Kristin L. Tollefson

 

Primary Discipline: Visual Arts

Areas of Specialty: Sculpture, Public Art, Craft (wire and textile techniques)

Additional Disciplines/Specialties: Literary Arts, Music, Performance Art, Poetry, Sound Art

 

Based in: Bainbridge Island
Phone: 206-331-1857
Email: klt@raincity.com
Website: www.floraform.blogspot.com

 

Biography: Kristin Tollefson received her MFA in Metalsmithing from Cranbrook Academy of Art and a BA, Cum Laude, in Anthropology/Sociology and Art History from Carleton College. She has received numerous grants and awards from organizations including Fulbright, The American-Scandinavian Foundation, Bainbridge Island Arts & Humanities Council, Artist Trust, and Jack Straw. Kristin’s art has been featured in print in Fiberarts Design Book 7, Metalsmith Magazine, and An Island in Time. Her sculptures can be seen at the Montlake Community Center and Magnolia Library in Seattle. Tollefson has taught in the public schools as a lecturer and a visiting artist. She has also mentored teachers through a program sponsored by the Bainbridge Island Arts and Humanities Council Arts Consortium. She currently manages and teaches in the Art Docent program at Blakely Elementary School.

 

When asked about her approach as a Teaching Artist, Ms. Tollefson wrote this: "When I teach, I engage students both verbally and visually; lectures and sharing of images complement the students’ own personal work. I am drawn to the connections between language and art and many of my classroom projects include both. My teaching is also influenced by my experience as an installation artist, a sound artist, a public artist and as an art history and anthropology major and landscape gardener. I work one on one with students so that I am able to meet the needs of a variety of learning styles. Individual discussions with students about their work allow students to share their work without fear of judgment. As a specialized instructor within the classroom I am able to draw connections to curricular directions while introducing kinesthetic and creative ways of working that complement the classroom teacher’s approach. I augment the curriculum with specialized instruction and an artistic angle that offers the classroom teacher additional approaches to teaching."

 

Suitable for Grades: K-12
Preferred Grades: K-12

Curriculum Integration Possibilities: Literacy/Reading/Writing, Math, Science, History/Social Studies,Technology, Other Arts Disciplines

 

Additional Interests/Experience:

• Leading Professional Development workshops for K-12 Teachers

 

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