Faculty, Staff, Directors & Board Members
Brookline Arts Center Staff
Susan Navarre, Executive Director
Brianna Whitney, Assistant Director
Katharina Chapuis, Assistant
Board of Directors
Manika Srivastav, President
Lenore Sempert, Vice-President
Michael Vahey, Treasurer
Lisa B. Barr, Clerk
Board Members
Peter Ames, Mim Berliner, Chris Burke, Isabella Frost, Vasundhra Ganju, Carol Gladstone, Carol Hall, Chobee Hoy, Carolynn Levy, Ted Livingston, Manika Srivastav, Gail Rice, Jill Streck, Susan Theran
Brookline Arts Center Faculty
Janet Ashton is one of our Moms, Dads, & Tots teachers. A long time performer of Celtic and traditional music at the Colonial Tavern Museum, Janet also performs historical concerts in character and costume.
Vladimir Barsukov has a PhD in physics and mathematics from St. Petersburg University in Russia, and has been making mobiles for as long as he can remember. Vladimir's work can be seen at galleries throughout New England. Vladimir is a member of the Cambridge Art Association and the Concord Art Association.
Ilah Cibis grew up in Kansas City and began making jewelry when she was 15. She received her BFA from Boston University and later attended the North Bennet Street School in Boston's historic North End. In December 2006 she opened Precious Metals, a custom jewelry boutique in Sudbury, MA.
Robert Collins received a BFA and MFA from Boston University. He has taught at Boston University, UMASS Dartmouth, the Danforth Museum, and Rhode Island College. Bob has also shown work in Boston, Maine and Rhode Island galleries.
Sarah Cunningham received her BFA from Masachusetts College of Art in sculpture and ceramics. She functions as BAC's ceramic studio manager and teaches adult wheelthrowing classes. Sarah runs her own pottery business, and sells her work at galleries and craft fairs throughout the Boston area.
Melissa Finelli graduated from the North Bennet Street School's jewelry program in 1996. She is currently attending the School of the Museum of Fine Arts to explore new ideas in jewelry design and metal sculpture. She has a gallery/studio in the SoWa arts district, which is open for First Fridays and by appointment. The John McMartin Gallery in Detroit also shows Melissa's jewelry.
Ann Fitzgerald holds a BA and MBA with a concentration in computer graphics from UMass Amherst, and a BFA in ceramics from Massachusetts College of Art. She has been teaching children's classes at BAC for several years.
Sue Funk holds a BA from Monmouth University. She is a freelance illustrator and strives to bring out the "creative child" in all her students. She presented a one-person show of her art at the Acton Memorial Library in February and March 2009.
Beth Ann Gerstein is the Executive Director of The Society of Arts and Crafts. Gerstein holds an MFA in jewelry and metalsmithing from Cranbrook Academy of Art, Michigan. Beth is a board member of the Glass Art Society, and Watershed Center for Ceramic Arts.
Sarah Gaw studied psychology and studio art at Skidmore College. She has worked as a freelance photographer and a Photoshop instructor.
Raul Gonzalez is an illustrator/cartoonist and designer living in Somerville. He a founding member of the Miracle Five and is currently working with Blackwell Publishing Philosophical Tales. He also teaches at the Boston Architectural Center and Museum of Fine Arts. Raul recently completed illustrations for Attorney Man with author Karen Katz, a copy can be purchased in the BAC office. His work can also be seen at www.iheartcerebot.com
Mark Hanser is a Massachusetts-licensed Visual Art teacher with many years' experience. He received an Ed.M in Arts in Education from Harvard University and a BFA in Painting and Media and Performing Arts from Massachusetts College of Art and Design. He also teaches performing arts, English, history and social studies, and believes in creating academic success by integrating the arts into other subject areas. He has also worked with adolescents at risk, and at the Arlington Center for the Arts and the Milton Art Museum.
Kristen Hoops is an interdisciplinary artist focused on design and craft. She came to the BAC after working as the director of teen programs at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Newport County. Her work can also be seen at her web site
Vanessa Irzyk taught art at Sociedad Latina in Roxbury, and Ceramics at Ramapo Summer camp. She has exhibited her own work at Mass College of Art, the Brookline Arts Center gallery, and Colo-Colo Gallery in New Bedford. Vanessa has a degree in painting from Mass College of Art and Design. Her work can also be seen at http://vanessairzyk.com
Ramune Jauniskis is an illustrator for book publishers and magazines, as well as a fine artist in a wide range of media: watercolor, acrylic, ceramics, papier mache, pen and ink, and paper sculpture. She also works as a mural and decorative painter in private homes. On weekends, Ramune runs the popular BAC art birthday parties for children. She received her BFA from Mass. College of Art and Design. Shop for her felted art work on Etsy.
Peg Kane holds a BFA in Painting from Mass College of Art and a MA in Painting from Pius XII Institute, Florence Italy. She teaches additional art classes at the Cape Cod Conservatory and has shown her work at many galleries in the Boston area.
Ruth Kates holds a BFA in painting and an MFA in Art Education from Massachusetts College of Art. She has been teaching at the BAC and community art centers for over twenty years. Since Ruth began exhibiting her work in the early 70's, she has won over 50 artist awards at exhibitions in the region. Her work is included in collections nationally. She has been honored with BAC's Art Treasures Award.
Siobhan Landry studied Art and Ideas at the University of Michigan and is now finishing her degree from School of Museum of Fine Arts.
Margaret Langdell graduated from the Univ. of Mass. at Amherst in 1995 with a BA in Comparative Literature and graduated from the prestigious jewelry program at the North Bennet Street School. She has worked extensively in jewelry and glass blowing as well as mentoring for the Big Brothers Big Sisters program. She has consulted with museums in the U.S and the U.K. in regard to their enamel collections. Her article "Enamels in the Delaware Art Museum" was published in the February 2004 issue of Glass on Metal Magazine.
Marc Mancuso has taught at workshops and camps for children. He also teaches ceramics at Brookline Adult and Community Education, and MIT.
Karenna Maraj is a jewelry designer specializing in both precious metal designs and costume jewelry. She received her BFA from Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) in Jewelry and metalsmithing. Her work can also be seen at http://www.karennamaraj.com
John Martino specializes in black & white street-style images. John's photos have been exhibited in numerous venues in Boston and have also appeared in such publications as "Photographers Forum," "New Orleans Review," and "Kestrel."
Kim Mellema received her BFA from SUNY Buffalo in 1980. She has been an artist and teacher for the last 15 years. Kim has taught at the New England School of Art and Design, her book illustrations have been widely published.
Claudine Metrick holds a BFA in painting and is currently earning her MFA at UMass Dartmouth. She works in both oil and ink approaching painting with an experimental collage aesthetic.
Tom Pendergast is a jazz musician with a Professional Music Diploma from Berklee College of Music. He plays children's music at cafes, birthday parties and other gigs regularly in the area. Tom also teaches private guitar lessons to all ages. Email him at TomPen@110.net
Ashley Procopio is a graduate of Colby-Sawyer College. She has worked ata the American Craft Gallery and Vessels & Jewels, a bead shop. She sells her work at Magpie, in Davis Square.
Elizabeth Rocha studied at the Rhode Island School of Design and the School of the Museum of Fine Arts and has an ALB from Harvard's Extension School. She has been working as a children's illustrator for the past ten years and teaches in a variety of programs around Boston.In November 2009, her costumes and masks were featured in a production by Prometheus Dance.
Leslie Shershow holds a BFA in Fine Arts 3D/Metals from Mass College of Art. She has studied stone carving in Florence Italy and currently assists in a number of metals studios. Leslie was awarded the Lillian Bardfield Award and Foundation Auction Award, she also took honorable mention at the All Schools Show in 2005.Her work can also be seen at http://leslieshershow.com/
Jennifer Sherr is a Boston-certified artist who operates Sherr Designs, specializing in decoupage accessories. Her work can be seen in over 25 galleries and boutiques nationwide. Most recently, the city of Boston has selected Jenn's work for a three window storefront in downtown Boston, calling the window "Art is a Sherr Thing.' Over 20 pieces of decoupage furniture and accessories are on display. Her work has been covered in over 20 periodicals, including the Boston Globe and South End News.
Veronica Shimanovskaya was born and educated in St. Petersburg Russia. She is a designer and a painter and she loves to teach her skills to others.
Wendy Soneson has been teaching art in Brookline for thirty years. She has shown her work locally and has an M.Ed. from Lesley College. She works with under served populations in the Boston area, teaching all ages. Her current focus in her watercolors is depicting light. She often participates in community art events such as Open Studios at Allendale Farm. She has been honored with BAC's Art Treasures Award. Soneson is exhibiting her work, and that of her students, in a major art exhibition at the Main Branch of the Brookline Public Library through June 30, 2009
Merrill Smith is a graduate of the School of the Museum of Fine Arts and has been teaching young children in the Moms, Dads, & Tots program at the Center for many years. She founded the ArtReach program at the Brookline Housing Authority in 1990. She has been honored with BAC's Art Treasures Award.
Anne Steinman is from New Orleans and graduated from the University of Southwestern Louisiana. Her artwork reflects a longstanding interest in wildlife and nature. Anne's painting and drawing style consists of a harmonious blend of Western and Oriental techniques with focus on both realism and impressionistic expression. She teaches additional art classes at North Shore Community College. To learn more about her artwork and Chinese brush painting you can visit her website at www.annesteinman.com
George Summers received his BFA from UMass Dartmouth and has been working in batik for over 20 years. He has exhibited in many venues from Massachusetts to Key West, Florida. George's batik work is profiled in The Crafters Book of Angels and The Ultimate T-Shirt Book by Deborah Morgenthal, and was recently featured at the Society of Arts and Crafts.
Page updated 2009-11-06