Michele Barnes earned a Masters in Interdisciplinary Studies from Virginia Commonwealth University, has studied with world-renowned calligraphers and has attended several International Calligraphy Conferences. She has exhibited her work in NYC; locally and nationally and her calligraphy has been commissioned by New York University and is in many private collections. In addition to her calligraphic work, Michele is an encaustic artist and printmaker. She has taught in both public and private venues and is currently an art educator in Virginia Beach.
Lea Deglandon-Bennett earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree with a concentration in sculpture and art education from James Madison University. Lea teaches a variety of classes at MOCA including the Teen Art Lab, a selection of Art Camp classes and also teaches the Student Art Start program at the museum. She enjoys working with students of all ages and believes that art is part of everyday living.
Rachel Carroll earned her Pre K-12 Visual Arts Teaching Certification from Virginia Wesleyan College in 2009 and her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Crafts and Material Studies with a focus in ceramic sculpture from Virginia Commonwealth University in 2004. She has taught visual art and art history for AZ Academy in St. Croix, United States Virgin Islands where she proudly received 2010-2011, “Teacher of the Year.” Previously she taught at Granby High School in Norfolk, Virginia, for MOCA as an Art Camp instructor, Studio school instructor, Gallery tour guide, and Student Art Start Educator, also for Young Rembrandts in Richmond and worked in ceramic studios including Sophia Street Studios where she assisted Raku artist Phil Chapman. She maintained a studio at Fulton Hill and Richmond Pottery and has exhibited in several galleries and exhibitions both locally and nationally. She recently sailed back to the Virginia Beach area from the islands with her husband, where she is focusing on her career in arts education and mixed media artwork.
Judith Chauvette got her professional start in the photographic world with Lifetouch Studios in 2008. After an enjoyable experience working with their company, she moved on to open her own photography business in the Hampton Roads area in early 2009 and has since been creating custom photography sessions for families, weddings and more. One of her passions is helping photographers get a firm grasp on all aspects of photography so they can fully utilize the equipment they possess and capture the best images possible.
Visit her website at www.judithsfreshlook.com
Donna Iona Drozda, a widely exhibiting and published painter and author, has artwork in a number of corporate collections and is a frequent presenter of workshops, lectures and classes both locally and nationally. Visit her web site at www.donnaionadrozda.com
Janet Lynn Eggen received a Bachelor of Science degree from Old Dominion University and studied at the graduate level at several state universities. She has served as an art instructor of children and adults in Northern Virginia and adult education systems for the past 30 years. She currently works as a full-time artist and teaches privately. Her award-winning oils and watercolors have been exhibited in several art galleries locally, as well as Northern Virginia, Maryland, and North Carolina. She was recently accepted a Signature Member of the Virginia Watercolor Society from whom she has also received two awards for her work.
Maryreed P. Gerloff received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Meredith College, Raleigh, NC and a Master of Art in Education from the College of William and Mary. She has taught in the school systems, preschool through high school, as well as worked in the commercial art field for over thirty years. She shows her work throughout the region. concentrating on oil and acrylic painting. She also developed the successful pre-school art program, First Art, at MOCA and now works as an educator with the Student Art Start program. Mary's teaching philosophy is that we should encourage and instill in students of all ages the notion that each of us is born with the gift of art, and contemporary art is an excellent way to stretch our minds to express our creativity.
Kim Herman,whose current creative outlet is in altered arts, mixed media and Zentangle, has over 25 years of experience working with children through her own home child care business, as well as Student Art Start, Family Fest, 1st Art and Pre-K programs at MOCA. She teaches numerous classes and workshops for adults and children at MOCA and in the local community. Kim is also a certified Zentangle instructore.
Karla Mann holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in drawing and painting from Old Dominion University. She is an experienced teacher, having formerly taught at Tidewater Community College, and is a winner of national and international awards for her figure drawings and paintings. Karla’s work has been widely published. Visit her website at www.kmmann.com
James O’Connor earned his Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in printmaking and the book arts from the University of the Arts. He also received certification from the Italian Government as a qualified professional of fresco techniques.
Adam Parker holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Virginia Commonwealth University. Adam has taught 3D Animation and Digital Storytelling at MOCA and is currently the museum’s new media intern. He recently completed his first animated film. Visit his website at www.adamwparker.com.
Grace Popp is currently attending Virginia Commonwealth University pursuing a major in Communication Arts and a minor in Art History. Originally from Virginia Beach, Virginia, Grace grew up drawing anything she felt needed recording in her sketchbooks. This love of drawing led her to Communication Arts, where she is currently learning to use her eyes to transfer 3-D to 2-D accurately, and her brain to convey messages in illustration.
Jacqueline Poutasse has been making books for almost twenty years. She has shown her work locally and has taught many classes and workshops in bookbinding and mixed media. Another one of Jackie’s passions is photography; she has been taking photographs ever since she could hold a camera. A few years ago she left the corporate world to pursue a career on her own in photography and the book arts and has never looked back. Visit her website at www.tjphotoarts.com
Jerry Rice holds a Master in Teaching degree and a Bachelor of Arts degree from the Evergreen State College in Olympia, Washington. He is a professional educator and currently the Head of School at Ryan Academy in Norfolk. Jerry had been involved in the ceramics arts since 1972. Working across a wide range of techniques, he has focused largely on items that can be used on a daily basis – moving art into people’s hands. He has designed, constructed, and operated a variety of kilns over the years. Jerry served on the board of the Cellar Art Gallery in Kirkland, Washington and showed his work in several galleries in the Pacific Northwest.
Ali Rogan, an award-winning glass artist and teacher for over 20 years, continues her study at the famed Pilchuck Glass School, Penland School of Crafts and Corning Glass Museum. She has taught for the Governor’s School for the Arts since 1998, is past-president and current board member of Peninsula Glass Guild of Virginia and co-owner of Cristallo Artisans in Newport News. Visit her website at www.cristalloartisians.com
Dede Schmidt earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts as well as a teaching certificate from Eastern Michigan University. She taught at the Grand Rapids Art Museum in Grand Rapids Michigan. Having shown her work locally as well as nationally, Dede has won awards for her ceramic design and excellent craftsmanship. She most recently won the juror’s choice award in the 2004 Strictly Functional Pottery National.
Suzanne Stevens holds a Master of Arts degree and is an award-winning painter and instructor with experience in a variety of media. She is a five-time recipient of the Outstanding Teacher Award at the Governor’s School for the Arts, Richmond, most recently in 2006. Visit her website at www.suzannestevensartist.com
Blade Wynne holds a Master of Fine Arts from the Rhode Island School of Design, Providence, RI and a Bachelor of Fine Art from the Pratt Institute, Brooklyn, NY. Recent exhibitions include Tompkins Projects, Brooklyn, The Museum of Public Fiction, Los Angeles, The Lab, San Francisco and New Prints 2011/Summer at the International Print Center, New York. Blade has taught painting and drawing at RISD and is currently teaching at the Governors School for the Arts. His work will be exhibited at MOCA through December 30. Visit his website at www.bladewynne.com
