Donate

MAPS

music. art. puppet. sound.

MAPS is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that brings art and music education to youths from many different socioeconomic backgrounds. We strive to create imaginative art making spaces where participants can thrive as they explore a range of artistic media. We hope to spark deep curiosity about ideas and process, encourage creative friendships and give kids the freedom to play and invent. We believe that creative practice can provide emotional and social support in trying times and difficult circumstances.

Learn more

MAPS Founders: Rachel Sherk & Aaron Rourk

Rachel Sherk is a multidisciplinary artist who works in puppetry, experimental performance, video/sound art, and mixed media collage. Her projects involve place, landscape, vegetation, created mythologies and story. She has created time-based works performed at traditional venues such as 14Y and The Brick Theater, along with making works shown in nontraditional spaces such as at Cornwall Manor Assisted Living Facility, gardens in Brooklyn and beyond, and in country barns in both Pennsylvania and Maine. She has participated in artist residencies in Italy, Portugal and at the Agate Fossil Beds National Monument in Nebraska. Rachel has shown work both in the States and abroad.

Rachel's undergraduate degree is from Bennington College where she studied Visual Art, Literature and Sound. She has an M.A. in Puppetry and Community Activism from NYU's Gallatin. Rachel taught preschool at Saint Ann's School from 2012-2018. She was a teaching fellow at The Academy for Teachers in NYC in both 2016 and 2017 along with co-leading a story and arts-based workshop at the Little Chairs, Big Difference Diversity Conference. Rachel and Aaron have been co-teaching Ukulele and Songwriting classes, previously hosted at Saint Ann’s School, since 2012. Before teaching at Saint Ann’s School Rachel was involved with The Little Red School House, Rivendell Montessori Preschool and St. Hilda’s & St. Hugh’s. Rachel spends her free time thinking about puppets, playing with her rescue dog named Zeus, dreaming of forests and making experimental music on the toy piano.

Aaron Rourk is an improviser and multi-instrumentalist who primarily plays the alto and tenor saxophones, bass clarinet and computer. He performs regularly in New York and elsewhere in a variety of constellations, often playing computers as instruments, sampling, affecting and synthesizing audio in real-time settings. He writes songs and other vehicles for improvisation. His projects span a range of genres and styles and his work is often entangled with other artistic fields, such as dance, puppetry and theater. He has recorded a number of projects, most recently with Tczeebo, the Danny Fisher-Lochhead Large Ensemble and Paper Trails. Aaron has performed throughout NYC, the states and abroad. He has participated in artist residencies in Portugal, Italy and at the Agate Fossil Beds National Monument in Nebraska. He has a degree in Musical Improvisation and is currently pursuing an MFA in Sonic Arts at Brooklyn College.

Aaron taught first and second grade at Saint Ann's School from 2013-2018. He was a teaching fellow at The Academy for Teachers in NYC in 2017. Before working at Saint Ann’s School, Aaron was involved with the special needs program at Rivendell Montessori preschool and also taught for St. Hilda’s & St. Hugh’s.

Rachel and Aaron have an ongoing video installation work titled Evening Concert Series.