RESUME
Ruth Basham Cisse
Upper East Side, New York, NY
FINE ARTIST AND ART/DANCE TEACHER
Summary
Compassionate, world-renowned fine artist and teacher provides highly-innovative pedagogy to children and adults. Sensitive to individual learning styles; Special needs experience; Clear; Organized; Great people skills; Enthusiastic; Sets healthy limits; Calm under pressure; Attentive to detail/aesthetics.
Teaching Experience
2014-present Sparkidz, PS6, New York, NY: Developed Dance and Yoga curriculum for children and teens with special needs
2014 The After School Workshop on Madison, PS6, New York, NY: Designed curriculum and taught art to elementary school children
2014-present Girl Scouts of Greater NY, PS6, New York, NY Designed and taught a colored pencil drawing/collage project on canvas for the Brownies; innovated a group painting on a 4'x4' canvas as a community-building project for Chop't Creative Salad Co., Upper East Side, Manhattan.
2014 Kids at Art, New York, NY: Assistant art teacher to Wendy Miller for kids' workshops
2012-14 P.S.6 Art Auction Chair, New York, NY: (projects packaged with donations by the Mark Rothko and Donald Judd Foundations). Innovated, planned, and elementary student art projects; Collaborated with co-chairs, art teacher, volunteers, and students; Works successfully auctioned
2012-present AHRC Art/Movement Instructor, New York, NY: Designed and developed curriculum for developmentally challenged/traumatic brain injury students. Managed a class of 15; Transformed emotional frustrations and behavior issues to be focused into the Art projects (included, mandalas, color wheel, color mixing, brain-balancing design templates, group projects); Tailored Dance class to balance left/right brain hemispheres, build coordination, strength, memory, and learn cross-cultural rhythms and dances.
2004-05 Rudolf Steiner School, Ann Arbor, MI: Innovated and taught Art and Dance. Art class curriculum for ages 5-10 based on 5 human values of love, peace, truth, right-conduct, and non-violence. Dance curriculum developed from yoga/ballet/West African Dance.
2004 Providence Hospital, Southfied, MI: Wellness Movement Lecture/Workshop
1999 Boysville Juvenile Detention Center, Chelsea, MI: Organized a team of co-workers, developed and executed art projects to inspire incarcerated youth to make good choices
1997-2006 Peter Sparling (Principal Martha Graham Dancer) Dance Company, Ann Arbor, MI: Performed with company in professional venues; Taught creative movement classical ballet/hip-hop/jazz,/modern/West African dance to ages 3 and up.
Education
2001 BFA in Drawing/Painting, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, Magna Cum Laude
1999 Kyoto-Seika University, Kyoto, Japan (summer session)
1994, 95 Exploring Ballet with Suzanne Farrell,Washington, D.C.
1991 School of American Ballet, New York, NY
Commissions
2001-13 Over 400 Works in the United States, Canada, England, Ireland, Africa, Japan, and Germany. Interviewed clients, innovated hand-rendered fine art/business logos/children's book illustrations based on specific requests for health/wellness goals.
Collections
Private: Hank Azaria; Tracy Ullman; Suzanne Farrell; Nancy Burson
Public: Chop't Upper East Side; Detroit Regional Chamber of Commerce, Detroit, MI
Exhibitions
2014 Sotheby's, PS6 Annual Aucion, New York, NY
2013 PS6 Annual Auction, Bohemian National Hall, New York, NY
2012 New Life Expo Solo Exhibition and Lecture, New York, NY
Press
2012, 2013 Participated in NY Sports Club Dance/Fitness Demos on CBS, Fox News, Channel 7
2005, 2006 National Jewish Post and Opinion, Focus on Healing, January/July Covers
2005 San Diego Jewish Times, February/April Covers
2005 Detroit Jewish News Platinum Lifestyle Magazine, Feb. Cover /Article, Art and Faith Awards
2001 Bachelor of Fine Arts Award; Dean's List all 4 years, University of Michigan Golden Key National Honor Society and Phi Delta Epsilon Iota (lifetime member)
Testimonials
Dear Ruth,
I received the mandala today. Great timing! I leave for London tonight and will give this to my daughter tomorrow. It's beautiful, and so well thought out--it is a lovely thing for our family to have.Thank you, Ruth!
Love,
Tracey Ullman, Grammy Winning Comedian and Actress, London
Whenever I look at my mandala painting, the image uplifts me. It captures the joy I feel around nature and the way I relate to and love the world in the deepest depths of my heart. It brings me joy and it reminds me of who I am if I am ever down in the dumps. It is on my work desk and I look at it daily.
Thank you, Ruth!
Teri, Performer, NYC