Art Educator Profiles
Alexandra Box is a teaching artist and arts professional who has worked as an Art Educator at the Art Gallery of Peterborough since 2024. Alexandra’s approach to art education is informed by accessibility and peer-to-peer learning where student knowledge is valued the same as the instructor. Beginning her own art education at Bealart and community ceramics classes, she has since maintained a studio practice across sculpture, ceramics, and book and print media. She holds a BFA in Visual Art and Curatorial Practices (2020) from Emily Carr University and an MA in Art History (2024) from the University of Toronto. Alexandra has worked in the culture sector as an artist, administrator, and educator for a decade and is committed to the creation and presentation of art. Alexandra is a contributor to the founding of Forest City Gallery’s Media Collaboratory, a low-barrier space for community education, professional development, production, and post-production resources. Alexandra also teaches ceramic workshops in public elementary and secondary schools through the Kawartha Potters Guild. Alexandra has been awarded several fellowships and residencies including with Medalta, Salt Spring Arts Council and Point Gallery. This year, Alexandra is completing a curatorial residency with the Gardiner Museum.
Bronwyn Cronin is a multidisciplinary artist and arts educator based in Peterborough, Ontario. She is an Art Educator at the Art Gallery of Peterborough and a Teacher’s Assistant at the Art School of Peterborough, where she is passionate about making art accessible and creating welcoming, inclusive spaces where people of all ages can connect, create, and grow through artistic exploration. Believing that art is about expression rather than perfection, Bronwyn’s teaching philosophy prioritizes process over product, empowering participants to take creative ownership, explore materials with curiosity, embrace mistakes as part of learning, and find joy in the act of making. Bronwyn holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts from NSCAD University with a minor in Art History. She also serves as a member of the Peterborough Public Art Jury and has experience as a stained glass apprentice, bringing a broad appreciation for both contemporary art and traditional craft to her teaching and artistic practice.
Lesley Givens is a graduate of Trent University (BA Cultural Studies), Nova Scotia College of Art and Design (BFA in sculpture and art history) and Queen’s University (B.Ed. Artist in Community Education specialization). As an innovative artist and art educator for over 25 years, Lesley strives to cultivate authentic learning experiences with an emphasis on exploring the creative process through community, collaboration and courageous risk taking. Her approach is holistic and collaborative, dedicated to building meaningful connections with well-being and engagement at the core.
Brooklin Holbrough is a Peterborough-based illustrator and art educator with a Bachelor of Design in Illustration from OCAD University. With a professional background in freelance illustration and mural work, Brooklin has collaborated with clients such as The Globe and Mail, Annick Press, and Folk Music Ontario. Over time, her creative practice has expanded to include community-based education, with recent workshops held at the Peterborough Public Library, including comics and zine-making sessions for youth. Deeply committed to fostering inclusive, arts-driven spaces, Brooklin brings a passion for teaching and a strong connection to the local arts community.
Casandra Lee is a visual artist and author, living in Peterborough, Ontario. Her work focuses on storytelling, inclusivity, and bright colours. Casandra has created work for ReFrame Film Festival, the City of Peterborough, and New Canadians Centre. Casandra has written and illustrated two children’s books, The Sun Dance (2014) and Building a Home (2021). She began oil painting in 2019 through classes at the Art School of Peterborough. Oil painting quickly became one of her favourite mediums. Her oil painting, Under an Apple Tree, was purchased by the City of Peterborough in 2023 and is currently on display at the Wellness Center.
Jeffrey Macklin is a Peterborough, Ontario based artist, working primarily with relief printing (letterpress) and mixed media. He often employs words as visual triggers, as well as present-day/historical pop-culture icons and figures in both his print work and his mixed media pieces.
Eliza McFarlane is a multi-media interdisciplinary artist and educator based in Nogojiwanong/Peterborough. She is currently completing her Bachelor of Education at Trent University with a focus on geography and visual arts for intermediate and senior grades. With a personal emphasis on alternative and land-based education, she is passionate about integrating creative expression and play-based learning into educational programming. Eliza holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Studio Arts from Concordia University, where she trained as a conceptual artist and explored oil painting, bronze casting, Intermedia production, printmaking, and site-specific, politically engaged art. Her current artistic practice centers on performance art, music, and craft-based media. She also brings a strong background in community-based education, holding a certificate in Social Justice in Education and having completed an alternative settings placement focused on land and Indigenous learning. Her leadership roles include serving as Fine Arts Representative with the Concordia Student Union, board member of Community University Television, and Student Co-Founder of the Solidarity Economy Incubator for Zero Emissions.
Laurel Paluck is an Artist-Educator with over 20 years of experience in leading and developing educational and exploration-based arts programming, as well as many community-based arts projects with the City of Peterborough, Kawartha Pine Ridge District School Board, Artsweek Peterborough, and the Art Gallery of Peterborough. Laurel has formal educational training in arts education and studio art practices from the Royal Conservatory, Ontario College of Arts, Humber College, and the Toronto School of Art.