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
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