Michael Anderson

I grew up outside of Minneapolis, Minnesota in a family of teachers. Though I have lived on four continents, I still hold true to the fundamental traits I learned in my Midwestern home: a strong work ethic, a humble disposition, and a compassionate regard for others.

My life has taken me places I never would have imagined as a child, and I am grateful for every step along the path. I never imagined I would become a teacher. It was simply a natural unfolding of who I am and how I relate to the world. I am a student of the world – always uncovering, examining, contemplating, discovering, re-examining, synthesizing, and taking in what is to be explored.

Music, travel, and photography are great passions of mine. At the age of twelve, I built my first pinhole camera from the directions in a Kodak booklet, and I’ve been photographing ever since. I learned to play the guitar at the same age, and it has been a lifelong companion to me. Travel, for me, is about personal discovery. I had little opportunity to travel far from home as a child, and I feel very fortunate to have been able to explore many new corners of the world in my adulthood.  Whether it be studying Tibetan tanka painting in the Himalayas, or working for an NGO in the Peruvian Andes, I am inspired and energized by travel that builds bridges of understanding. Being a mindful and artful traveler is something I have encouraged through workshops and excursions with my colleagues, and through class trips with my students.

For me, teaching is about sharing the romance of what it is to be truly enchanted by the world. I believe art is about very much the same thing.