I grew up in Hartford, CT. Growing up in a city and alongside different cultures sparked my love of exploring different regions and has shaped everything that I do.

I am a Multi-Passionate Entrepreneur. Painter, Photographer, Gardener, and Teaching Artist. I love viewing exhibitions, exhibiting my own work, traveling for inspiration, immersing myself in nature, creating programs running my small business from my home with my two girls.

 

EDUCATION:

  • 2006: Bachelor of Arts in General Regional Geography, Minor in Art                                                                         

  • 2009: Bachelor of Arts in Art Education, Minor, Drawing & Painting                                                         Central Connecticut State University, New Britain, CT

CERTIFICATIONS:

  • Fall 2009: Connecticut Teacher’s Art Certification, K-12, CCSU, New Britain, CT

  • Fall 2013: Master Gardener Certification, University of Connecticut, Hartford, CT

  • Spring 2020: The Science of Well-Being, Yale University, New Haven, CT

  • Fall 2020: Making Injustice Visible: Exploring the Complexity of Power and Participation, Harvard University, Project Zero Virtual Workshop.

  • Fall 2020: PZ Ideas in the Science Classroom, Harvard University, Project Zero Virtual Workshop

  • Fall 2020 Reiki I, Reiki Healing Connection, Wilton, NH

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS + DEVELOPMENT: 

  • 2023: Teaching Artist Training Institute (TATI) six sessions at Marquis Studio, Staten Island, NY

  • 2023: HOTSchools: PD Culturally Responsive Teaching Artists: Expanding Perspectives and Practices

  • 2023: HOTSchools: PD Mirror Neurons and Arts Integration

  • 2022: AFLCT: PD National Core Arts Standards

  • 2021: AFLCT: PD Social Emotional Learning

  • 2021: AFLCT: PD Culturally Responsive Teaching

  • 2019-present: Hartford Foundation internal list of Teaching Artist’s for Healing Arts

  • 2018: Seminar, (HOT) Schools Approach: Arts Integration - Reaching all Learners, NBMAA

  • 2017: Seminar, Mapping the Journey: Planning Effective Residencies by the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. 

  • 2015-present: Connecticut Women Artists, Inc

  • 2013: Connecticut Office of the Arts Visual Artist Registry

WORK EXPERIENCE:

2020- present: American Mural Project

  • Teaching Artist, lead all project sessions with students to create a mural Bolton Center School and small installations for the program Grow@Amp.

2019- present: Connecticut Arts for Learning

  • Teaching Artist, teach and provide programs of visual art curriculum to schools throughout CT

2012-present: Hartford Performs, Greater Hartford Art Council , Hartford, CT

  • Teaching Artist, teach and provide programs of visual art curriculum to Hartford Performs schools.

2008-present:  West Hartford Art League, West Hartford, CT

  • Teaching Artist, teach and provided curriculum for Painting, Drawing, Sculpture, and Color Drawing

2018-2019: New Britain Museum of American Art, New Britain, CT 

  • Teaching Artist, taught Adult Plein Air workshop Spring and Summer 

  • Teaching Artist, taught and provided mixed media curriculum for after-school program

2013-2019: Girls In Science Camp: Wesleyan University, Middletown, CT

  • Teaching Artist, collaborate with science faculty at Wesleyan University to create art curriculum that connects Science, Math and Arts. 

2010-2017: Green Street Art Center, Wesleyan University, Middletown, CT

  • Teaching Artist, taught and provided curriculum for Fine Arts.

2010-2011: Charter Oak Cultural Center, Hartford, CT

  • Artistic Administrator, position includes managing staff, coordination of all events including selecting artists, exhibitions, fundraising, social justice, commemorations and rentals.  

2009-2011:  Charter Oak Cultural Center, Hartford, CT

  • Art Handler, responsibilities include organizing of exhibition, installation, de-installation and tool and gallery furnishing.  Installed and de-installed over 40 exhibitions, including many local artists and well known artists for example, Ralph Steadman and Kurt Vonnegut exhibition 2010

  • Teaching Artist, taught and provided curriculum for after-school program

  • Teaching Artist, created community gardens at Burr Elementary + Naylor Elementary

VOLUNTEER WORK:

2012-2015: Artistic Edible Garden, NBMAA, New Britain, CT

  • Master Gardener, developed, implemented the first Artistic Edible Garden.  Garden supplied natural resources for the café chef including basil, mint, rosemary, thyme; its goal to create a holistic environment for the New Britain and urban community throughout CT.   

2010: ArtWalk, West Hartford Art League, West Hartford, CT

  • Photographed and documented annual ArtWalk event. 

2007: Real Art Ways, Hartford, CT

  • Internship, assisted in the collaboration of gallery events such as the ‘Creative Cocktail Hour’ that brings the greater Hartford community and artists together.

  • Reviewed artists’ files that were submitted for consideration in possible exhibitions.

  • Organized resumes, biographies and artist statements for each individual artists exhibition.

  • Assisted the Visual Arts Coordinator with ‘The Shadow Show, project involving 15 artists.

  • Apprenticed artist, Kambui Olujimi, in Dream Index exhibition

2001: Sandy Skoglund Art Exhibition, Hartford, CT

  • Assisted in the creation of installation & photography set

SOLO EXHIBITIONS:

  • 2017: Department of Transportation, Newington CT

  • 2013: Middletown North End Gallery Walk, Green Streets Art Center, Middletown, CT

  • 2012: Exhibit featured on NBC’s the feast, Sixpence Pie Company, Southington, CT

  • 2012: Moment in Time, The Buttonwood Performing Arts & Cultural Center, Middletown, CT

  • 2011: Compatta, The Mill House Gallery, Chester, CT

  • 2010: Familiar, Charter Oak Cultural Center, Hartford, CT

  • 2009: Explorations, Charter Oak Cultural Center, Hartford, CT      

GROUP EXHIBITIONS:

  • 2022: hARTford Love: A Neighborhood Art Initiative, Hartford, CT

    https://www.hartfordct.gov/Government/Departments/Mayors-Office/Mayor-Initiatives/LoveHartford/Artproject

  • 2021: Virtual Open Studio Hartford, Hartford Artspace, Hartford, CT

  • 2020: Open Studio Hartford virtual, Hartford Artspace, Hartford, CT

  • 2018: Open Studio Hartford, Hartford Artspace, Hartford, CT

  • 2017: Open Studio Hartford, Hartford Artspace, Hartford, CT

  • 2017: Art and Soul Fundraiser, Hartford Artspace, Hartford, CT

  • 2017: Art for Aids fundraiser, Hartford Artspace, Hartford, CT

  • 2017: WEHA Spring Art Show, Park road, West Hartford, CT

  • 2016: WEHA Holiday Pop Up Show, Park road, West Hartford, CT

  • 2016: Open Studio Hartford, Hartford Artspace, Hartford, CT

  • 2016: Art and Soul Fundraiser, Hartford Artspace, Hartford, CT

  • 2016: Envisionfest, Bushnell Park, Hartford, CT

  • 2015: Collective Voices, Windsor Art Center, Windsor, CT

  • 2015: Art in the Park, Manchester, CT

  • 2015: Get Baked, Art Pop up Show, Windsor, CT

  • 2015: Art for Aids, Artspace, Hartford, CT

  • 2014: Holiday Shopping Fair, Old State House, Hartford, CT

  • 2014: Open Studio Hartford, Colt Gateway, Hartford, CT

  • 2014: Hodgepodge, State House Square, Hartford, CT

  • 2014: Envisionfest, Bushnell Park, Hartford, CT

  • 2014: Old Country Fair, Willimantic, CT

  • 2014: Colt Café, Colt Building, Hartford, CT

  • 2014: Middletown Art Walk, Middletown Framing, Middletown, CT

  • 2014: Whole Foods, Flatbush ave, Hartford, CT

  • 2013: Open Studio Hartford, Arbor Arts Center, Hartford, CT

  • 2013: Group Show, Art In Action, Artspace, Hartford, CT

  • 2013: Group Show, Aetna building, Hartford, CT

  • 2013: Group Show, Windam Artspace, Willimantic, CT 

  • 2013: Middletown Art Walk, Wesleyan University Green Street Art Center, Middletown, CT

  • 2013: Art for Aids, Artspace, Hartford, CT

  • 2013: Open Heart Fundraiser, Artspace, Hartford, CT

  • 2013: Holiday Craft Fair, Mac650, Middletown, CT

  • 2012: North End Gallery Walks, Green Street Art Center, Wesleyan University, Middletown, CT

  • 2012: Sixpence Pie, Monthly artist exhibit, Southington, CT

  • 2012: Museum After Dark, annual fundraiser, New Britain Museum of American Art, New Britain, CT

  • 2012: Hammered and Nailed II, Art Space, Hartford, CT

  • 2012: What Makes Us Happy or Love, Romance & Chocolate exhibit, Willimantic, CT

  • 2012: Forgeries, annual fundraiser (donated artwork), Charter Oak Cultural Center, Hartford, CT

  • 2011: Museum After Dark, annual fundraiser, New Britain Museum of American Art, New Britain, CT

  • 2011: Halloween, Paris in Plantsville, Collinsville, CT 

  • 2011: Group Show, Mac 650 Art Space, Middletown, CT

  • 2011: Hammered and Nailed, Art Space, Hartford, CT

  • 2010: Forgeries, Charter Oak Cultural Center, Hartford, CT

  • 2010: Faculty Exhibition, West Hartford Art League, Blue Back Square, West Hartford, CT

  • 2010: Trio Artist, Green Streets Wesleyan University, Middletown, CT                     2010: Camera Works, Ridgefield Guild of Artists, Ridgefield, CT

  • 2010: Group Show, The Gallery on Main, East Hartford, CT                                     2009: Art Educators Exhibition, Central Connecticut State University

  • 2009: Forgeries, Charter Oak Cultural Center, Hartford, CT                                         2009: The Night at the Museum, New Britain Museum of American Art

  • 2009: Gala, Charter Oak Cultural Center, Hartford, CT

  • 2008: Forgeries, Charter Oak Cultural Center, Hartford, CT

  • 2010: Camera Works, Ridgefield Guild of Artists, Ridgefield, CT

  • 2010: Group Show, The Gallery on Main, East Hartford, CT                                                                                     2009: Art Educators Exhibition, Central Connecticut State University

  • 2009: Forgeries, Charter Oak Cultural Center, Hartford, CT                                                                               2009: The Night at the Museum, New Britain Museum of American Art

  • 2009: Gala, Charter Oak Cultural Center, Hartford, CT

  • 2008: Forgeries, Charter Oak Cultural Center, Hartford, CT

PUBLISHED:

  • 2016: Newington LIfe, cover page, August issue, Newington, CT

  • https: //view.publitas.com/p222-6222/nl_0817_layout/page/1

  • 2016: Rocky Hill Life, pg.23, September issue, Rocky Hill, CT 

  • https://view.publitas.com/p222-6222/rhl_0917_layout/page/22-23

  • 2014: The Hartford Courant, Colt Building featured Mytowns, Hartford, CT

  • 2013: The Hartford Courant, Green Streets Arts Center, Middletown North End Gallery Walk, 2013: The Helix, April Spring 2013 edition, Colt Building, CCSU, New Britain, CT, 

  • 2012: Jolt Literary Journal, University of Mary Washington, Fredericksburg, VA             <http://jolt.umwblogs.org/meredith-arcari/>

  • 2012: Otto, Tunxis University, New Britain, CT

  • 2011: Green Streets Newsletter, Shining Orchestra, Wesleyan University, Middletown, CT

  • 2011:  The Helix, Owl, Central Connecticut State University, New Britain, CT

  • 2010: Green Streets Newsletter, Sepino, Wesleyan University, Middletown, CT

  • 2010: iTowns, The Crowd, Hartford Courant, Hartford, CT 

  • 2009: iTowns, Twin, Hartford Courant, Hartford, CT

  • 2008: iTowns, Schoolgirl Looking, Hartford Advocate, Hartford, CT