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Instructors: ( A - C ) ( D - K ) ( L - R ) ( S - Z )
Alanna Schultz: Middle Eastern Belly Dance
Alanna Schultz performs throughout Ohio with Troupe Shabaana, the dance troupe she founded. Ms. Schultz loves everything about belly dancing and it shows in the enthusiasm she displays in class.
Linda Scott: Camp Out-Rageously Fun, Crafty Toys, Backyard Science and Craft.
Read what parents said about Linda Scott's summer classes:
Dorina Shen: Chinese Brush Painting
Dorina Shen was born in China's Szechuan Province and raised in Taiwan. She earned a Bachelor's degree in Chinese Literature and worked as an instructor at Taiwan's Providence University before relocating to the United States in 1986. Ms. Shen now resides in Brecksville, Ohio. Interested in the art of painting since she was a child, Ms. Shen studied watercolors under the tutelage of Professors Chen Teng Sun and Peg Teng Shih, both famous Chinese artists. Ms. Shen's artwork can be found in Europe, Asia and South America. Her exhibitions include “ASIAN VISIONS” at the Beachwood Center for the Arts, Brecksville-Broadview Heights School ArtMart, Brecksville Mayor's Art Show, Case Western University, Cleveland State University, John Carroll University and Lake Erie College. Ms. Shen has taught Chinese Watercolors as well as conversational Mandarin and Chinese culture at the University of Akron and Cuyahoga Community College.
Dorina creates scenes from nature such as landscapes, flowers and birds using Chinese mineral colors and inks on traditional rice paper or silk. Her style combines xieyi (freehand strokes) and gongbi (fine detail). She blends firm strokes and lyricism in a way comparable to the intersection of Western Impressionism and Western Realism. Her paintings reflect her view of life and demonstrate mood and emotional feeling to a remarkable degree. In her interactions with her students and through expression in her paintings, she shares not only the love of art, but also her wisdom in living. Her students come from diverse backgrounds and ages, and once they gain a level of proficiency, they begin to exhibit their paintings with her in joint shows. This December, Dorina and her students will stage their 10th Annual Art Show at the Brecksville branch of the Cuyahoga County Public Library. Website: www.geocities.com/dorina622
Stephanie Sibits: Painting/After School Art Program
Born and raised in Cleveland, OH, I have studied art my entire life and have taken that knowledge and created a self-taught way of painting. My innate sense of style leads me to paint in a dramatic, but spirited manner. My creations are a kaleidoscope of color, which can give you a sense of movement. A natural ability guides me to fashion my works of art with tremendous emotion making the process very labor intensive.
I find it relaxing to concentrate on recycling old furniture and using them as my canvas. Painting dazzling wall murals brings my creations into your homes and makes a dream come true. My murals, paintings and recycled furniture have become a part of many homes and businesses in the area. Currently, I take pleasure in teaching after school art classes to our children at Central, Chippewa, Hilton and Highland Schools. We have very creative children in our area when given the chance to express themselves.
For several years, I had been asked to paint a chair for the Cleveland Crunch that was auctioned off at a fundraiser “Chairs that Care” amongst other donated Chairs. It's success raised money for the Children's Museum, which benefited the families of Northeast Ohio. I continue to develop my ideas and magically come up with fresh ideas: I am surrounded by inspiration.
Jane Slivka - 2003 Outstanding Teacher
Watercolors
Congratulations to Jane Slivka,watercolor instructor and After School Art Program teacher,
recipient of the 2003 teacher of the year award. Jane received her art education from Endicott Junior College in Boston, Massachusetts, Ohio University and studied Art History in Florence Italy. Her florals, still lifes 
and landscapes appear in many private collections in the area. She has won numerous awards. Jane is inspired by the beauty of the countryside and enjoys painting tranquil settings - places where someone would want to be.
Denise L. Stease with an extensive background in party planning and children's crafts, is a 
welcome addition to our Arts for Tots team. Denise is a graduate of John Carroll University and a former music instructor at the Brecksville Music Shoppe. She is equally at home working with the youngest child or presenting workshops to senior groups. Denise is a key member of our scrapbooking classes and Crop Parties - "Memory keeping at it's best!" www.creativememories.com/dstease
Karen St. John-Vincent: Soul Poetry: Accessing the Creative Spirit 
Karen St. John-Vincent is an artist working in the mediums of photography, painting and poetry. She has a BFA from the Cleveland Institute of Art and has done work towards a Masters degree in Art Therapy at Ursuline College. Karen has taught art to children and photography and poetry to seniors in the Encore Program at Cuyahoga Community College. She has exhibited her photographs extensively over the last 10 years throughout northeastern Ohio, Chicago, New York City, Pennsylvania and Kentucky. Karen's poetry collection, "Barflies" was 
published in 1989 and she is working on two other collections which she hope to have published in 2007-2008.
"My personal work is narrative in nature. I try to create images that suggest a story. Often I combine mediums in my work, writing and painting on my photographs. I work with my cameras in a manual mode. I often shoot through found objects or in unusual lighting situations to distort and enhance a mood. I try to express the emotions that drive the human spirit. If I can write one line or create one image that moves the reader or the viewer, then I have succeeded as an artist."
Nancy Strnad: 3-D Adventures!
"I'm a licensed art educator and I love working with children and art! I was an art teacher for nine years in schools in Medina and Brecksville, grades one through six, and I have also been a substitute art teacher for many years. This is my 11th year teaching classes at the Brecksville Center for the Arts. In my Art Adventures classes I teach a variety of art concepts and skills in a variety of ways. In this class we'll compare flat, 2-dimensional works of art with 3-dimensional sculpture. We'll explore the third dimension with paper, wood scraps, paint, clay and plaster (for a plaster relief sculpture), and various modeling materials. I always bring in books and pictures, and we'll be sure to talk about art history and art appreciation a little bit, too! I'm happy your child will be joining us!"
Anne Stevens: Feng Shui
Anne Stevens' work as a Feng Shui consultant and teacher is a unique combination of this healing artistry, interior design, and spiritual consciousness. Before she began advising individuals and businesses on the Feng Shui principles, Anne spent more than 27 years working in home décor and studying various healing arts. Anne has more then 12 years experience in Feng Shui, having studied with Master Lin Yun and Lillian Too. She is a Reiki master and directs the Graced Space School of Feng Shui in Avon Lake.
Rita Telaak - 2001 Outstanding Teacher
Jewelry and Metalsmithing
Rita Telaak, who teaches Jewelry/Metalsmithing, began her endeavors as a student at Brecksville Center for the Arts and is a popular teacher and award-winning exhibitor. Rita's work can be seen at Eye Candy Gallery (www.EyeCandy-Gallery.com) which Rita owns. She has been an exhibitor at a variety of juried shows which include: Mayor's Fine Art Show - Brecksville, Heartfelt Holiday - Brecksville, Art on the Green - Hudson, Akron Art Expo - Akron, Easton Towne Center Art Show - Columbus, The Chautauqua Art Show - Chautauqua, NY, St. James Court Art Festival - Louisville, KY. Rita is a member of: the Ohio Arts and Crafts Guild, Society of North American Goldsmiths (SNAG), and the PMC Guild. Rita encourages her students to participate in various classes and BCA sponsored art shows. Visit her web site at: www.RitaTelaak.com
Rebecca J. Thomas: Adult jewelry and youth art/crafts
Rebecca Thomas has over twenty years experience working in the 
public library system conducting programs for children, teens and adults. She excels at designing innovative arts/crafts programs with an eye for artistic detail. Her experience in jewelry design, 
crafting, and youth programs makes her a welcome addition to the BCA teaching staff. Rebecca's students will create Artist Trading Cards, Bottle Cap Art Bracelets, Friendship Bracelets, Wire Cuff Bracelets and bracelets incorporating pearls, Swarovski crystals and silver.
Amy Trosino: Illustration, Multi-media, Ceramics 
Amy Trosino received her Master of Fine Arts Degree in illustration from the Savannah College of Art and Design in Savannah, Georgia and has spent the past seven years owning and operating Artventure Studio and Gallery in Medina, Ohio. At this studio, she specialized in teaching a variety of classes to adults and children including drawing, painting, children's book and alternative markets illustration, ceramics, book making, creative writing, wheel throwing, collage, portfolio, and gallery exhibition design. Her work has appeared in House Calls, Drink, and Charleston magazines as well as the Crescent Review Literary Journal, a literary magazine specializing in original and award winning short fiction. Her illustrations have also been 
displayed at the Children's Book Fair in Bologna, Italy and in various gallery shows across the country. Amy has also spent her time teaching children's book illustration at the University of Akron and has worked with various organizations such as The Medina County Achievement Center, Family First Council, The Adrian Center for Creative Development, Windfall School's Very Special Arts program for children with special needs, the Medina and 
Brunswick Preschool PTA, and the Strongsville, Brunswick, and Medina school systems. In her spare time, Amy enjoys creative writing and exploring different ways to combine art and literature. This is her first year teaching at the Brecksville Center for the Arts.
Melinda Turner: Calligraphy, Copperplate Calligraphy, Holiday Pop Up Cards, Tatting and Tassels
Melinda is one of our busiest and most popular teachers. Her vast experience and expertise allow her to teach a wide range of classes for children and adults. Her summer classes at BCA included Egyptian Times, Music Crafts, Super Sitters, The Fun Factory, Roman Times, Papercrafts around the World, Personalize my Place, Learn to Letter, Fiber Fun, and Westward Ho. Melinda also participates in our Birthday Party program. Melinda Turner has been “doing calligraphy” since 1969. She is a member of Scripts and Scribes and has provided her calligraphy skills to Stan Hywet Needlework Guild, Northeast Ohio Odyssey of the Mind, Copley - Fairlawn Schools as well as school and church groups. Melinda holds a BA in Communicative Disorders from Brigham Young University where she also studied art and music. She has worked in the public schools as a speech pathologist and also teaches piano.
Mary Urbas: Business for Artists
Brecksville Center for the Arts is offering a 6-week class designed to assist artists in marketing their work. Mary Urbas will share her 26 years of experience in the professional art world as a gallery owner, curator, teacher, consultant and exhibiting Fiber Artist. The course will cover preparing and presenting your artwork, establishing pricing and record keeping, marketing, portfolio prep, and strategies for success in art fairs, festivals, and galleries.
Sherri Webb: Art Start
Sherri Webb will guide your child as they dabble in painting, sculpture, collage and puppet making. They will learn the pre school routine in a relaxed, no pressure environment. Art Start is a multi-media adventure that allows your young child to create and appreciate the visual arts.
Mark Yasenchack - 2002 Outstanding Teacher
Ceramics
Mark began teaching for Brecksville Center for the Arts in 1993. His education includes a BS in Biology from Baldwin Wallace with a two year concentrated study of ceramics, glaze making and Black and White photography. His work has been seen at Cain Park, Ann Arbor Summer Fair, the Lakewood Art Festival and the Columbus Art Festival. Along with teaching at BCA, Mark has also taught with the Cleveland City Schools Harvey Rice and Wade Park Elementary Schools, the Cleveland Institute of Art, and Happy Hearts School teaching children with special needs. For more information and examples of Mark's work please visit www.artistsofcleveland.com
Ken Yenke, a native of Cincinnati, moved with his wife Brenda first to Indianapolis as a sales manager, then on to Philadelphia and finally settling in the Cleveland area. A corporate account manager by day, he soon found himself devoting time to his passion of teddy bear collecting. Brenda and Ken share their love for teddy bears. Brenda is an accomplished seamstress who can historically correct and restore original teddy bears. She only does this for her family.
Ken's job allowed him to travel the world, where he began his teddy bear education at museums, art galleries and antique shops. His appetite grew for books about Teddy Roosevelt, and this helped establish him as an expert. To this day he reads and traps images of bears in his memory, plus adding old bears to his personal collection. Ken enjoys the history behind each bear he sees or reads about and absorbs this information like a sponge, which is crucial for appraising bears.
For over ten years Ken has been the preferred appraiser for Good Bear of the World. Whenever a member, worldwide, requests information or identification help, the mail is forwarded to him. He speaks to countless bear clubs, senior citizens groups, antique clubs and libraries. Ken has been instrumental in raising funds to buy bears for distribution to hospitals and to open toy museums. In addition to numerous articles he has also written two books: Teddy Bear Treasury and Bing Bears and Toys. American Greetings Corporation has featured Ken and Brenda's bears in every calendar since 1992. Bears from their vintage collection have been featured on American Greeting's gift-wrap and Valentines.
www.bright-star-promotions.com/Kenyenke.htm
Sandy Zednik is the owner of PARMA HOBBY in Parma, Ohio. She has been teaching hobby-related classes for several years. In addition to the classes at BCA, she has taught for two summers at Polaris and for 6 years in North Royalton as part of the North Royalton Saturday Enrichment Programs. She teaches classes in plastic model car building and painting, scenery building and stick and tissue rubber-band powered airplanes.
Bev Ziegler: Ceramics
Bev started clay work in the 70's at Maija's Hot House Pottery in Valley View, Ohio. After learning from Maija, she ran the studio and taught classes for 10 years. In the 80's Bev attended Tri-C and became the ceramics lab manager. She taught pottery classes for adults and children for the Independence Art Guild. Bev has been working out of the Brecksville Center for the Arts' studio for three years and joined the teaching staff in fall, 2007.
Bev says “I've been addicted to clay since the mid 70's. Learning and teaching the ceramic process has been one of the most rewarding aspects of my life. I believe that art should be used in life's daily rituals.”
Instructors: ( A - C ) ( D - K ) ( L - R ) ( S - Z )
