Bio

Sheryl Crowley was always a kid who lived inside her imagination. She had the great fortune to grow up among a close community of artists and craftspeople. Their examples of openness, compassion and exploration became key influences that later contributed to her artistic outpouring; expressions of her inner life connected to an artist’s interpretation of the tangible and complex world around her. She has had multiple solo and group exhibitions and her mural installations grace the YMCA of Greater Saint John, the Imperial Theatre and the Jubilee Cruise Ship Terminal in Saint John. Sheryl is a Juried Member of CraftNB, and a Professional Member of both Canadian Artists Representation Le Front Des Artistes Canadiens (CARFAC) and ArtsLinkNB.

Residency Project

Much of my work with students have involved the translating children’s drawings into large scale murals. Children’s drawings have such joy and carefree whimsy that are lovely to capture in a permanent piece that all students can enjoy. I strongly feel that all children, all people have an innate ability to be creative. Creativity comes through not just in art or music or dance but in every aspect of our lives if we cherish and cultivate it. I strive to encourage this discovery in each child I work with. In brainstorming and sketching with the children, their drawings can tie into current world themes, ideas explored in other curriculum, and universal ideas such as friendship, welcoming new children into the community, empathy, joy, imagination, dreams or what holds the greatest importance to them. The students are involved in every step of the project from brainstorming ideas – to design – to creating the art piece with the designated materials. You may see past projects I have done with children on my website at https://www.fracturedartmosaics.net/outreach

Teaching Experience

Sheryl has both a Bachelor of Music and a Bachelor of Education from Mount Allison University. She taught for 9 years in the public school system as a music specialist and as a grade 3 classroom teacher. Adult and Youth mosaic classes have been given by Sheryl through the University of NB Extended Learning, the Saint John Arts Centre, the Saint John Multicultural and Newcomers Resource Centre, Honeybee Folk School, Estey Art Inc. and the ARTrageous Festival at Kingsbrae Gardens. She has worked collaboratively with children in K-12 grades in multiple School Residencies both in the Anglophone and Francophone South Education Regions.

Portfolio Description

1. Bayside Middle School in Saint John, NB. Mosaic mural using glass tile about the experiences of middle school kids during Covid. The design came from brainstorming and sketching sessions with students (2022).

2. Belleisle Regional High School Glass On Glass Mosaic with a small group of students. Design created through discussion and sketching with students. This piece is meant to send a message that LGBTQ2 are welcome and safe here. The large bear is the High School symbol. The baby bear is the symbol for the nearby elementary school. It hangs in the window of the High School library. (2020-21)

3. École des Pionniers, Quispamsis - The whole school had gathered plastic caps, which are not recyclable, for several years. Multiple grade of the school took part in creating a bottle cap mural of their school logo. (2021)

4. Millidgeville North School, Saint John - Mosaic Mural of Multiculturalism. The students helped to create the design and used ceramic tile, cutting tools, grout and mastic in the process. This is waiting to be hung in the school, outside the art room. (2020-21)

5. Forest Hills Middle School, Saint John. The Carty Brothers are part of the black history of Saint John. Five brothers who all went to fight in WW2 and returned safely home. Each 2x3ft portrait was done by a single class using acrylic skins made by the students and then having them collage them over the boards to cover the surface. I made stencils of the 5 men and the students used a combination of dark colours to stencil the portraits over the skins. These works were then exhibited at the Black History Museum in Saint John and will then be mounted at the school. (2022-23)