I have worked professionally as an artist for thirty years, and began my career as an artist working with community groups to create art. While an undergraduate at Brown University, I took a semester at the School of the Art Institute in Chicago ( a junior year 'across', rather than 'abroad'!). There was a wonderful class led by John Weber, with the Chicago Mural Group, teaching students the process of creating a community mural. I was hooked after one project, and from that point on, divided my work between doing studio work and working on participatory mural projects. This combined my interest in the field of fine arts with my strong leaning toward social activism.