spring 2008 instructors 

 
Gary Bergren

For information, call the Civic Arts Education Office at 925-943-5846.

Corinne Abbott,  MFA, SF Art Institute; taught ceramics at ceramic institute in Faenza, Italy and Malta; currently teaching at SFAI.

Diane Barton-Brown, Masters, Music, Rice University; has taught for last 30 years; extensive background in choral and instrumental music.

Gary Bergren, studied at CCAC and locally with David Hardy, Charles White and Van Waldren. Exhibited Sabine’s Crossroads Gallery, Jackson Hole, and currently with Simic-New Renaissance Galleries, Carmel; recently awarded 2^nd place in Figurative Painting for portrait painting “Frontiersman/circa 1870”.

Michael Berkley, formerly instructor and resident artist at Univ. of Oregon and Multnomah Art Center, Portland, with expertise in functional ceramics.

Harry Best, native of St. Lucia; primary provider of Caribbean steel drum music to N. Calif. for over 20 years; has founded steel drum bands and played with and arranged music for several others.

Stephen Betz, PhD, Board Certified Music Therapist with 32 years experience; created Contra Costa’s Welcome Home Baby Program and currently serves as Asst Director for Health and Social Services and First 5 Commissioner in Solano County; specializes in helping children with autism; and related illnesses; also teaches violin/piano.

Ed Blackburn, MFA, San Francisco Art Inst., recently taught at Santa Clara Univ. with national exhibition record including permanent collection at Oakland Museum and SFMOMA.

Tesia Blackburn, MA, JFK Univ.; Bay Area artist for over 15 years; Golden Working Artist for Golden Acrylic Colors since 2000, currently represented by SF MOMA Gallery.

Barbara Bogue, Music Major with an emphasis on Music Education; her more than 25 years teaching experience includes preschool music classes, children’s choral groups as well as individual piano lessons for children and adults, including students with various special needs.

Tina Bohnstedt, joined Diablo Ballet in 1999; trained at Heinz-Bosl Academy in Munich; featured in Val Caniparoli’s Pas de Deux from ‘Lady of the Camellias’ and George Balanchine’s, ‘Apollo’.

James Cannata, graduate music studies, Cal State, Hayward; accomplished drummer, singer and songwriter with over 30 years experience as full time professional musician.

Karen Chappell, pilates instructor since 2002; certified through Turning Point Studios in Walnut Creek, including almost 500 hours of training on pilates apparatus; currently completing a 96 hour Masters Program through Pilates Center, Boulder, CO; teaches classical pilates method.

Mary Lou Correia, BA, Syracuse Univ.; commercial artist designing recruitment/fundraising materials for 14 years as Publications Director, St. Mary’s College; work in numerous Bay Area galleries and private collections.

Peter Coussoulis, Ceramics Studio Mgr. and kilnmaster with expertise in sodium vapor firing. National studio potter network advisor;  international exhibitions/collections.

Tom Crews, senior instructor and camera salesman with Reed’s Cameras for over 20 years; frequently judges photo contests at various camera clubs in Bay Area and has made presentations to schools and civic organizations.

Rebecca Crowell, has operated ballet schools in Marin County and Danville/Alamo area; trained with Gordon Paxman and Bene Arnold, Salt Lake City and has staged such ballets as ‘Peter and the Wolf’, ‘Raymonda’ and ‘La Bayadere’.

Lauren Main de Lucia, graduate, Interlochen Arts Academy and Univ. of Utah; performed with Ballet West and Ballet New England; has danced with Lyric Opera of Chicago, Richmond Ballet, Eugene Ballet Co. and currently is member of Diablo Ballet.

Jeanne Disney, BA, Dance, Univ. of Washington, Seattle; has taught ballet and jazz since 1993; currently teaches at Ygnacio Valley H.S.; has choreographed for Telluride AIDS Benefit, Works-in-the-Works, Berkeley and Mountain Dance in Aspen.

Rem Djemilev, BA/MA, Moscow Conservatory, performed in Bolshoi Theater Orchestra, Moscow Chamber Orchestra; currently violist and violinist  with Arlekin String Quartet, California Symphony and San Francisco Chamber Orchestra; teaches at Crowden School and CCMC, Black Pine Circle School in Berkeley; conducts Young People’s Chamber Orchestra, Berkeley as well as Young Performers Orchestra  and Diablo Regional Youth Orchestra, Walnut Creek..

David Duenas, M. M., SF Conservatory of Music; founder of several ensembles including the San Francisco Guitar Quartet; on music faculty of Santa Clara University.

Mark Eanes, current Chair of the Visual Arts Department at Inner Spark, California State Summer School for the Arts, as well as Associate Professor of Fine Arts at California College of the Arts in San Francisco; has exhibited his drawings, prints and paintings both nationally and internationally with works in numerous private and corporate collections; a series of his large-scale Master Studies was recently exhibited at Parsons School of Design in Paris, France.

Karen Ehrhardt, BA, CSU. Hayward;  professional jeweler for over 20 years. Work in Oakland

Connie English, Bay Area mosaic artist working with many mosaic mediums, specializing in tempered glass, natural and recycled materials; Certified Interior Redesigner and member of Society of American Mosaic Artists, work sold at local garden and furniture shops.

Stephen Evans, B Music (Cello) from Univ. of Texas at Austin and Masters from Univ. of London; has taught cello and piano for 17 years; currently active member of several local symphonies and chamber groups.

Kathy Faut, preschool teacher for over 15 years throughout the Bay Area; recently worked as play leader and music teacher at Gymboree for past 5 years.

Christie Ferrell, degree in liberal studies as well as AS, with honors,  professional photography; Bay Area working photographer with studio in Benicia; extensive experience in presentation of fine art.

Michelle Flynn, BFA Photography, SF Art Institute, 2007; 3 years working in Artist in Residency/Nature program for children, Cincinnati Nature Center; solo and group shows in California and Midwest.

Sandra Foster, Yoga Ed., CA. Inst. Asian Studies, Inst. for Yoga Teachers. Teaches Iyengar method in Bay Area.

Bob Gerbracht, Master Pastellist of Pastel Society of America, Society of W. Artists, and Pastel Society of West Coast; included in “Who’s Who in American Art’; paintings most recently represented in ‘The Little Book of Pastel’ by Suzanne Blaney, Zandel Books, 2002.

Lou Grantham, BA Textiles, SF State; over 20 years experience in weaving, natural dyeing, knitting and textile design.

Christine Hanlon, BFA, Rhode Island School of Design, MFA, Academy of Art, San Francisco; currently teaches at Academy as well and does educational and technical seminars on paints and art materials for Winsor & Newton.

William Harsh, painter and printmaker; MFA, Boston Unversity; studied with Philip Guston and James Weeks; work is currently represented by galleries in California and N. Carolina; paintings and prints are included in private collections in US, Canada and Europe; 18 years experience teaching drawing, design, color, painting and printmaking at colleges in New England, California.

Marianne Haynes, BA, UC Berk.; grad.study, Calif. Inst. Asian Studies; extensive study, Lama Found., and Piaget's theories. Teaches yoga, guitar.

Bill Helsel, professional photographer since 1976 specializing in architectural and travel photography; represented by a major stock photo agency.

Ann Henderson, BA, English, MA Curriculum and instruction, Ph.D in Social and Cultural Studies in Education, with more than 40 years teaching young people, including 15 years teaching pottery for teenagers.

Lesley Jensen, BFA, Ceramics, Colo. St. Exhibiting potter and teacher since 1979. Presently teaches ceramics at College Park H.S.

Viktor Kabaniaev, member Diablo Ballet trained at famed Vaganova School in St. Petersburg, Russia; has danced the Bronze Idol Solo from ‘La Bayadere” and Geroge Balanchine’s ‘Sylvia Pas de Deux” as well as roles created for him by Diablo Ballet choreographers.

Chris Kanyusik, BFA, Ceramics, The University of Montana, Post-Baccalaureate, Sculpture, Brandeis Univ, MFA, Ceramic Sculpture, Rochester Inst. Of Technology; figurative ceramic sculpture exhibited nationally.

Bruno Kark, full-time studio potter from Earthworks Pottery, Berkeley; apprenticed with Isezaki Jun, Bizen, Japan.

Karen Nelson Kelly, BFA Studio Arts, Cal State Univ., Hayward; Fine Art instructor with Cities of Antioch and Pittsburg for past 3 years; private instruction at home studio, exhibited work in shows locally and regionally.

Jacalyn Kildare, MFA Painting, Univ. of Texas; exhibits in Texas, Ohio and Calif.; winner of 'Art of Calif. Magazine 1992 Discovery Award' and 'Chico Art Awards 1992'.

Sherry Kwint-Cattoche, MFA, Lone Mt. Coll.; has taught drawing/painting at Orinda Comm. Center, ASUC Art Studios, Ohlone College and since 1987 at Civic Arts; exhibitions and awards in N. Calif., include 1993 Gold Discovery Award. Paintings with collector’s Gallery at Oakland Museum.

Suzun Lucia Lamaina, BFA, SF Art Institute, MA, SF State Univ. Instructor, UC Santa Cruz Extension and Palo Alto Art Center.

Jeka Lambert, Certificate of Interior Design; background in costume design for theater, textile design and art history, former corporate trainer. Has taught at bead stores throughout Bay Area; work represented by Valley Arts Gallery.

Tonya Lei, BA, Shanghai Conservatory of Music; MA in Violin Performance, Ball State Univ.; certified Suzuki String specialist with training in Dalcroze Eurythmics and Music Mind Games Music Theory classes.

Celeste Lococo, dance teacher for many years with experience in performing and choreography; has performed on stages from the Alameda County Fair to the Riviera in Las Vegas; her choreography has been seen at half-time shows at 49er games.

Jody Mattison, MFA, Academy of Art College; award-winner in Pro-Arts juried show “New Visions: Introductions ‘01”; instructor of Figure Drawing, Sketching and Color Theory at Academy of Art College; published in International Artist magazine July 2002, private commissions in local collections, numerous juried shows in Bay Area.

Melissa McCumiskey, BFA, Academy of Art; exhibits in local shows and galleries for over 20 years; taught stained glass, blown glass, fused glass and torch work (bead making) at Hot Box Stained Glass.

John Chang McCurdy, photographer who has exhibited in numerous museums and galleries in the US and internationally; sole photographer of 10 published books; work has appeared in Life, Vogue, New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Fortune and Forbes publications.

Amanda McGovern, has danced and toured with various companies including Peninsula Ballet Theatre, Lisbon Dance Company in Portugal and Oakland Ballet; currently teaches at Corner Studio in SF, pursuing BA in Performance, St. Mary’s College.

Lynne Meade, BA, Visual Arts with concentration in Ceramics, Wesleyan Univ., Connecticut; work shown in numerous exhibitions, specializing in carved porcelain; published in several national and international publications.

Tim Meals, BA, Music Performance, Oboe, CSU Hayward; private oboe teacher for 15 years, member of Kaleidoscope Woodwind Quintet.

Joan Miller, B.M.E. Eastern Kentucky University, an accomplished pianist/vocalist, actress, musician, composer, arranger, voice actor, producer, teacher and theatrical administrator.

Shirley Rencher Miller, graduated Chicago Academy of Fine Arts; studied Japanese brushpainting extensively with Prof. Chiura Obata, UC Berk.; has taught brushpainting since 1969.

Rana Nassar,  preschool and youth arts instructor for Civic Arts; currently working on completing additional units in early childhood education at DVC.

Aphra Pia, BA, Art and Interior Design; has been a photographer for over forty years; has studied under such artists as Brigitte Carnochan, Olivia Parker and Debora Blumefield.

Max Pricco, BM Performance, SFSU; Silver Medal from the Conservatoire National de Versailles, France; has performed with Mel Torme, Neil Sedaka, Toni Tenille, Shirley Jones among others; currently plays professionally in rock, big bands and show orchestras for parties and musicals in Bay Area.

A. J. Remedios, instructor/music appreciation; performed with Sydney Philharmonica Choir, Lamplighters and as soloist, St. Mary’s College chapel; performed as tenor soloist, Trinity United Methodist Church, Berkeley.

Mark Roberts, Bay Area artist who has studied under the late Neil Boyle, David Jonas and Glen Orbik; presently teaches at Academy of Art in San Francisco and is curator of Lynn House Gallery in Antioch; paintings can be found in private and public collections nationwide as well as galleries in California.

Mike Rose, Bay Area trumpet instructor; has played and toured with groups such as Todd Rundgren, The Shirells, The Drifters and Little Anthony & the Imperials; currently playing with Lydia Pense & Cold Blood; has taught privately for over 15 years.

Penny Ruhter, MBA/PA; fused glass instructor, jewelry designer and exhibitor in local galleries; buyer/teacher for Broadway Bead and owner of  Hot Box Glass Studio for several years.

Ellen Sachtschale, BFA, N. Illinois Univ.; formerly taught at Artscenter and Arthaus in N. Carolina; private studio, Stone Garden, in Clayton featuring abstract organic vessels and wall reliefs.

Cynthia Schultz, BS, Music Education/Music Therapy, Univ. of Minnesota; actively teaching music for 20 years as well as piano lessons, harp lessons and is licensed Preschool Music Instructor through Musikgarten; has professionally performed engagements with her harp for 20 years.

Sue Scott, BFA in Painting & Drawing, College of Arts and Crafts; assistant teacher for Civic Arts Fine Arts Preschool; youth arts instructor and currently teaches at the Art Room.

Lauren Sharoody, BFA, CCAC, MFA, School of Visual Arts, New York, degrees in Illustration; has completed writing and illustrating a children’s book dealing with diabetes; work shown in galleries in New York and Germany.

Danielle Smith, dance instructor with over 23 years of dance training in jazz, hip hop, tap and ballet; studied Movement Based Art Therapy at Talmalpa Institute; over 10 years of yoga and meditation practice with extensive work in child development, performance and wellness programs.

Linda Sutton, watercolor artist for 28 years and a signature member of National Watercolor Soc., Watercolor West and Calif. Watercolor Asso.; represented by galleries in Calif., Montana, featured in American Artist magazine.

Lateef  Swain, dancer/choreographer in Bay Area since 1981; has danced with Move Dance Theater since 1989 and is Associate Choreographer; has taught at Jewish Community Service Center,  San Mateo Dance Dept.

Julie Tadena, lead teacher in Fine Arts Preschool toddler program for last five years; 12 years experience in early education with work in both art and special education programs; attended Los Medanos college with a background in drawing and painting.

Lisa Taft, MA and PhD., art history, Ohio St.; children’s art instructor since 1984 and published ceramic tile historian.

Ivanna Taratula, Bay Area mezzo-soprano who has distinguished herself in a career devoted to both vocal performance and voice teaching.

Patsy Taylor, MFA Painting, Academy of Art University; landscape painter who has worked with children of all school ages for 15 years and coached Odyssey of the Mind.

Tim Taylor, MA, Art and Photography, SF State Univ.; instructor, DVC; one of founding instructors, College for Kids program; performing musician nationwide.

John Waller, started on drum set and has studied jazz, rock & world music styles as well as hand percussion from spoons to Indian tabla. He plays with Habib Khan, Viviana Guzman, Flowtilla, Moh Alileche, MCRai, Tomas Michaud, RebbeSoul and Groove.Org among others. John also studies melodic instruments and leads his own jazz trio.

Hope Weiner,  Bay Area artist, obtained Level One Certification from PMC Connection; teaches workshops at SF City College and work on exhibit at 2006 PMC Conference.

Bonnie Wells, AA Apparel Design, BFA Textiles/Painting, CCA; MFA Textile Arts and costume Design, UC Davis; over 20 years experience in textile and artwear design; has exhibited nationally and internationally, published in FiberArts Magazine.

Mira White, MFA with  Distinction, California College of Art; award winning painter with an exhibition record both domestic and international; received Grand Prize at prestigious Rocky Mountain National Aquamedia Exhibition, 2001, was presented in Watercolor Magic, 2002 and 3^rd place winter in national Pastel Journal competition, 2006.

Jim Wixon, MA Studio Art, SF State Univ.; over 30 years experience teaching the art of fused and stained glass as well as creating and selling glass artwork to the public.

Roger Yee, MFA Ceramics, San Jose State Univ., has been a ceramic artist for over 15 years and currently ceramic studio technician at Civic Arts Education.

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