“She is a gifted artist who addresses the multiple complexities of contemporary relationships through metaphoric figurative imaging, poetic draftsmanship, and spot-on technique. She is a gifted teacher who always facilitates both the skill growth and the conceptual growth of her students. She is an art colleague whose natural conversation is to review curricular and instructional ideas. She is an arts advocate who works within her professional organization and in her community to advance the presence of the arts and of art education. She is a scholar who studies contemporary culture and its implication on individuals.”
- Debra Fitzsimmons, Ed.D.
Education
2016 Cultural & Language Acquisition Development, California State University, San Diego, CA
2012 MFA Fine Art/drawing & painting, Academy of Art University, San Francisco, CA
2007 BSE Art Education/dance minor, University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, WI
Teaching Experience
2016-2017 Ivy Bound Academy, Northridge, California
Grades 6-8 Art, Chair of Discipline Committee, Yearbook
2014-2016 Granada Hills Public Charter High School, Granada Hills, California
Grades 9-12 Drawing, Art History and AP Art History, Arts Week Coordinator
2012-Present David Adler Music & Arts Center, Libertyville, Illinois
Adult Oil Painting, Adult/Teen Independent Study, private lessons, Art Festival Judge 2013, Art Festival Best of Show 2012.
2012 Illinois Art Education Association
IAEA Members Electronic Gallery website author, A website that celebrates the artist-teacher and will hopefully inspire art educators to model a connection between literacy and the arts for their students.
2008-2013 Hawthorn School District #73, Vernon Hills, Illinois.
Grades K-5 Art Teacher, Director of school & district-wide exhibits, Fine Art Standards Committee, Staff Development Teacher Leader, Artist Liaison. Spearheaded annual district-wide exhibition by partnering with the local library for Youth Art Month, a collaboration that awarded the library a generous grant from the Illinois Library Association in 2013.
2007-2008 Antioch School District #34, Antioch, Illinois
Grades 6-8 Technological Literacy Teacher, Technology Standards Committee, Technology Grant Recipient for authoring an animation unit.
Award Highlights
2014 ArtSlant 2nd 2014 Showcase Competition Winner
2014 ArtSlant 1st 2014 Showcase Competition Winner
2013 Best In Show, Mundelein Fine Arts Festival, Mundelein IL
2012 North Shore Proactive Health Purchase Award, Libertyville, IL
2012 Best In Show, David Adler Music & Arts Center Festival, Libertyville, IL
2012 Lauretta's Italian Bake Shop & Cafe Purchase Award, Mundelein Art Festival
2005 Chancellor’s Purchase Award, University of Wisconsin-Whitewater
Selected Exhibitions
2016, 10/25-11/19, Transition, TAG Gallery, Bergamot Station Arts Center, Santa Monica CA
2016, May-June, Loving Vincent animation intern, Break Thru Films, Gdańsk Park Naukowo - Technologiczny, Gdansk, Poland
2016, 5/20-6/4, In Transit, TAG Gallery, Bergamot Station Arts Center, Santa Monica CA
2016, 1/5-1/23, Spiritual Language featuring Homeboy Industries, TAG Gallery, Bergamot Station Arts Center, Santa Monica CA
2015, 10.17-11/21, Girls! Girls! Girls!, TAG Gallery, Bergamot Station Arts Center, Santa Monica, CA
2015, 02/24-3/21, 2015 Choreographed Color solo show, TAG Gallery, Bergamot Station Arts Center, Santa Monica, CA
2015, 02/12-2/15, 2015 Palm Springs Fine Art Fair, Palm Springs Convention Center, Palm Springs, CA
2015, 01/06-01/24, All Member Show, TAG Gallery, Bergamot Station Arts Center, Santa Monica, CA
2014, 7/14-11/01 Solo Exhibit, The Gallery, Big Bear Lake, CA, Curator: Stanley Miller
2014, 09/03-09/26, Red, Orange County Creatives Gallery, Laguna Beach, CA
2014 , 08/16-08/29, CA Art Open, TAG Gallery, Bergamot Station Arts Center, Santa Monica, CA
2014, 7/14-11/01 Summer Series Solo Exhibit, The Gallery, Big Bear Lake, CA, Curator: Stanley Miller
2014, 7/3-7/23 The Art of Dance, Las Laguna Gallery, Laguna Beach, CA
2014, 7/1-9/30 B*tch Fest “es mi lucha,” The Haggus Society, Los Angeles, CA
2014 Women Depicting Men, Las Lagunas Gallery, Laguna Beach, CA
2014 Chicago Polish Arts Club 78th Annual Art Exhibition, Polish Museum of America, Chicago, IL
2014 Fractured Yet Rising, ARC Gallery, Chicago, IL
2013-14 River East Arts Center, Chicago, IL, Curated by Christy Corso & Heather Artist Offord
2013 Notes From An Artist, James R. Lumber Center For Performing Arts, Grayslake, IL
2011-13 Mundelein Fine Art Festival, Mundelein, IL
2013 From Motion to Stillness, Zhou B. Art Center, Chicago, IL, Curator: Sergio Gomez
2012 David Adler Music & Arts Center Festival of the Arts, Libertyville, IL
2012 Featured Artist, Connect~Inspire~Grow, Hotel Palomar, Chicago, IL
2011 Fine Art Italy Group Show, 410 Gallery, San Francisco, CA, Curator: Jason Bowen
2011-14 Illinois Art Education Association Annual Conference Member’s Exhibition
2011 Corciano Summer Arts Festival, Corciano, Italy
Bibliography
Didi Mendez, “From Motion To Stillness,” Poets & Artists Magazine, February 2013
John Roszkowski,“Crowds see student art shows in Libertyville & Vernon Hills,” Vernon Hills Review, 03-29-12
Millie Naughton, “Grads pass on art passion honed at MHS,” Mundelein Review, 09-19-11
Stephanie Kohl, “Students’ artwork to be featured on state poster,” Mundelein Review, 12-16-10
Ben Carrel, “Dance Company offers Fun Pastime,” Royal Purple, 2-20-08
"Dance Troupe Presents 2008 Holiday Dance Show,” Sun Times, 11-14-08
Dani Schweigert, “An Art Adventure in Grayslake,” Lake County Journals, 01-28-08, pp. 1B
Michelle Lohmann, “Express Yourself,” Pioneer Press, 08-09-07, pp. 131
April Gumm, “Student’s Work Goes Off Campus,” Royal Purple, 10-27-04, pp. 9-11
Erica Wheelan, “Art Students Receive Awards,” Royal Purple, 04-30-03, pp. 9-12
Tim O’Donnell, “Fine Artists,” Lakeland Newspapers, 03-10-00, pp. A1
Commissions
2013 Notes From An Artist, College of Lake County, Grayslake, Illinois
2013 Millunchick Family Portrait, 30” x 40,” oil on stretched canvas
2012 Lindsey Hann, large abstract painting
2011 Gina Rizzo-Wierema, bedroom mural
2010 Hawthorn School District #73, outdoor mosaic series, “Perspective”
2009 Letty Sanchez, large abstract painting
2008 Phil & Kathleen Levine, Portrait of Phil and Coco
2006 Rebecca Osmon, portrait of Grandparents
2005 Michael Clobes, two portraits
2004 Greg Rothman, Self Portrait
2003 Paul Chadha, large surrealistic painting for law office
Collections
University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, Whitewater, Wisconsin (Chancellor Jack Miller): Stretch
Lauretta's Italian Bake Shop & Cafe, Mundelein, IL: several Italian en plein air oil paintings
Northshore Proactive Health, Libertyville, IL: Raise Me Up
Alfonse Corona, Mexico City, Mexico: Reflection
- Debra Fitzsimmons, Ed.D.
Education
2016 Cultural & Language Acquisition Development, California State University, San Diego, CA
2012 MFA Fine Art/drawing & painting, Academy of Art University, San Francisco, CA
2007 BSE Art Education/dance minor, University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, WI
Teaching Experience
2016-2017 Ivy Bound Academy, Northridge, California
Grades 6-8 Art, Chair of Discipline Committee, Yearbook
2014-2016 Granada Hills Public Charter High School, Granada Hills, California
Grades 9-12 Drawing, Art History and AP Art History, Arts Week Coordinator
2012-Present David Adler Music & Arts Center, Libertyville, Illinois
Adult Oil Painting, Adult/Teen Independent Study, private lessons, Art Festival Judge 2013, Art Festival Best of Show 2012.
2012 Illinois Art Education Association
IAEA Members Electronic Gallery website author, A website that celebrates the artist-teacher and will hopefully inspire art educators to model a connection between literacy and the arts for their students.
2008-2013 Hawthorn School District #73, Vernon Hills, Illinois.
Grades K-5 Art Teacher, Director of school & district-wide exhibits, Fine Art Standards Committee, Staff Development Teacher Leader, Artist Liaison. Spearheaded annual district-wide exhibition by partnering with the local library for Youth Art Month, a collaboration that awarded the library a generous grant from the Illinois Library Association in 2013.
2007-2008 Antioch School District #34, Antioch, Illinois
Grades 6-8 Technological Literacy Teacher, Technology Standards Committee, Technology Grant Recipient for authoring an animation unit.
Award Highlights
2014 ArtSlant 2nd 2014 Showcase Competition Winner
2014 ArtSlant 1st 2014 Showcase Competition Winner
2013 Best In Show, Mundelein Fine Arts Festival, Mundelein IL
2012 North Shore Proactive Health Purchase Award, Libertyville, IL
2012 Best In Show, David Adler Music & Arts Center Festival, Libertyville, IL
2012 Lauretta's Italian Bake Shop & Cafe Purchase Award, Mundelein Art Festival
2005 Chancellor’s Purchase Award, University of Wisconsin-Whitewater
Selected Exhibitions
2016, 10/25-11/19, Transition, TAG Gallery, Bergamot Station Arts Center, Santa Monica CA
2016, May-June, Loving Vincent animation intern, Break Thru Films, Gdańsk Park Naukowo - Technologiczny, Gdansk, Poland
2016, 5/20-6/4, In Transit, TAG Gallery, Bergamot Station Arts Center, Santa Monica CA
2016, 1/5-1/23, Spiritual Language featuring Homeboy Industries, TAG Gallery, Bergamot Station Arts Center, Santa Monica CA
2015, 10.17-11/21, Girls! Girls! Girls!, TAG Gallery, Bergamot Station Arts Center, Santa Monica, CA
2015, 02/24-3/21, 2015 Choreographed Color solo show, TAG Gallery, Bergamot Station Arts Center, Santa Monica, CA
2015, 02/12-2/15, 2015 Palm Springs Fine Art Fair, Palm Springs Convention Center, Palm Springs, CA
2015, 01/06-01/24, All Member Show, TAG Gallery, Bergamot Station Arts Center, Santa Monica, CA
2014, 7/14-11/01 Solo Exhibit, The Gallery, Big Bear Lake, CA, Curator: Stanley Miller
2014, 09/03-09/26, Red, Orange County Creatives Gallery, Laguna Beach, CA
2014 , 08/16-08/29, CA Art Open, TAG Gallery, Bergamot Station Arts Center, Santa Monica, CA
2014, 7/14-11/01 Summer Series Solo Exhibit, The Gallery, Big Bear Lake, CA, Curator: Stanley Miller
2014, 7/3-7/23 The Art of Dance, Las Laguna Gallery, Laguna Beach, CA
2014, 7/1-9/30 B*tch Fest “es mi lucha,” The Haggus Society, Los Angeles, CA
2014 Women Depicting Men, Las Lagunas Gallery, Laguna Beach, CA
2014 Chicago Polish Arts Club 78th Annual Art Exhibition, Polish Museum of America, Chicago, IL
2014 Fractured Yet Rising, ARC Gallery, Chicago, IL
2013-14 River East Arts Center, Chicago, IL, Curated by Christy Corso & Heather Artist Offord
2013 Notes From An Artist, James R. Lumber Center For Performing Arts, Grayslake, IL
2011-13 Mundelein Fine Art Festival, Mundelein, IL
2013 From Motion to Stillness, Zhou B. Art Center, Chicago, IL, Curator: Sergio Gomez
2012 David Adler Music & Arts Center Festival of the Arts, Libertyville, IL
2012 Featured Artist, Connect~Inspire~Grow, Hotel Palomar, Chicago, IL
2011 Fine Art Italy Group Show, 410 Gallery, San Francisco, CA, Curator: Jason Bowen
2011-14 Illinois Art Education Association Annual Conference Member’s Exhibition
2011 Corciano Summer Arts Festival, Corciano, Italy
Bibliography
Didi Mendez, “From Motion To Stillness,” Poets & Artists Magazine, February 2013
John Roszkowski,“Crowds see student art shows in Libertyville & Vernon Hills,” Vernon Hills Review, 03-29-12
Millie Naughton, “Grads pass on art passion honed at MHS,” Mundelein Review, 09-19-11
Stephanie Kohl, “Students’ artwork to be featured on state poster,” Mundelein Review, 12-16-10
Ben Carrel, “Dance Company offers Fun Pastime,” Royal Purple, 2-20-08
"Dance Troupe Presents 2008 Holiday Dance Show,” Sun Times, 11-14-08
Dani Schweigert, “An Art Adventure in Grayslake,” Lake County Journals, 01-28-08, pp. 1B
Michelle Lohmann, “Express Yourself,” Pioneer Press, 08-09-07, pp. 131
April Gumm, “Student’s Work Goes Off Campus,” Royal Purple, 10-27-04, pp. 9-11
Erica Wheelan, “Art Students Receive Awards,” Royal Purple, 04-30-03, pp. 9-12
Tim O’Donnell, “Fine Artists,” Lakeland Newspapers, 03-10-00, pp. A1
Commissions
2013 Notes From An Artist, College of Lake County, Grayslake, Illinois
2013 Millunchick Family Portrait, 30” x 40,” oil on stretched canvas
2012 Lindsey Hann, large abstract painting
2011 Gina Rizzo-Wierema, bedroom mural
2010 Hawthorn School District #73, outdoor mosaic series, “Perspective”
2009 Letty Sanchez, large abstract painting
2008 Phil & Kathleen Levine, Portrait of Phil and Coco
2006 Rebecca Osmon, portrait of Grandparents
2005 Michael Clobes, two portraits
2004 Greg Rothman, Self Portrait
2003 Paul Chadha, large surrealistic painting for law office
Collections
University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, Whitewater, Wisconsin (Chancellor Jack Miller): Stretch
Lauretta's Italian Bake Shop & Cafe, Mundelein, IL: several Italian en plein air oil paintings
Northshore Proactive Health, Libertyville, IL: Raise Me Up
Alfonse Corona, Mexico City, Mexico: Reflection
