Deborah Yaskinsky
Studio #:
401
Medium:
Artist Website:
deborahyasinsky.com/section/180518.html

Biography

I began my career as a textile/surface designer. This training has informed my minds eye. I see the world at times through the lens of pattern and extreme focus. My work focuses on textures, patterns and scenes found in the natural and man made environments. The bark of a tree, texture on a rock or the patterning in a leaf all inspire my art. Most recently I have been exploring these themes through the immediacy of photography often in extreme focus. I also have been working with encaustics, which is painting with hot wax and pigmented wax. I work the wax with various brushes, heat tools and tools for texturing the surface. Sometimes I collage newsprint, gold leaf and other papers into the work. Many of my encaustic pieces are highly textured and washed with ink that enters the grooves and then wiped away from the top layer of wax. I have been exploring pulp painting and papermaking. The process of creating paper and painting with pulp joins together the medium and the finished product. Painting with pulp is a rich tactile experience. In my works on paper I have been exploring patterning, shades or gradations with ink washes of black and grays sometimes juxtaposed with gold leaf. I am drawn to exploring patterning and repetition, to imagery that resonates the qualities of fabric.

Events Participated In

(05/03/2014 - 05/04/2014) The 11th Annual YOHO Artists Open Studios
(04/17/2010 - 04/18/2010) The 7th Annual YOHO Artists Open Studio ~ featuring Earth Day exhibit, concerts & galleries

Resume

Deborah S. Yasinsky www.deborahyasinsky.com · deborahsofiayasinskyart@gmail.com
Artist Statement

I maintain a studio in Yonkers, NY working in multiple mediums including encaustic painting, photography, drawing, papermaking and printmaking. My work focuses on textures, patterns and scenes found in the natural and man-made environments. As a teaching artist I incorporate visual arts with ELA , history, science and math. I work with all ages and populations from Pre K – Senior Adults, special education and English Language Learners.

Experience

10/11 - Present Hudson River Museum, Yonkers, NY
Senior Museum Educator/Teaching Artist
Write interdisciplinary museum curriculum linked to common core standards for museum/school multi session partnerships for Pre-K – 12th grade.
Lead teaching artist sessions at museum partner schools, including public, private and parochial schools in Westchester and the Bronx.
Develop and teach STEM multi session partnerships for 8th graders that focus on scientific writing.
Collaborate with Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival to develop and teach a 9th grade multi-disciplinary partnership based on Shakespeare’s, Tempest with Hastings High School, NY.
Create and facilitate docent trainings for Pre-K – 12th grade museum school partnerships and school group visits of permanent and changing exhibitions.
Write science and art workshops for school groups and train workshop educators.
Source materials and teaching collection for art and science workshops, in school lessons, and tours.
Create and implement evaluation of existing programs.
Compose interpretive materials, including plays based on primary documents from the collection of the Hudson RiverMuseum’s collection, performed by costumed interpreters. Utilize multiple mediums as a teaching artist in school partnerships including, printmaking, drawing, collage, kinetic sculpture, relief sculpture, paper weaving and quilting, resist watercolor painting, movement, theatre, creative writing and poetry.

6/12 – 8/12 92Y Camps Mural Specialist All Camps
Students were led in community building experiences through mural making.
Students participated in the planning, sketching and painting of camp murals.
92Y camps included, Camp Yomi K – 4, Yomi Seniors, Camps Tova and Camp Bari Tov – Special Needs Camps.

6/11 – 8/11 92Y Camps Arts Specialist All Camps
Developed and led single session art-making with all 92Y camps, including Camp Yomi K – 4, Camp Teva-Nature Camp, Camps Tova and Camp Bari Tov – Special Needs Camps
. Maintained and ordered supplies.
Developed and led family day art making activities.

5/11 – 6/11 Wave Hill; A public garden and cultural center, NYC
Per Diem Environmental Educator - Consultant
Led school groups on focused environmental tours.
4/10 – 5/11 Theracare, NY
Special Education Itinerant Teacher/Early Intervention Special Instructor
Taught individual students in their classroom or home/natural environment.
Facilitated progress in academic, social and life skills goals as mandated on students IEP.

5/09 – 9/11 Hudson River Museum, Yonkers, NY
Museum Educator/Teaching Artist – Per Diem Developed and led adult and family inquiry based gallery tours to the public.
Developed and led gallery tours with integrated art-making workshops for families.
Created and implemented trainings for volunteer docents on inquiry based touring techniques and related art-making experiences.

9/09 – 2/10 Hudson River Museum, Yonkers, NY
Museum Education Consultant
Researched developed and presented curriculum training Junior Docents and staff on inquiry based interpretation of permanent and traveling exhibitions. These trainings incorporated theater activities, art making workshops and the development of critical thinking, communication, leadership and professional skills.
Developed and trained adult Docents for K-12 tours of the exhibition Dutch New York: The Roots of Hudson Valley Culture.

1/00 -11/01 Stepping Stones Museum for Children, Norwalk, CT
Gallery Programs Coordinator/Manager on Duty
Coordinated and implemented outreach programs.
Developed public and school group programming.
Participated in the design of gallery components and content.
Supervised gallery and program staff.
Collaboratively created and implemented education staff training.

9/97 - 12/99 Retired and Senior Volunteer Program, Norwalk, CT
Intergenerational Arts Coordinator
Created and implemented intergenerational art programs.
Developed and led community mural project after-school program in partnership with The Whitney Museum at Champion in Stamford, CT.
Recruited and supervised senior volunteers.

3/96 - 9/97 DSY Designs, Westport, CT Freelance Textile/Graphic Designer Designed brochures and logos, created illustrations and original textile designs.

9/93 - 2/96 Mayfair I.W., Inc., NYC
Textile/Surface Designer
Created original print designs, repeats, color ways, researched market and forecasting for print trends.


Education
5/09 Bank Street College of Education, NYC Master of Science in Education, specialization in Museum Education
1/94 Stern College, NYC Bachelor of Arts, Fine Arts/Illustration
6/93 Fashion Institute of Technology, NYC Associate in Applied Science, Textile/Surface Design Certifications
9/09 NYS Initial Certifications in Childhood Education Grades 1-6, Visual Arts Grades K-12, Students with Disabilities Birth Grade 2, and Students with Disabilities - Grades 1-6.
Artist Registeries/Professional Affiliations
American Association of Museums, NYCMER-New York City Museum Educators Roundtable, Westchester Arts Council, Lifetime Arts, PS1 Studio Visit, Art Slant, Local Artists .

Exhibitions
2014 Yoho Artists, Yonkers, NY
2014 Public Appliance, Yonkers, NY
2011 Yoho Artists, Yonkers, NY
2011 Blue Door Gallery, Yonkers, NY 2010 Yoho Artists, Yonkers, NY
2010 Yoho Artists, Yonkers, NY

Bibliography
Dowling, Nikki; “Riverdale artists paint the town next door.” The Riverdale Press. January 10, 2011.
Dowling, Nikki; “Local artists get creative to bring in buyers”, The Riverdale Press. November 11, 2010.
Pastor, Kate; "Riverdale artist border crossing", The Riverdale Press. April 22, 2010
Williams, Saul; “A mosaic of reasons to give thanks”, The Norwalk Hour. December 1, 2000. Pascopella, Angela; “Hot-air balloon project offers kids lofty experience”, Connecticut Post. November 11, 2000.
Diggs, Agnus; "Painting SoNo, Students, senior citizens join forces on mural", The Advocate. October 3, 1999.
Varese, Ashley; "Hands-on Heritage", The Norwalk Hour. September 23, 1999.
Herrmann, Michele; “Art Through the Ages”, Westport News. November 6, 1998.

References available upon request.