Darlene resides in West Caldwell, New Jersey, so mainly participates in online instruction at BAC with an occasional trip to the Berkshires to participate in community. She has always believed that art is a way to present our souls to the world without the structure or reason of words. Although her first love is photography, she finds collage to be similar in the way that its composition takes form, creating an artistic embodiment unique to the moment, filled with mood and self-expression. She intuitively connects vintage books, found objects, self-created papers, and magazines; gathering pictures, letters, colors, and shapes, allowing the art to take form without thought or judgment. Oftentimes, the pieces seem to create themselves, as surreal manifestations. The materials she uses in her art are nearly 100% repurposed and reused. Her style is intuitive, art without thought or "rules." It's freeing and raw and hopefully allows the viewer to think and see the world in a different way as they turn “trash” into treasure.
A special educator by trade, Darlene has extended her love of teaching to collage. She has taught at The Berkshire Art Center, My Collage Lab in Fort Worth, TX, and The West Orange Arts Council in New Jersey. She is currently collaborating with a non-profit local coffee shop that employs persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Her art has been presented locally in libraries and coffee shops, with an occasional gallery appearance. She is delighted to be part of the faculty at BAC among such talented artists.