistic practice is woven into how I approach my parenting, relationships, work, and community. Sometimes this results in making physical things like paintings or construction projects. For me, art is also tending to the land or being in relationship with plants and creatures. Hopefully, expressing my creative spirit feels like care, or comfort, or love to those around me.

Formally, I’ve studied design, social innovation, and art education. AND, the learning is always best in the doing and the making! I’ve grown my skills through 15+ years of non-profit work with youth-serving organizations. I am deeply grateful for all of the amazing humans at Operation Fresh Start and the Goodman Community Center, where I spent many of those years. I’ve worked with youth to do a huge range of project types, everything from building affordable housing and land stewardship, to collaborative paintings, murals, and gardens. There was a period when I taught teen girls how to use a chainsaw! Now, I’m more interested in showing tiny kids how to use scissors.

I love time in nature, which has led me to other fun life adventures, like a couple years farming veggies in the Driftless region and many inspiring travels. The photos below are my attempt to share a bit of my creative life. I can’t wait for many additions as we explore together at Kindling Community Arts. ❤️‍🔥