Creator and facilitator of informal art learning experiences for kids, families, and the community at large, who may not otherwise engage with more formal art workshops.My programs include:The Bridge Afterschool Art Club. An intensive weekly program for sixth graders to connect to themselves, each other, and the community through art. Bridge Junior. An afterschool art club for elementary students, with varying locations and age levels.Art Time Live. Livestreamed programs using materials kids can find at home to make art together.Art Together Mornings. Parents learn how to support their child's process while working alongside their kids in these monthly workshops.Natural Born Artists. Toddlers and pre-K kids explore materials while caretakers learn about this stage of development and how to support their child's work.TAB Classroom. Teaching Artistic Behaviors is a choice-based model for studio art class, which we employed for our homeschool community.All Ages Art Happenings. Free or cheap public events that bring the community together for memorable interactive creative experiences. These engage from 20-500 people. Examples: CBARF (Cardboard Boxes Are Really Fun), The Glow Show (3 stories of multisensory interactive glowing exhibits and games), Suppahtime (a play-with-your-food pot luck), Waterworks (DIY waterpark for rubber duckies), FunnyHaha (kids' stand up comedy) and The Great Pumpkin Pageant. Creative Connections. Programs engaging Head Start families throughout Waldo County through classroom visits and family nights. Parents receive trainings on why creative thinking is critical for low income kids' futures and how to support it at home. Families work together with their kids on an art project afterwards, practicing their new support-skills.Resource development. Audience-specific printed resources on topics ranging from Dollar Store Art Supplies to Creativity-Crushing Language and What To Say Instead.

I am a member of The Maine Arts Commission's Teaching Artists Roster and The Creative Aging Teacher Roster since 2017, which led to a series of programs in Bangor Public Schools in 2019, and placement as Artist in Residence at Coffin/Kate Furbish Elementary through the Arts Are Elementary program in Brunswick, Maine. In that position I have visited 200 kindergarteners three times a year, for two years. At the onset of the pandemic in 2020 I completed my residency virtually and started the fall residency online as well. After a successful first session I was invited to share best practices for teaching artists considering "virtual residencies", held by the Maine Arts Commission.I have been delivering high quality, hands-on creative learning experiences to private groups and schools throughout New England for a decade - most often a Suminagashi program. This is an immersive experience of an ancient Japanese art form that involves cultivating Zen through mindful presence to co-create beautiful marbled papers with nature as "partner".

I travel to places near and far to talk with the gardeners of our society: early childhood caretakers, teachers, and parents. I help them identify what creativity really is, and why problem solving, critical thinking, flexibility, and persistence - all developed with creative work and play - are absolutely key to survival in the world that awaits their young ones.We work together to recognize when and how we "build the box" around children's creative capacities, passing down the artist-squashing habits many of us experienced as children. Participants leave as advocates for their students, inspired to push low-value crafts aside to offer manageable, high quality, age appropriate creative development opportunities - with specific tips on activities, materials, etc. They also leave with a sense of humor and compassion for their habitual "NO! Not like that!" tendencies, and a renewed commitment to break the cycle for their kids who so need their creative, expressive, and problem-solving capacities intact as they head for school.Publication:"Handprint Turkeys and Cotton Ball Snowmen: Is There Hope for an Artful America?" 20Under40: Reinventing the Arts and Arts Education for the 21st Century; Clapp, Edward P., 2010.

Mixed Media, drawing, painting, interactive sculpture, digital photography, singer (all genres), video-coproducer, Scizzas.Completed coursework at MassArt (Intro to Video Production, Narrative Illustration) and Harvard Extension School (Works on Paper).Shows: Arlington Open Studios, 2008-2013Open Call show at Arhus, Belfast ME, 2012Earth Show, Waterfall Arts, Belfast ME, 2013 Rusty Bits, Waterfall Arts, Belfast ME, 2013Music: Vocalist, Songwriter, PerformerPerforming and recording (solo and with the short-lived project, The Poppies) in the Boston area, 2001-2009Bootleg recordings, late night bedroom one-takes, and GarageBand experiments at https://bridgetmatros.bandcamp.com/

Providing weekly student-centered art sessions teaching all visual art learning concepts covered in state and national standards, as well as more subtle elements of artistry: self expression, appreciation, critique, identity and unique voice, evolving and changing preferences and strengths, and sources of inspiration. As a teaching artist, acting as a role model as a busy creative in the community, and sharing my own works in progress, successes and challenges.I have weekly sessions with kindergarten students, ages 7-9, and 10-12.Weekly chorus practice, singing songs chosen by students and learned by ear, with a focus on understanding of and care for the voice through proper technique.

Recruited to develop and implement a year-long visual arts after school program for two neighborhood schools (about 125 kids K-5) in underserved South Boston schools. Provided reporting to stakeholders as well as instituting behavior management protocols and training/managing staff.See blog at http://dorchesterartbridge.blogspot.com

I developed an exhibit, the Art Studio, and designed and facilitated informal art programming for families for eight years before expanding my role to integrate visual art, music, theatre, and dance throughout the museum. I aimed to create advocates for the arts through immersive, joyful, experiences for everyone - especially the ever-growing population without any meaningful, frequent participation or exposure to the arts. I believe re-integration of the arts into schools' core curriculum is critical for developing the creative, flexible, problem-solving, healthy individuals a society needs to thrive in the 21st century. My thoughts on the impacts of crappy arts experiences in early childhood on individuals and the Arts at large are featured in the book "20Under40: Reinventing the Arts and Arts Education for the 21st Century" (ed.Clapp, 2010)

Developed and managed summerlong day programs for Boston camp groups involving an interactive tour of the reknowned cemetary grounds as an historic site, outdoor art museum, and nature park.

Intern and program assistant, jack of all trades atthis small but powerful training ground for everyday people getting into organizing. Worked with CDC's, public housing associations, and assisted Kensington Welfare Rights Union in the Economic Human Rights movement.

Research Intern with Cleveland Ed. Fund, created a report comparing Cleveland's somewhat adversarial public school reform organizations to collaborative efforts nationwide, which was used as leverage to improve cooperation among the disperate camps at the time.

11 months travelling extensively with 120 people from 35 different countries in a non-political, non-religious global-citizenry program that involved an exhausting regimen of public service, educational intensives on everything from cross-cultural understanding, conflict resolution, and language to public relations, admissions, flying two- passenger planes over castles in Germany. Also, rigging and performing a large-scale musical while on tour throughout the US and Europe. Crashing with host families between 11 hour busrides. The experience of a lifetime is the understatement of the century. NOT a creepy cultish choir of any sort. More like a bootcamp/circus/international school for mind-openers and peace-workers.