“Inspiring Artistic Voices” Artist Talk

Date: Sat, Feb 1 at 2pm

Listen to the educator-artists of Inspiring Artistic Voices talk about their own creative processes, inspiring their students, and the story behind their work. Free to attend!

About the Artists

Shannon M. Gagne is the Supervisor of Visual Art Education K-12 for Simsbury Public Schools, and an Art Teacher at Simsbury High School. She received her B.F.A. from Maryland Institute College of Art with a concentration in sculpture and ceramics.  Shannon has a masters of arts in liberal studies from Wesleyan and received her teaching and administrative certificate from Central Connecticut State University. Shannon is also an active member of the Connecticut Association of Arts Administrators.  Shannon is an exhibiting artist and most recently participated in a group show at the Hygienic Art Gallery in New London.

Artist Statement: “As an exhibiting artist, I find myself inexorably drawn to the mesmerizing beauty of the natural world, with its ever-changing landscapes and the boundless expanse of the ocean. My name is Shannon Gagne, and my artistic journey is a heartfelt exploration of the coastline’s allure and the profound connection it fosters between humanity and nature. Through a diverse range of media including digital photography, mixed media compositions, ceramics, and fused glass mosaics, I endeavor to encapsulate the ethereal essence of these environments while inviting viewers to contemplate their own place within the intricate tapestry of existence. Ceramics and fused glass mosaics allow me to translate the textures, colors, and emotions evoked by the coastline into tangible forms. With clay, I mold organic shapes that mirror the contours of seashells and pebbles, imbuing them with a sense of tactile connection. The process of crafting fused glass mosaics echoes the ocean’s kaleidoscopic play of light and water, inviting viewers to immerse themselves in its shimmering depths. In a world that often rushes by, my work stands as a testament to the timeless beauty that surrounds us and the interwoven narrative of life on this planet. As you engage with my pieces, I invite you to journey with me along the shoreline, where the eternal dance of the waves meets the footprints of humanity, and together, we find solace, connection, and a renewed sense of wonder.”

Stephanie Lauretano manipulates materials and processes as a way of exploring dichotomy and life identity in her work. She received her BFA in Painting and Glass from Alfred University School of Art & Design, her MS in Education from the University of Bridgeport, and her MFA in Painting from the Hartford Art School. Utilizing process as content, Stephanie focuses on burning and markmaking in her 2D and 3D works. Recent shows include Seeing the Unseeable at Atlantic Gallery, NYC and Grace & Grit at Northwestern Connecticut Community College, Winsted, CT. A high school art educator in Simsbury, she has also been an Artist in Residence at the Farmington Valley Arts Center in Avon, Connecticut.

Artist Statement: “I am searching for a delicate balance in my work; one that portrays my search for harmony in chaos. I am interested in a balance of simplicity versus complexity; control versus non-control; and of absence versus presence. I set up these relationships but can’t foresee exactly how they will end up. These systems take the form of repetition, and the process of repeating marks is at once meditative and an order in and of itself. 

Process and repetition have always been part of my work, and now serve as content. The marks or components are no longer primarily expressive, they have become increasingly self-referential. Incorporated into my planning is the relationship of the materials and process, with a testing of the limits of the materials.

My work is quietly autobiographical; the materials and processes I use surround me and tell of my life identity. I strive for perfection in my work and in the different areas of my life, but the beauty lies in the imperfections; in the flaws. Through my use of systems, order, repetition, and process I explore control, balance and the dichotomy between the contemporary world and the individual. Systems imply structure and order, but when combined or countered with the methods, processes and materials I employ, it becomes apparent that as individuals and as members of contemporary society, we cannot fully be in control.”

Laurel Archambault is an Art Educator in the Simsbury Public School system. She also serves as a TEAM Mentor and Master Mentor for the Simsbury district. Over the past 5 years, she has also served as a National Portfolio Scorer for the EdTPA program in the area of Art Education and also serves as the Gallery Director for the Henry James Gallery. She received her B.A. in Language Arts at the University of Connecticut. Laurel also has a M.S. in Art Education from Central Connecticut State University, a 6th year degree from CCSU with a concentration in Sculpture and a 7th year degree from the University of New England. Laurel actively creates art, often donating pieces to such causes as “Art for Aids” Hartford, “Tails of Northwest CT” to benefit non-profit businesses, and “Artists for World Peace” 

Artist Statement: “I strive to explore the dynamic interplay between movement, flight, and strength. Drawing inspiration from the ever-evolving nature of life, I seek to capture the essence of these interconnected concepts in multiple ways including sculpture, painting, drawing, sculptural relief and digital media.    

Movement serves as the foundation of my artistic expression. Just as life is in constant flux, so too are my creations. I use organic forms and materials to evoke a sense of vitality and transformation, conveying the inherent motion and energy found within all things. I strive to ignite the viewer’s imagination, inviting them to become an active participant in the visual narrative, as they witness the fluidity and life force captured within my artwork.  

Flight represents freedom, liberation, and the ability to soar beyond limitations. I integrate images of wings, birds, and other avian elements in my artwork to evoke a sensation of weightlessness and the pursuit of dreams. By exploring flight as a metaphor, I encourage viewers to embrace their aspirations, spread their wings, and break free from the constraints that hold them back.

Strength, both physical and emotional, is an underlying theme within my work. By capturing the essence of inner power, I strive to inspire resilience and courage in the face of adversity, to convey the indomitable spirit that lies within all of us. Strength becomes the driving force behind my art, serving as a visual reminder that even in the most difficult times, as I experienced in the loss of my parents, we possess the fortitude to prevail.

My work explores the intricate dance of life, capturing the fluidity, resilience, and transformative energy that shape our existence. Through my creations, I hope to inspire and encourage viewers to embrace their own journey, finding solace, empowerment, and renewal in the ever-changing tapestry of life.”

Kristie Arbesman is currently an art educator at Simsbury High School and teaches a variety of classes: Fashion Design, Unified Arts, and Art 1. She has taught art in CT public schools for over 16 years. Kristie received her BS from Valparaiso University in Fashion Merchandising, Art, and Business in 1992. She received her teaching certification from Central CT State University in 1996, and her Masters Degree in Supervision and Leadership in the visual arts from Bank Street College of Education & Parsons School of Design in 2001. Kristie has participated in group shows at the Underground Gallery in Canton, CT, Elton Tavern in Burlington, CT, Artspace, Hartford – Art for Aids, and was a featured and participating artist at Artspace in Torrington, CT.   

Artist Statement: “My journey in art making represents my personal development, uniqueness, and individual beauty as I see nature and the expansive spaces around us. Just as the branches of a tree strengthen and grow upwards to the sky, I too grow stronger, striving for greater knowledge, wisdom, and new creative experiences as I move through life. Creating art over time has given me courage and strength to explore a range of media and recreate how I see the natural world.” 

Thea Wilcox Ciciotte earned a BFA from the Hartford Art School at The University of Hartford in 1997, and in 2011 an MALS degree from Wesleyan University. From 1999-2004 She worked as a collections and studio assistant for the renowned, conceptual artist, Sol Lewitt in Chester, CT. Thea has been an Art Educator at Simsbury High School in Simsbury, CT since 2004. For over three decades, she has been working with both non objective and symbolic narrative imagery. 

Artist Statement: “Being blessed with ADHD has given me the courage to jump from one idea to the next. It allows for the exclusion of self consciousness and preconceived expectations. However, when interested in a particular topic, the investigatory rabbit hole is amongst my favorite journeys. Being blessed with dyslexia has allowed me to think upside down and backwards. This fortunate predicament coexists with the caveat of staying organized. The philosophy of Yin and Yang is woven throughout my processes and imagery, organizing, balancing, and dangling on the precipice and crossroads of ideas and life. I utilize and manipulate the concepts of chaos versus control, implied versus actual, and organic versus geometric to illustrate balance, harmony, destruction and deconstruction. My work is influenced by the world around me. I create meditative sacred geometry when I am stressed or at peace. I illustrate politics when I am outraged. I narrate fantasy and the surreal when I am storytelling or escaping reality. I draw through observation while I am studying my environment, and I doodle to stop myself from fidgeting.”    

Sara McLaughlin is a Connecticut based ceramic artist, and art educator. Sara has been an art educator in Connecticut public schools since 2018. Currently she teaches in Simsbury, where she brings her passion of clay to the classroom. She graduated in 2018 with her Bachelors of Science in Art Education, from Central Connecticut State University, where she is also currently working toward her Masters.

Artist Statement: “The majority of my work attempts to bridge the gap between the worlds of traditional tattoo art and fine art. I create forms inspired by classical ceramics, and contemporary sculpture, then adorn them with my own personal renditions of traditional tattoo imagery. I combine two of my interests in this process. I draw the designs digitally, then use printed versions of them, as if they are tattoo stencils to transfer them on clay. As I first began exploring surface treatments on clay, particularly the technique of Mishima, I recognized the similarities to the process of tattooing. As my hands drag the ball pointed tool across the surface of the clay, I imagine pulling a needle through human skin. The black underglaze filling the carvings, is like ink being incised in the many layers of skin. Scraping away excess underglaze, revealing narrow and tidy lines, is like wiping away ink and plasma with a damp paper towel. The slow drying process of the clay, reminds me of the healing of a new tattoo. This process has always felt so intriguing to me, perhaps because I have always been curious about becoming a tattoo artist, but fear the permanence of tattooing on someone else’s body has always stopped me. The process of Mishima allows me to engrave my designs into a less permanent surface. The realization of the similarities of these artistic approaches is what sparked my interest in creating tattoo designs on the surface of clay. 

 While my process is personally satisfying, I also hope that by displaying these works, my audience will begin to consider the rich history and artistic practices of tattooing, in the same high regard as they would fine art that is typically found in galleries and museums. I hope that the audience will reflect inward on their own personal judgements and question what makes them have these judgements, and if it’s possible to move beyond them?”

Andrew Mullen is a visual artist and art educator living in Granby, CT.  He works as a graphic designer, illustrator, and freelance artist.  He has been teaching Art for the last 17 years and has found a home in the Simsbury Public Schools bringing his love for Art of all kinds to the classroom.  Andrews’ work appears in private and public collections throughout the United States.  He received his masters degree from Boston University in 2012 and is constantly pursuing new ways of expanding his knowledge of the arts.

Artist Statement: “As a visual artist I have chosen to pursue work in many different mediums but none of them have captured my attention quite like scratchboard. This particular material offers me the perfect canvas to explore my passion for texture, movement, and line. For the subject matter of my scratchboard work I have chosen to focus on my past experience and my current location, both geographically and emotionally. Now that I am in my forties I have the opportunity to examine my own life experiences a little closer and reflect on them through the filter of my memory. These concepts and ideas are what drive me as a person and inspire me as an artist.”

Megan Lavoie has been an art educator at Simsbury High School for over 10 years. She has earned her BFA from Uconn in 2009, Teacher Certification from CCSU in 2013, and Masters in Art Education from CCSU in 2019.  At the high school, Megan served as National Art Honors Society advisor and Simsbury Arts Association teacher and leader. Teaching photo, animation, and design in a computer lab setting has put technology in the forefront of her artwork. Past work has combined video projections over paintings and manipulation of photos to explore personal topics such as food allergies.  Her most recent show was titled “Food Circus”at the Stockman Gallery in New Britain, CT.

Artist Statement: “No matter the media, I am always exploring my internal conflicts between emotion and thought. As a private person, I find my inner voice to be strongest in my art and a safe space to be vulnerable.  Past series of work have explored personal topics that helped me navigate grief; grief of a past, present, or future life that doesn’t exist. A life without food allergies, for example, sounds nice but will never be mine. A life without death of loved ones, without trauma, and without hesitations sounds nice, but will never be mine. In my current body of work, see how I use pattern and digital manipulation as a way to control the narrative of parallel stories of the present and navigate the most recent grief that came out of what I call the Covid Years.”