Lisa C. Abbatomarco works with and teaches theater arts, puppetry, cardboard sculpture, collage, sculpture, Chinese lanterns, installation, improvisation, movement, vocalization, stilts, pageantry and other mixed inspirations. A procession artist and performer in the Woodstock Christmas Eve events, Lisa has had commissions with Open Eye and Bird-on-a-Cliff Theaters. She attended Bennington College and has taught at the IS 183, Art School of the Berkshires, Unison, and Bergen County Community College, among others. Lisa is director, creator, puppeteer and performer with the Ps>kNocKEd SenSeLeSs Studios.

Alexandra Baer has worked as a sculptor for over 15 years. Projects she has worked on include ten bronzes of world leaders from the Nixon Library, re-creation of the Woolworth lunch counter sit-ins and figures of civil rights figures for the Civil Rights Museum, and sculptures of various athletes for the Olympics. Her artistic training includes a BFA from Boston University School for the Arts, and an art history study at Harvard. She presently runs a bronze casting foundry with her husband, works on public sculpture commissions, and is co-director of the Mill Street Loft’s Habilidad program.

Karla (Kartoon) Baumgardner is a regular teaching artist at the Dutchess Arts Camp. She has won many awards, including an Emmy for “Arthur,” is a Foley Artist at the National Film Board of Canada, and studied pantomime and mime with Ettienne DeCroux, a student of the famed Marcelle Marceau. Karla continues to develop new characters and routines, and to train youngsters to perform as her assistants.

Madison Berry holds a BS in Art Education from SUNY-New Paltz and is working on her Masters degree. She has taught at Dutchess Arts Camp; a NJ based art therapy organization;  and children’s museums in the tri-state area. Her works have been featured in local art shows and auctions.

Claudia Brehse has a master’s degree in education and received her undergraduate degree in painting from Boston University. She is an illustrator – designer and works on both public and residential murals.

Amanda Buhler works in many mediums including drawing, painting, printmaking, metals, photography, computer graphics and mosaics and is a NYS certified, pre K-12 art educator on the faculty at the Titusville Intermediate School. She holds a Masters Degree in Art Education from SUNY New Paltz, and has taught in many of Mill Street Loft’s programs including Dutchess Arts Camp, PASWORD and Project ABLE.

Tom Caplan has been doing all kinds of improv with youth for many years. Locally, he facilitated “Mama Drama” at Onteora Middle School and is currently working with students at Red Hook High School and youth ages 17 to 24 at City Year New York in Manhattan. He is a basketball player, writer, and cook, and enjoys heading off into wilderness whenever he can.

Margarita Carreras was born in Cuba and studied graphics at Parsons School of Design. She is the President of Black Beans and Rice, Inc and credits her background in Paris and New York as inspiring in her interest in design and architecture.

Les Castellanos teaches in the Highland Central School District and at Mill Street Loft’s Art Institute and Dutchess Arts Camp. He holds a Masters Degree from the New York Academy of Figurative Art, and has been a guest instructor at The School of Visual Arts in New York. A member of the Society of Illustrators and the Director’s Club, he was awarded the Elizabeth Greenshield’s Foundation Award in 1996.

Doris Cultraro holds a Master of Education degree from SUNY Buffalo, and has owned stained glass studios in Manhattan, Westchester, and currently in Rhinebeck, NY. She has lectured, taught stained glass techniques, and produces works for public and private clients, as well as sacred places.

Elizabeth M. Dama holds a BFA and a MFA in Fine Art from The School of Visual Arts in NYC. She enjoys sharing her creative passion and enthusiasm with children and adults. Her work, inspired by art history, has been exhib¬ited throughout the United States and Canada and is in several private collections.

Christina DiMarco has been the Co-Director, Artist/Educator and student of Clove Creek Artists from 1983 to 1992. She has taught in many of Mill Street Loft’s programs since 1993, the Garrison Art Center since 1992, and Camp Wilbur Herrlick since 1990. She specializes in paper marbling and book binding, and also teaches photography, puppet making, ink, clay and a variety of other visual arts.

Michael Gallo Farrell is Associate Director of the Art Institute of the Mill Street Loft, core photography instructor and sponsor of the National Art Honors Society Chapter 2242 locally. He holds a B.S. in history and social studies education from SUNY Brockport and teaches photography at the Oakwood Friends School in Poughkeepsie. Michael is a versatile freelance photographer and continues to exhibit his work.

Charles Fetherolf writes, illustrates, and publishes comic books through his imprint, Giant Earth Press. He is also a member of the Society of Illustrators.

Mira Fink has exhibited her watercolor and oil paintings in solo and juried shows for many years, is a NYS certified (K-12) art teacher with a BFA in painting and a Masters in Ele­mentary Education from SUNY New Paltz. She is also an environmental educator with a BS in environmental and forest biology.

Dandelyon Holmes holds a BS in Visual Arts Education with a concentration in painting from the SUNY New Paltz. Her commercial work of pet portraits reflects the personable character and uniqueness of each animal.

Institute for Music & Health Faculty, Peter Muir, PhD and Judith Muir, co-directors, are trained in the Diamond System for Life Energy and Creativity, a unique body of work developed by John Diamond, MD, a pioneer, researcher, clinician, artist and world recognized expert in using the arts for health & wellness.

Joan Henry
Tsalagi/Nde’/Arawaka Composer/Performer & Educator
(“JAH-LAH-GHEE / IN-DAY/AH-RAH-WAH-KAH”) In the theatrical and mainstream music world, Joan’s ‘credits’ embrace the Broadway 30th Anniversary Company of West Side Story, television, films, and over 30 recordings in native traditional, contemporary, classical and jazz venues, with her 2007 release “New Mountain” already ‘making noise’…Hers is a recognizable voice. An NYU School of the Arts Alumna, she founded a Native traditional women’s drum group, tours with her contemporary band, and trains drummers and singers—although she is most beloved at Dutchess Arts Camp for her Coyote stories… She is also a painter, herbalist, Women’s Traditional dancer and beadworker, a member of AEA, SAG, AFTRA and ASCAP performers’ unions, and Director of Mill Street Loft’s girls’ empowerment programs. Joan teaches here and in Canada, carrying an active commitment to youth, to women’s empowerment, to her elders and to promoting cultural understanding among peoples into concert halls and classrooms for folks of all ages and nations to share the history, arts & music of America’s First Nations—and to explore their own…

Muriel W. Horowitz brings many years as a storyteller and literacy specialist to her lively performances and interactive workshops. She enchants listeners of all ages with her retellings of folklore from many cultures as well as tales from her own life and from history- tales of empowerment, wisdom, humor, and morality. She brings creativity, energy and joy to her work and especially loves inspiring children, teens and adults of all ages to tell their own tales.

Jamie Kellogg believes that teaching art is teaching life skills. His students are encouraged to learn patience, determination, imagination and creative problem solving while expressing themselves and gaining technical facility. He holds degrees in art education (SUNY New Paltz) and computer art and design (SUNY Alfred), served as a volunteer docent at DIA Beacon, and works with Family of Woodstock.

Mister Dave (Laks)
An award winning instrument designer, inventor and harmonicologist, Mister Dave teaches music, media, video and performing arts. He has worked with students in the Onteora Schools for more than twenty years, and taught at both Dutchess and Ulster Community Colleges. Dave holds advanced degrees and New York State certification in music education.