Faculty

Judy Flanders: Pres. of Westchester Area Basketmakers Guild; taught for White Plains YMCA, NC Basketmakers Conv., Assoc. of MI Basketmakers Conv., Westchester Area Basketmakers Guild, Croton/Cortlandt Center for the Arts; Norwalk Comm. College; born in England.

Christa Shaw: Nantucket basket maker, teaches regionally; exhibits throughout the northeast.

Viola Galetta: Specialized experience in jewelrymaking, beading; born
Budapest, Hungary.

Mark Emig: Journeyman blacksmith; primarily architectural work; specializes in traditional joinery; furniture, sculpture, functional household items; studied with Uri Hofi and Mark Aspery.

Matthew Parkinson: Self­taught blacksmith, custom knife and swordmaker, railings, furniture, and hardware; graduated from the manufacturing technologies program at Vinal R.V.T.S.

Michael Rivera: BFA, Syracuse Univ.; MFA and teaching experience, SUNY Purchase; sculptor working in welded steel; exhibits sculpture and paintings nationally; work in private and institutional collections; studio in Roxbury, CT.
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Michael Saari: An internationally known master blacksmith, with 30 years of experience in custom forged architectural ironwork and sculpture, workshops, and conference presentations. He studied at the Philadelphia College of Art, at The International Teaching Center for Metal Design in Aachen, Germany, and earned his MFA at Southern Illinois University. His studio is in Woodstock CT. BCC faculty since 1981.

Bill Scheer: Interpreter and blacksmith, Mystic Seaport Museum; blacksmith instructor for Williams­Mystic Maritime Studies Program; special programs for area colleges; President of CT Blacksmiths Guild; past director of NE Blacksmiths.

Ken Graff: Photographer for over three decades; travels internationally, works out of Brookfield CT studio; exhibits in art galleries from NYC to Boston.

Dan Mack: Artist, furniture maker, architectural consultant, author, working with natural materials for 30 years; faculty of Omega Institute for Holistic Studies in Rhinebeck, NY; Board of Directors, Orange County Arts Council; Pres, Board of Community 2000, Warwick, NY.

Lisa Scroggins: Rhode Island School of Design; BFA, Parsons School of Design; professional ceramic artist for 15 years; numerous group shows, awards, national press; private ceramic studio in Ridgefield, CT.

Angela Fina: MFA, School for American Craftsmen, Rochester Inst. of Technology; self employed potter for 30+ years.

Nancy Robbins: BFA, ceramics, Rhode Island School of Design; studied ceramic engineering and glaze chemistry at Alfred University; Senior Crafts­ men for Ceramic Reproductions at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Adam Spector: BFA, Ceramics, Alfred University; taught for Turk Hill Craft School, The Memorial Art Gallery, Genesee Pottery, Empire State College; exhibits work nationally.

Steve Tanneberger: BS, art education, Southern CT State Univ.; studied at the Univ. of Notre Dame, Lake Placid School of Art; taught pottery and workshops at Rowayton Art Center, Escape to the Arts, Wooster Community Art Center; currently teaches at The Melrose School in Brewster, NY.

Miani Carnevale: Ringling School of Art, Sarasota, FL; professional artist and workshop facilitator; studied art in Florence, Italy and Oslo, Norway. Exhibits work throughout US; Artist in Residence and current faculty, Omega Institute.

Cecilia Marshall: Teaches at Wisdom House in Litchfield and BCC. She specializes in bookmaking, drawing and mosaics.

Victor DeMasi: On the referral list maintained by the CT Historical Trust; historical painting­restoration projects for Yale University, National Park Service, State of Washington; featured in and authored 90+ articles in many national magazines.

Kulvinder Kaur Dhew: MA, Painting, Royal College of Art, London; Head of Painting at School of Art in Dunedin, New Zealand; taught at Universiti Malaysia Sarawak in Borneo; exhibits internationally; represented in many public and private collections.

Joan Polzin: MFA, Western CT State Univ.; works in oils, watercolor, ink, pastel, charcoal; member, Bethel Arts Junction, SCAN of Newtown, CT, Washington Art Association; born New York City. Dolores R. Santoliquido: Adjunct Prof., Manhattanville College; instructor, NY Botanical Garden; taught for Morton Arboretum, Humboldt Institute; several published works, solo and group shows include Smithsonian Inst., Longwood Gardens, Hunt Institute.
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Deborah Fisher: MFA, Fiber, Cranbrook Academy of Art; BFA, Fiber, Maryland Institute of Art; recipient of JP Morgan Chase Grant for Individual Artists Working in the Community, 2005 and 2007 for community quilt projects.

Seija Floderus: BFA, Rhode Island School of Design; MFA, UMass.; teaches icon painting for Handicraft Club of Providence, RI since 1994; native and part­time resident of Finland.

Jenny Hermenze: BA, Art History, Vassar; specializes in katazome, Japanese stencil dyeing on natural fiber, Asian inspired clothing; studied in CA under master of katazome, John Marshall.

Barbara Hurley: 25+ years weaving, spinning and knitting; active member of Black Sheep Weaver’s Guild; studied with numerous weavers including Anita Luvera Mayer, Sharon Alderman, Jason Collingwood, Virginia West, Scott Norris, Gisila Bosch, Joann Bachelder; studio in Easton, CT.
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Beryl Maddalena: Appliqued and collaged clothing and accessories featured in museum shops and wearable art galleries throughout the US. Stephanie Maddalena: BA, Fine Arts, St. Thomas Aquinas College; studied at Peters Valley Craft Center, Old Church Cultural Center; taught for Syracuse Univ., Rockland Center for the Arts, Craft Students League.

Robin McCahill: Studied feltmaking with Beth Beede; constructs masks, props and sculptures; taught wet felting; small works and large-scale environmental sculptures; learned needle felting from Anna Vargas; workshop with Carol Huber Cypher.

Myra Serrins: MFA, UMass Dartmouth; BFA, Cleveland Inst. of Art; studio textile artist; exhibits nationally; taught 2­D Design in Textiles at UMass Dartmouth; gives workshops and lectures for schools and guilds across the nation; maintains studio in Sherman, CT.

Leslie Smith Jackson: BS, Studio Art (Fiber), Skidmore College; studied with Navajo weavers Dy Begay and Pearl Sunrise, Chimayo weaver Lisa Trujillo, Lewis Knauss, John McQueen; studio in Ridgefield, CT.
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Missy Stevens: BA, Boston U; studied at New England College; solo shows at Mattatuck Museum, Works Gallery; CT Comm. on the Arts Grant; work in numerous collections including Rhode Island School of Design, State of CT Artists’ Collection; lectured for Renwick Assoc. at Smithsonian Inst.

Linda Banks: Multimedia artisan for 30+ years; taught at Washington Art Assoc; regional exhibits, The Silo, Washington Art Assoc., many churches, schools, libraries; owns/operates glass studio in New Preston, CT.

David Licata: BFA, Sculpture and BS, Art Ed, SUNY New Paltz; studied at Penland School of Craft, Urban Glass, Wheaton Arts Center, with Bandhu Scott Dunham; taught at Peter’s Valley Art Center and Wheaton Arts Center; exhibits throughout the Northeast.
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Suzanne Pisano: Bachelors and Masters degrees in computer science, Iona College; studied silversmithing, lapidary, and glass manipulation under Fredricka Kulicke, Lessley Burke, Joy Raskin, Linda Banks, Annemarie Ciuffini, Stephanie Maddalena, and Kurt Patzlaff; operates studio in Newtown, CT.

Cynthia Saari: MS from Penn State U; instructor of lampwork glass classes for Sharon Arts Center, Worcester Center for Craft, John Campbell Folk School, Corcoran College of Art & Design; exhibits work in fine craft galleries; work included in several publications; maintains a studio in Putnam,CT.

Lanette Barber: BFA, SUNY New Paltz; BS, Quinnipiac College; exhibits nationally; work published in national publications, and television & radio broadcasts; “Excellence in Metals“ Awards from Society of CT Crafts(1993, 1995, 1999, 2000); teaches at Guilford Handcraft Center, Wesleyan Potters, Creative Arts Workshop.

Lessley Burke: AB, Smith College; working jeweler and enamelist; studied with John Cogswell, Joanne Conant, and Sue Sachs; studio in Ridgefield, CT.
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Annemarie Ciuffini: Degree in stonesetting from Scuola Orafa Roman, Rome, Italy; also studied at Sydney School of the Arts, Sydney, Australia, American Univ. in Rome, New Haven Univ., Western CT State Univ., and John Cabot International College, Rome, Italy.

Joanne Conant: Producing crafts person; commercial art degree from Minneapolis Technical Inst.; taught for Tuscon Museum of Art School, Eastern CT State College, and other workshops; received awards from and is represented in the Tucson Museum collection. Dale Jenssen: Attended UMass, Amherst, and the Alfred C. Glassel School of Art in Houston, TX; has created lights and illuminated sculptures for public and private spaces throughout Texas and the US; lives and works in San Antonio, TX.
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Susan Kasson Sloan: teaches at 92nd Street Y in New York City, the OCCC School of Art in Demarest NJ, and gives workshops nationally including Penland and Southwest Craft Center; recipient of three New Jersey State Council on the Arts Fellowship Grants; work included in collections of Victoria & Albert Museum, London; Charles A. Wustum Museum of Fine Arts, Racine, WI; Renwick Gallery of the National Museum of American Art, Washington, DC; Cooper­Hewitt National Design Museum, NYC.

Melissa Russell: Studied jewelry and silversmithing, Southern CT State Univ.; experience as head designer, model maker at large jewelry casting company; taught teen jewelry course for Multicultural Arts & Technology Program, CCSU in New Britain, CT; working jewelry artist, studio in Bethlehem, CT.

Sue Sachs: BS, Univ. of Wisconsin (Madison); consultant for Madison, WI Recreational Dept.; jewelry instructor for Lincoln Farm Camp, Bucks Rock Camp; Pres., Riker Hill Associates; numerous national gallery shows; juror for many regional shows; teaches for Newark Museum.

Patricia Segar: BS, Southern Illinois U. at Carbondale and MS BA, Indiana State University. Studied with Raychel Wengenroth, Annemarie Cuffini, Joy Raskin, John Cogswell and Sue Sachs, Kate Wolf and Blaine Lewis at Kate Wolf Studio in Portland, ME; member, Society of North American Goldsmiths (SNAG).

Sandra Yahner: BA, Studio Art, SUNY Cortland; MS in Art Ed., Syracuse University; teaches high school art in Marathon, NY; demonstrated and taught workshops at The Cooper Hewitt Museum and throughout the Northeast; exhibits nationally and internationally.

Charlotte Hedlund: BFA, SUNY/Empire State College; studied Art Students League, Parsons, Art New England, numerous group and solo exhibitions; work in private and corporate collections; teaches for Empire State College; Certified Expressive Arts Facilitator.
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Ann Dahlgren: BA, Brooks Institute of Photography; BA, UC Santa Barbara; fine art and commercial photographer; co­creator of “A Fairy’s Child,” pub. by Harry Abrams.

Loretta Lam: BFA, SUNY New Paltz; 8 years experience making polymer clay jewelry; work exhibited in fine galleries and craft shows in NY and CT; teaches adult education programs and at Silvermine Guild of Artists.

Tim Currier: Thirty years experience as stone mason; has taught for Weir Farm National Park, owns/operates his own masonry business in Newtown, CT.

Anne Finelli: BFA, Apparel Design, Rhode Island School of Design; BA, French and Art History, Kirkland College; 15 years as fashion designer, NYC’s garment industry; taught elementary school art; operates studio in New Milford, CT.

Cynthia Fisher: BS, Univ. of Maine; studied at Art Institute of Boston. Children’s book illustrator since 1989, 30+ published books; commissioned for mosaic wall art and installations nationwide. Teaches for Snow Farm New England Craft Program; work featured in regional magzines; conducts school mosaic projects throughout New England; member Society of American Mosaic Artists; studio in western MA.

Kraig Patzlaff: Grandson of renowned lapidary instructor Kurt Patzlaff; expert stone cutter and polisher; workshop in Wolcott, CT.

John Verner: BFA, Philadelphia College of Art and the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts; taught in numerous schools and art centers; exhibits nationally, painted constructions to impressionistic photography; certified yoga and meditation teacher, specializes in vinyasa, breath and movement; teaches throughout the tri­state area including the Omega Institute.

Paula Walton: Professional crafts­person since 1986; chosen 5 times by Early American Life as one of the top traditional craftsmen in America; work shown in many national publications including The Williams Catalogue of American Master Craftsmen; craftsperson in residence at Old Sturbridge Village, 2005.

Susan Bradley: BFA and Eastern Philosophy degree, Kansas City Art Institute; Masters in Asian Studies (emphasis in Chinese Art History); graduate work in painting, Chicago Art Institute. Extensive arts and crafts background and Tai Chi experience combine for 28 years of teaching skills.

Corey Anderson: Sculptor, wood artist and full­time woodturner; Member of American Association of Woodturners (AAW) and Nutmeg Woodturners League; two­term past president of Central CT Woodturners and newly­elected member of Board of Directors of AAW; Instructor at the CT Valley School of Woodworking and mentor at the American School for the Deaf; featured in American Woodturner magazine.

Jim Degen: Woodworker and turner; studied with Ian Kirby and Richard Raffan; exhibits regionally; past president of Nutmeg Woodturners League; studio in Brookfield, CT.
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Carl B. Ford III: Studio woodturner; studied at Ellsworth School of Wood Turning, and Anderson Ranch Arts Center with David Ellsworth; work is exhibited locally; published in American Woodturner magazine; member of the American Association of Woodturners.

Robert Rosand: Demonstrated for numerous local and national AAW symposiums; featured demonstrator at the 20th Annual National Symposium in Overland Park, KS; turnings shown in numerous exhibitions, and his works are in private collections throughout Europe, Japan, and the US, including the White House.

Mark Sfirri: BFA and MFA, Rhode Island School of Design, member of AAW and an honorary member of CMW; teacher, furniture maker, sculptor and woodturner; known for multi­axis turnings and humor in his work; has taught at Bucks County Community College since 1981, and has published numerous articles in journals and magazines. His studio is in New Hope, PA.

Buster Shaw: Woodworker and turner; studied with Beth Ireland and Michael Hosaluk; exhibits locally and in private collections; president of Nutmeg Woodturners League; studio in Bethel, CT.

Don Metz: Carpenter/boatbuilder; operates Black Duck Boats in Danbury, CT; exhibits regionally; numerous custom construction projects both commercial and residential.

Dennis Preston: BS from Univ. of New Haven; MS, Renssalear Polytechnic Institute; builder of furniture and woodworking teacher for 30+ years; licensed professional engineer; worked as Assistant Editor for Fine Woodworking Magazine, contributing editor for Woodworker’s Journal; served as president of Nutmeg Woodturners League.