Providence ¡CityArts!

We are pumped this summer for the introduction of some new full time seasonal staff members! They are here ready and willing to take part in an awesome new session as well as work on some improvements needed here at CA. 

Our first new staff member is intern Anneke Reich. She is a rising Sophomore at Brandeis University with a background in singing, music theory and piano. She possesses an impressively beautiful, smoky and controlled singing voice that she will certainly share with her students during her first teaching experience. She will start out assisting me with the administrative and logistical goings on before camp begins and then become the Assistant teacher for our Summer Film and Music classes as well as help me plan the BIG DRAW SOUTH SIDE event!

Our next new staff member is Beth Allard. She is a well respected member of the Providence Community Arts Education scene and brings with her an impressive BA/BFA from Brown University and an MAT from the Pratt Institute. Previously working for the Steel Yard, she left to pursue a more hands on teaching venture here at CityArts. She is a full time Teaching Assistant for Printmaking as well as Ceramics. 

AmeriCorps VISTAs are an important asset to CityArts’ day-to-day. So when we learned we were given a grant to host two summer VISTAs to teach courses for our summer session, we were thrilled to say the least! Luned Palmer and Heather Freedman recently joined our staff to help us get ready for Summer. 

Luned is a graduate of Swarthmore College. She taught art in San Francisco and lead several mural projects in the area. Originally from RI, she returned for a Graphic Design gig at Trinity Repertory Company. This summer she is teaching a Murals class focusing on the techniques of well known muralists of the past and today. 

Heather is a recent graduate of the Rhode Island School of Design in Illustration. Her masterful and beautiful drawing and painting techniques along with her dance background will come together beautifully during a painting and dance class this summer. 

Other full time staff members include:

RISD Student Nick Corti will be assistant teaching for Murals and Photography.

New Urban Arts Alum Amanda Abreu will be assistant teaching for Painting and Comics. 

RISD Student Taryn Fujita will be chaperoning Friday field trips. 

Our part time visiting teaching artists this summer include:

CityArts Veteran and Seasoned Ceramicist and Environmentalist Deb Demarko, who is teaching both our open enrollment Ceramics summer class as well as a joint course in science, math, literacy and art through sustainable farming with the Providence After School Alliance. 

Daniel Lee White, a professional film maker and actor will be teaching film making and editing. 

Big Nazo Artist and performer Miguel Rivera is teaching a Maskmaking and Monster Movie-making class. 

Returning Visiting Artist Taleen Batalian is teaching a course about painting techniques from around the world.

Former Resident Teaching Artists Rebecca Volynsky and Ambuja Magaji are teaching courses in printmaking and photography. 

Highlander Music Teacher, Solo Artist and choir member Kim Trusty is heading up the Music class.

Providence After School Alliance Instructor and RISD graduate, Allison Blackwell is teaching a course on comics and storyboards.