Lisa Stanley spent her childhood in Ithaca, NY, Virginia, and Illinois. She says she always made art, no matter where she was going to school, adding, “I studied all kinds of art in college and graduated from MassArt in Boston and later went to Lesley University for my master’s degree.”
She still loves many books from her childhood. “A few of my favorites are Charlotte's Web, all of the Dr. Seuss books, and of course, Harold and the Purple Crayon. I must confess to using a purple crayon on the walls when I was very little, so Harold was a kindred spirit. And speaking of kindred spirits, I also loved the Anne of Green Gables books.”
She started cooking at a very early age (2!). She says she “always loved to paint and draw, and visit all the local farm animals (the Cornell University barns were right down the road from my home in Ithaca). As a child, she built forts, used lots of rocks to engineer dams in local streams, trout fished in the many small streams in the Ithaca area, rode her bike, camped, hiked, and swam. “I especially liked to explore old abandoned farms where foundation ruins could tell a lot about the original homes and barns.”
She now continues to draw and paint just about every day. “I love animals, especially my dog and cat, and I love to hike and explore outside. I love looking at animal tracks, especially in fresh snow. I enjoy cooking and putting up (canning) food from the garden and sharing a good meal. I also love sewing, swimming, making art, and spending time with my family.”
Lisa began teaching at Nashoba Brooks in 1984. She says, “I’ve seen a lot of change at Nashoba Brooks, and it’s always interesting, exciting, and stimulating — these are some of the reasons I’ve chosen to be part of the Nashoba Brooks community. I’ve had the privilege of working with great students and wonderful colleagues. I’m especially fortunate to be working with a fabulous and dedicated art educator, Kara Angeloni Williams! There’s never a dull moment in the studio: each student has a unique way of bringing their own point of view and problem-solving to every creative endeavor. I love Nashoba Brooks students!”
She still loves many books from her childhood. “A few of my favorites are Charlotte's Web, all of the Dr. Seuss books, and of course, Harold and the Purple Crayon. I must confess to using a purple crayon on the walls when I was very little, so Harold was a kindred spirit. And speaking of kindred spirits, I also loved the Anne of Green Gables books.”
She started cooking at a very early age (2!). She says she “always loved to paint and draw, and visit all the local farm animals (the Cornell University barns were right down the road from my home in Ithaca). As a child, she built forts, used lots of rocks to engineer dams in local streams, trout fished in the many small streams in the Ithaca area, rode her bike, camped, hiked, and swam. “I especially liked to explore old abandoned farms where foundation ruins could tell a lot about the original homes and barns.”
She now continues to draw and paint just about every day. “I love animals, especially my dog and cat, and I love to hike and explore outside. I love looking at animal tracks, especially in fresh snow. I enjoy cooking and putting up (canning) food from the garden and sharing a good meal. I also love sewing, swimming, making art, and spending time with my family.”
Lisa began teaching at Nashoba Brooks in 1984. She says, “I’ve seen a lot of change at Nashoba Brooks, and it’s always interesting, exciting, and stimulating — these are some of the reasons I’ve chosen to be part of the Nashoba Brooks community. I’ve had the privilege of working with great students and wonderful colleagues. I’m especially fortunate to be working with a fabulous and dedicated art educator, Kara Angeloni Williams! There’s never a dull moment in the studio: each student has a unique way of bringing their own point of view and problem-solving to every creative endeavor. I love Nashoba Brooks students!”
Kara Angeloni Williams grew up in Norwell and attended the public schools there. She reports Norwell was a small town (she graduated with only 97 kids) and she loved knowing all of her peers. After high school, she attended Bowdoin College and “fell in love with Maine. It was close but far and became a home away from home.” At Bowdoin, she studied art history and visual arts and helped start a craft center on campus that enabled all students to have a space to make art. After college she worked at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston where she says, “I was surrounded by the most incredible works of art, but spent far too much time sitting behind a computer scheduling meetings and filing. While at the MFA I learned about the School of the Museum of Fine Arts (SMFA) teaching program in affiliation with Tufts University. It was a perfect fit: I got to combine my love of art and children.”
When she was growing up, her favorite books were Charlotte’s Web, Amelia Bedelia, “and I have to admit, The Babysitters Club!” She adds, “Growing up, my mother ran her own daycare business, so our home was always full of kids. As I got older I continued to do a lot of babysitting and have always loved being around children. I have three small children (Audrey 5, Elsa 3.5, and Lena 15 months), so my hobbies now include playing LEGOS, having dance parties, changing lots of diapers, cooking and cleaning constantly, and one of my favorite parts — starting my own collection of art made by my girls. The walls in my house are covered and it is priceless!”
Kara is in her 11th year at Nashoba Brooks and declares, “I feel like I have the best job in the world. Every day, I get to be a part of the creative process of children. It is fascinating to get a glimpse into their imaginations through the art-making process and I just have to open my door to collaborate with my mentor and friend, Lisa Stanley. She has taught me more about art and exploring materials than anyone!”
When she was growing up, her favorite books were Charlotte’s Web, Amelia Bedelia, “and I have to admit, The Babysitters Club!” She adds, “Growing up, my mother ran her own daycare business, so our home was always full of kids. As I got older I continued to do a lot of babysitting and have always loved being around children. I have three small children (Audrey 5, Elsa 3.5, and Lena 15 months), so my hobbies now include playing LEGOS, having dance parties, changing lots of diapers, cooking and cleaning constantly, and one of my favorite parts — starting my own collection of art made by my girls. The walls in my house are covered and it is priceless!”
Kara is in her 11th year at Nashoba Brooks and declares, “I feel like I have the best job in the world. Every day, I get to be a part of the creative process of children. It is fascinating to get a glimpse into their imaginations through the art-making process and I just have to open my door to collaborate with my mentor and friend, Lisa Stanley. She has taught me more about art and exploring materials than anyone!”