Executive Director, Shelburne Craft School. As a Shelburne resident and lifelong learner, designer and crafter I can’t imagine a more perfect setting to connect people with a creative life. I am a passionate believer in the power of working with our hands, fostering exploration, and a community-focused teaching philosophy. I am thrilled to combine my experience in educational nonprofit leadership with my love and dedication to this community.

I'm a native Vermonter, now living in Chittenden County. I graduated from Montserrat College of Art with a Bachelor's Degree in Painting/Fine Arts, in 2003. In my formal artistic education, I focused primarily on classical painting, life drawing and art history. However, after a decade-long hiatus from painting, I've gravitated more toward landscape painting; finding interest in the methods of the American Tonalist painters, such as George Inness, and James McNeil Whistler.

Rik joined the Shelburne Craft School community in 2004, studying with Loreta Lanquet and Hoyt Berringer. In 2006, he started teaching kids clay classes at Burlington City Arts and became a studio assistant at the Shelburne Craft School. He is now the Craft School’s ceramics studio manager, teaches kids clay on the wheel, adult classes and is the community outreach instructor. He manages the open-studio schedule, studio monitors, kiln fires, and oversees equipment maintenance and supply ordering.

Born and raised in Buffalo, NY, Ryan has been a resident woodworker at the Shelburne Craft School since 2011. Ryan received his BA from SUNY Geneseo and a Masters of Education from Johnson State College. Ryan studied furniture-making at the Vermont Woodworking school as an apprentice under Bob Fletcher. Ryan manages the wood shop, adult woodworking classes, youth woodworking classes, and open studio nights.

Originally from Ottawa, Canada, I moved around often before settling in Burlington in the fall of 2016. Shortly after moving to Vermont, I signed up for a clay class at the Craft School, fell in love with the vibrant clay community, and I haven't looked back since. I look forward to engaging with the rest of the Craft School community as I transition into my role as the Student Services & Youth Programs Coordinator. When I'm not working with clay, you might find me baking a pie, spending time in my garden, weaving, or hanging out with my cat, Penelope.