ABOUT THE CARDIELLO ART GARAGE

Throughout her work as a mental health therapist and educator, Theresa Cardiello has always incorporated art and music. She firmly believes in the beneficial and therapeutic role that creativity can play in one’s life. Theresa holds an undergraduate degree in elementary education with an emphasis in fine arts and a graduate degree in mental health counseling.

Theresa has taught piano lessons for the past 30 years and founded the Cardiello Art Camp in 1998. It is now a Helena staple for over a hundred students every summer. During the school year, Theresa teaches several after-school art classes for kids, a middle school, and an adult class. She also hosts birthday parties.

Theresa has had three art shows at the Myrna Loy Center.  In 2003, Theresa and her four children displayed their artwork in a show called “Art in the Family.”   In 2012 and again in 2016, the Myrna Loy Center offered its space, and the ensuing art show displayed the Cardiello Art Garage students’ work.  Since 2018, the Cardiello Art Garage has had annual art shows (except in 2020!) somewhere in the Helena area: Free Ceramics Studio, a local pizza restaurant, and the Cardiello backyard!

Theresa received the Myrna Loy Center Grants to Artist’s Award in 1999 to record her original instrumental compositions. 

Theresa wears many hats. Another side business is running her house as an Airbnb guest house. Guests rent out a room or, on occasion, the whole house. Check out Airbnb -—Helena—Artsy House here.  

In 2020, after Theresa temporarily shut her art business doors due to COVID-19, Theresa jumped into another art form - creative writing. Since then, Theresa has written short stories, reflection pieces, screenplays, and playscripts. One of her plays, Wolves and Pigs 2050, was produced (November 2023) as part of the New Play Fest.