The Wondery Team

Sarah Brandt

Director

Sarah founded Wondery Art + Adventure School in 2018 to provide a space for Bend kids to create, tinker and play; the necessary work of childhood! With her background as a school psychologist, she founded the studio after experiencing the impact of creativity on wellbeing and social emotional development. Sarah continues to be amazed at the wonder + joy of creating together in a community; the creative buzz of kids and adults coming together to make with their hands in a beautiful space is truly magic!

  • Sarah’s background includes a Masters and Educational Specialist degree in Educational and Counseling Psychology, nonprofit program development, wildlife rehabilitation work, off-grid living throughout the west and a lifelong passion for creating. She has played and experimented with several media over the years, her favorites include ink illustrations, screen printing, watercolor and woodworking.

Grace McHugh

lead instructor

Being new to the Bend area as of August 2022, Grace has felt so inspired by the different landscapes, art, and lovely people that can be discovered here! Grace is so very excited to have now found herself at Wondery Art + Adventure School! It didn't take long for Grace to fall in love with not only the studio space and physical aspects of our school… But also the boundless imagination, creativity, and community that could be found after spending just a few moments inside. It is Grace’s hope to promote all of those things even further while sharing the wonders of art with others.

  • Grace has bounced around the US throughout her life. She spent the majority of her childhood living on a “funny farm” of sorts located in the midwest. This is where Grace would naturally develop her love of mother nature, animals, community, and connection. Throughout her teenage years she worked at outdoor summer camps and international summer camps as a camp counselor… which would be how her love of teaching and education would begin. Continuing this work throughout school, she served as the “arts” coordinator at multiple locations. Grace was in charge of planning, scheduling, and implementing all theatre, music, and art classes within these camps. (While getting to live in a treehouse/on the ocean!) Grace has several favorite art subjects and mediums.. The most prominent of which being: oil paint, portraits, illustration/ink, landscapes, architecture, knitting, and charcoals… But truly enjoys most any form of art/expression! She would go on to start her teaching career at a small private art school in Bellingham, WA. Grace had always had a love for art, but it was here where it would become a passion of hers. Mixing her love for art and nature while educating children became (and remains) Grace's favorite thing to do! In her freetime you can find Grace outside, traveling, making art, and exploring Bend!