Artist Instructor Bios

JAANIKA PEERNA, works at the crossroads of digital and traditional media, often dealing with the themes of water, simplicity and silence. She has an MFA in intermedia design from SUNY New Paltz, and she has worked as teaching artist at DIA Beacon, the Visual Thinking Strategies project of the Soros Foundation and taught art for students ages 5-60 internationally. Peerna has had solo exhibitions in New York and in Tallinn, Estonia, her native country.  For more information and images of her work go to:   www.jaanikapeerna.net 

MARTEE LEVI is a graduate of Rochester Institute of Technology, Columbia University and Art Students League. She has taught at Art Students League, Westchester Arts Council, Children’s Art Carnival, Harlem Summer Art Institue, Garrison Art Center and private instruction.

DAVID LOEB attended Cornell University, Yale Summer School of Music and Art, Boston University (BFA), and Indiana University (MFA). Awards he has received include a Fulbright Scholarship, Yaddo Residency Fellowship, and a Pollock-Krasner Foundation Grant. He has taught at The New York Academy of Art and at Parsons School of Design. He is represented by the Beckel-Odille Gallery in Paris.

KEVIN KEARNS is a landscape painter represented internationally by Stricoff Fine Art in NYC. Visit www.kevinkearns.com

CHRISTINA DIMARCO has been teaching at Garrison Art Center since the early 1990’s. Before that she was located for nine years at Clove Creek Artists in Beekman, NY, teaching, administrating, and being a student too! Currently she also teaches at Mill Street Loft, Poughkeepsie, NY and Camp Wilbur Herrich, Patterson NY. Her lamps and marbled arts can be seen at K.J.’s in Amenia, NY.

BETH BOLGLA, GAC ceramic studio manager, received an MFA in Ceramics from Georgia State University in 1978, and has extensive graduate studies in Art History.  Beth’s work has been collected nationally and internationally by individuals, corporations, and museums.

LISA KNAUS, a studio potter from the New Paltz area who exhibits nationally,  is known for her exquisite functional pots and particularly for her amazing surface and glazing techniques.

VIRGINIA PIAZZA, received a BFA in Ceramics from Kansas City Art Institute in 1990. She has been working as a studio potter as well as teaching classes in various venues in NYC, Beacon, and Port Chester since then.  She has exhibited her work nationally and was included in “500 Teapots” and “Best of Pottery”.

STEPHANIE CAIRL earned a BFA in Ceramics from SUNY New Paltz in 2003, and has worked in various studios since, including Greenwich House Pottery in NYC and the Clay Art Center in Port Chester, NY.

TINA DAVENPORT is first and foremost a designer, with a degree in Graphic Art.  Her passion for creating, eye for design, and out of the box approach are the trademark qualities she brings to her work as a Mosaicist.

BARBARA SMITH GIOIA,  is a teaching artist who enjoys working with children. She is involved in art programs with Storm King Art Center, Hudson Highlands Nature Museum, Garrison Art Center and public and private schools.

ANDREA EISENBERG, is a figurative sculptor who works life-size, based in Yorktown Heights, NY. She studied at the Art Students League of NY and Purchase College. She has recently received the Nessa Cohen Grant and has exhibited locally and in Provincetown, MA.

ADA PILAR CRUZ, has been teaching art since 1987. She currently works through Mercy College, Pace University, the Museum of Modern Art, and Garrison Art Center. She excels in exposing students to diverse art techniques in the art making process, and enabling interested participants to have fun in the exploration.

SHEILAH RECHTSCHAFFER, is a graduate of SUNY Purchase and a variety of post graduate study programs. She was co-founder and director of Accademia Caerite, a summer workshop program in fresco painting and scagliola in Ceri, Italy from 1991 to 2000. She has taught at Parsons School of Design in NYC since 1998. Through the years her pastel drawings have been an important element in her work and were seen at a recent solo exhibition at The Carl Van Brunt Gallery in Beacon, NY. See her work at sheilahrechtschaffer.com.

CALI GOREVIC is a professional fine art photographer who works exclusively in black & white. She has exhibited extensively and her work appears in many private and public collections.

CARINDA SWANN is a Teaching Artist and a Professor of Art for 15 years at Marist College and Dutchess Community College. She teaches Drawing Fundamentals, 2D Design, Painting Fundamentals, Beginning and Intermediate Figure Drawing and is Director of The Summer Art Institute at Garrison Art Center and the Painting and Drawing Instructor.

Classes for Adults & Teens

LIFE DRAWING & PAINTING

(Monitored only - no instruction/critique) 9:30 - 12:30pm

Saturday: painting, Sunday: clothed model, Monday: drawing

Members: $70 / 8 sessions

Non-members $12 / session

Ongoing sessions for those who want to work on their own to develop & refine their techniques of sketching from the nude. Bring your own materials. Monitored by John Allen (Mon), Eugene Garfinkle (Sat), and Susan Johnson (Sun).

ARTISTS WORKING TOGETHER WITH MARTEE LEVI

$175

Monday 6:30 - 9:00pm

8 sessions beginning September 15

Create something New, Exciting, Different!!

Apply a sculptural approach to your concepts.

Using collage, mixed media, found objects...

All medium welcome. Classes given at my studio.

SILKSCREEN TECHNIQUES WITH CARLOS URIBE

$30 per session

Wednesday 3:30 - 6:30pm

Ongoing sessions beginning September 24

Silkscreeners Unite!!! Bring your squeegees.

Join the Garrison Art Center print scene. Non-silkscreeners come see what all the fuss is about! Learn all you need to know about this versatile and unique medium.

EXPERIMENTAL DRAWING WITH JAANIKA PEERNA

$260 + $35 materials fee

Thursdays 10:30am - 1:00pm

6 sessions starting September 18, 2008

Adults     max 8 students

This class will provide a supportive and creative environment for adults with diverse levels of experience to create from the imagination as well as draw from life. The course is open to all, whatever your level of experience. We will experiment with various drawing materials such as charcoal, pastels, ink and different types of pencils, in traditional to contemporary approaches. Some alternative approaches such as blind drawing and movement are used to enhance creativity. The assignments are designed to bring out the best creative ideas of every participant, whether you are an expert or a novice.

FIGURE PAINTING WITH DAVID LOEB

$375 + model fee

Thursday 7:30 - 10:30 pm

Materials list will be provided

12 sessions starting September 18   Adults and teens 15+

Traditional approach to painting the figure from life in oil. Structure of the figure in space and light will be emphasized, as well as formal aspects (design, color, etc). Various techniques, including limited palettes and indirect painting (glazing & scumbling) will be introduced. Students receive both individual and group critiques. Historical examples will be cited extensively, and figurative painting will be viewed in its larger context within contemporary art.

STILL LIFE PAINTING WITH DAVID LOEB

$375 + materials fee

Wednesday 7:00 - 10:00 pm

Material list will be provided first class

12 sessions starting September 24    Adults and teens 15+

Still life is the most symbolic of the major art genres. This class will examine the use of narration and metaphor in painting still life from observation in oil. Structure of form in atmosphere, as well as composition, will be emphasized. Technique will be viewed as an instrument of personal vision. Historical and contemporary examples will be cited extensively and students will receive both individual and group critiques.

DRAWING FROM THE LIVE MODEL: FOR TEENS WITH CARINDA SWANN

$350 + model fee

Material list will be provided

Monday 7:00 - 9:30 pm

8 sessions beginning September 22

Young Artists: develop your skills and your portfolio's! Learn alongside fellow dedicated juniors, sophomores, and freshman art students. Experience the creative energy of drawing from the model with your peers in a 2.5 hour class. Enrich yourself with individual instruction. Develop drawing techniques in various media. Work in a professional studio atmosphere.

BLACK & WHITE PHOTOGRAPHY WITH CALI GOREVIC

$50 per session      Materials Fee: $5 per session

Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday 10:00am -1:00pm

Other days and times are available upon request

Classes begin week of September 15

Learn camera use, film exposure, processing, & printing. Beginner to advanced, basics to professional

Workshops

DRAWING WITH PASTELS IN THE LANDSCAPE WITH SHEILAH RECHTSCHAFER

$350 (Contact instructor for materials list)

Max. 10 students per class

Dates: Sunday September 21, September 28, and October 12

Flexible schedule available upon request

Times: 10:00am - 2:00pm with break

This full day workshop provides an opportunity to work in pastel on site on a glorious fall day. An introduction to the pastel technique will be given prior to drawing at GAC. Different kinds of pastel and papers will be explored as well as a brief lecture on techniques. We will then proceed to a designated location. A visit to Boscobel to work on site is anticipated. Basic pastels will be provided by GAC and extra professional quality pastels and papers will be available at a minimal cost.

WATERCOLOR PAPERMARBLING WITH CHRISTINA DIMARCO

$60 + $10 material fee

Sunday Noon - 5:00pm

1 Session, November 9 & February 17

Explore the world of Turkish marbling using watercolors on a thickened water-based size, to make exceptionally beautiful papers. Art in itself, these papers may also be used for bookbinding, cards, calligraphy and other arts. You may bring your own papers and a snack.

DECORATIVE PAINTING WITH SUSAN MINIER

$80 + $25 material fee

Tuesday 10:00 - 4:00pm

1 session September 30

Ages 14 years and up

3 student minimum, 8 student maximum

Fun and Functional Art for your home! Experiment with faux painting techniques like sponging, ragging, combing and stamping. Then, using your new painting skills, create your own custom table runner or placemats. Your completed artwork will be sealed with a protective varnish for durability and easy cleaning. No previous art experience or drawing skills necessary.

LANDSCAPE PAINTING WITH KEVIN KEARNS

$350 (materials list will be provided prior to first session) 

Dates: Saturday September 13th, 20th, & 27th

Time: 1:00 to 5:00pm

Participants in the fall workshop will learn studio and plein air techniques with a focus on painting natural light. How to paint from memory. Observing the fall landscape and its corresponding palette.

Pottery for Adults & Teens

POTTERY ON THE WHEEL

Learn skills to create vessels using the potter’s wheel, starting with instruction in  throwing, and moving on to techniques in surface decoration and glazing. Limited to 8 students. Open to adults and older teens. 

In addition to tuition, there are clay and firing fees for all ceramic classes.

Sunday  11am - 2pm  $250  Sept 14 - Nov 2

Instructor:  Lisa Knaus

Monday 11am - 2pm  $250  Sept 15 - Nov 3

Instructor:  Beth Bolgla

Monday 6:30 - 9:30pm  $250  Sept 15 - Nov 3

Instructor:  Lisa Knaus

Tuesday 6:30 - 9:30pm  $250  Sept 16 - Nov 4

Instructor: Virginia Piazza

Wednesday 6:30 - 9:30pm  $250  Sept 17 - Nov 5

Instructor:  Deborah Lecce

Saturday 10am - 1pm  $250  Sept 20 - Nov 8

Instructor:  Stephanie Cairl

TEEN POTTERY ON THE WHEEL

This class is open to teens who want to prepare for studying ceramics at the college level or simply want to learn how to throw on the potter's wheel. Limited to 8 students ages 13 to 19. In addition to tuition, there are clay and firing fees for all ceramic classes.

Monday 3:30 - 5:30pm  $225  Sept 15 - Nov 3

Instructor:  Beth Bolgla

HAND BUILDING WITH CLAY

Learn basic hand building techniques including pinching, coiling, and slab construction. There will also be an overview of surface treatments and glazing options. This class is a good compliment to students taking wheel classes who want to explore combining techniques. Limited to 8 students. Open to adults and older teens.

Friday 11am - 2pm  $250  Sept 19 - Nov 7

Instructor:  Beth Bolgla

MOSAICS

Both beginners and advanced students benefit from instruction covering various techniques and a wide range of materials, grouts, and adhesives. Choose your own projects to work on, such as mirror frames, table tops, stepping stones, or create an image on a board.  Open to adults and older teens.      $25 Materials fee to be paid to the instructor at the first class.

Tuesday 11am - 2pm  $200  Sept 16 - Nov 4

Instructor:   Tina Davenport

Wednesday 6:30 - 9:30pm  $200   Sept 17 - Nov 5

Instructor:  Tina Davenport

Thursday 11am - 2pm  $200  Sept 18 - Nov 6

Instructor:   Tina Davenport

Classes for Children

DRAWING & PAINTING with Jaanika Peerna

  $170 + $30 materials fee

Thursdays 4-5:15 pm

10 sessions starting September 18, 2008

 max 8 students (ages 6-8)

 This class will provide creative and fun environment for students age 6- 8 to explore the world of colors and shapes and lines through drawing and painting. Students will get to draw from life and from imagination, learn about colors and paint with the greatest joy! Some alternative approaches such as movement is used to enhance creativity. Continuing students are welcome to join as all assignments are new!

DRAWING with Jaanika Peerna

$105 + $20 materials fee

Thursdays 5:30-7 pm

 6 sessions starting September 18, 2008  

 max 8 students  (ages 9 & up)

 In this class students age 9 and up will learn to draw objects from life and combine them into a creative composition. We will be experimenting with various drawing materials such as charcoal, pastels, ink and different types of pencils. In addition to the more traditional approach to drawing students will also have a possibility to explore contemporary approaches such as blind drawing and using chance to create a composition. Continuing students are welcome to join as all assignments are new!

Continuing students are welcome to join as all assignments are new!

CRAZY ABOUT COLOR WITH BARBARA SMITH GIOIA

$110 + $20 materials fee

Tuesdays 4:00-5:30

 6 sessions beginning September 16  

 Children ages 8 - 12, max. 8 students  (ages 9 & up)

 Join our dynamic class for some serious fun exploring the world of color. Students will be introduced to the visual. Emotional and symbolic effects of color, and will enjoy working with acrylics, watercolors, and collage. Still life and abstraction will be the subjects of our compositions, color will define them. structure.