BIO: Teacher Ana

Our Heroes! Teacher Bio's

 

Ana Chaidez is a ‘round-the-way’ girl, born and raised in the northeast area of Los Angeles. The eldest of three girls, Ana got an early start engaging others in imaginative play. “I never went to preschool,” laments Ana, “and so I’m very much enjoying making up for lost time here at Cottage.” Before coming to Cottage, Ana was at a Piagetian Constructivist approach K-8th school in Long Beach. There, she taught art electives such as drawing, “clay play”, found art and even a pet-care elective that incorporated movement and theater! She also worked as an Atelierista at a Reggio Emilia approach pre-school in South Los Angeles. She loves working with children because “They remind me that there are endless possibilities, solutions and explanations to everyday events.”

In her own art, Ana uses found objects and paints with oils, acrylics, “basically anything I can get my hands on.” One of her favorite things is to find amazing pieces of wood or furniture that she can transform, usually on the side of the road! She has worked on many installations with renowned conceptual artist, Megan Geckler. Her handiwork can be seen currently at Lather in Pasadena and at the Bert Green Fine Art Gallery on Fifth and Main Street in downtown.

Ana enjoys playing guitar in a shoe gazer band called Teeeeeeeth she started with her friends. She is also vegan and enjoys gardening and cooking. She would someday like to be the author of children’s books.