Melinda Stender
EDUCATION
I am a definite Las Vegan. I moved here when I was 3. I grew up near Tropicana and Boulder Hwy. I went to Whitney Elementary when it was the oldest Elementary in the Valley. It was one building with 13 rooms. I went to Burkholder Middle school before they rebuilt it, and I went to Green Valley High School and then the Community College High School at the Henderson CSN campus.
Due to the Millenium Scholarship I attended the University of Nevada Las Vegas. Their art program is like the ugly step child, receiving little to no funding. I've heard that it has gotten better. I graduated with a BA in Art, my emphasis was photography but I didn't want to photograph weddings so I became a substitute teacher. I loved it so much that I went back to get my teaching credentials. Since then I have taught 14 years; 4 in elementary, 4 in middle school, and almost 7 in high school. I'm a general artist but have found my favorite medium, ceramics, that I have now taught for almost 7 years.
Influences
I am a nature girl at heart. I have an absolute love for the outdoors, the plants, and rock formations. Growing up, my family went camping multiple times a year to all the nearby states. I learned to appreciate the red rock formations of the Utah hills, the cherry blossom trees in spring, and the green moss of the woods.
Current projects
Two years ago my family purchased a 1 acre home. The house was built in the 60s and owned by smokers. We have since renovated the house and worked on countless other projects around the property. I have my own chickens, bunnies, ducks, and alpacas. This is what I do in my spare time along with trying to set up a studio space in my garage.
I also am a mom of 3 kids, wife, sister to 4, and a daughter. I'm also in the leadership of my church and the newsletter editor for the Nevada Clay Guild. This is what I do with my time so that leaves very little time for working on my art. So many of my pieces are special and only made once.