Pat Sturtzel

Pat Sturtzel has five years of experience with VSA arts of Kentucky and the Kentucky Art’s Council’s Art Education Roster. Studying at the University of Louisville, Sturtzel has completed a variety of studio art, education and psychology classes, culminating in a Masters of Art degree in Art Therapy in 2002.  She has also taken a variety of Master Level Fiber arts classes focusing on textiles, surface design, and construction techniques.  Sturtzel has lived in Louisville, KY for over 30 years and has worked with numerous organizations for the past 25 years.  She has facilitated more than 30 group quilt projects, ranging in age from preschoolers to adults. 

Sturtzel volunteered fifteen years as a leader with various scout groups teaching a variety of merit badge related arts and crafts.  More recently, Sturtzel spent three years conducting art therapy groups with older adults and adults with chronic mental illness.   For an additional three years, she helped build and facilitate a fiber arts program for female Somali Bantu refugees. 

Personal Philosophy statement: My role as a teaching artist is to encourage students to trust their ability to be creative.  I work to balance the teaching of skills with encouraging creativity at the appropriate developmental level for participants. In teaching, I draw from my experience as both a fiber artist and an art therapist.  I work with the teacher/facilitator to develop a project/theme that supports learning in other areas. Activities include fabric surface design (dyeing and printing and stitching on fabric) mask-making and other 3-D techniques. I offer visual aids and hand-over-hand support as needed.