Amanda Warren is 171’s Ceramic Technician and Instructor. Amanda started teaching at 171 in 2013 and became the full-time Ceramic Technician in 2014. Amanda is a graduate of Alfred University where she received her BFA in Ceramics and Art Education. Amanda then earned her M.S. Ed. in Art Education from Syracuse University in 2012. Amanda is also certified through NYS as a K-12 Visual Arts teacher.

While her main form of art making is based in ceramics, she has practiced in glass blowing, printmaking, and drawing. Originally from Schenectady New York, Amanda now lives in Hornell with her husband Matt and their precocious kitties Hazel and Willow. Amanda is happiest when in the studio and classroom making art with her students and passing on her love for all things art. When she isn’t in the studio, you can find her at the movies, outside enjoying nature, or out and about on an adventure. Her favorite color is periwinkle.

Steve Wilson is a professional member of the United States Fencing Associations and a member of the the U.S. Fencing Coaches Associations with the title of Moniteur d’Escrime in Foil, Epee, and Saber. He is the co-founder and principal instructor of the Elmira-Corning Fencers Club, and has taught both adult and children’s classes in foil, epee, saber, and historical weaponry.

The practice of Tai Chi, which is sometimes called “moving meditation,” fosters a calm, tranquil mind. It is a gentle way to fight stress, improve balance, and enhance wellness. Mary Gill-Scott has studied Qi Gong and Yang style Tai Chi since 2006. She received her training from Master Lawrence Childs, 5th degree Black Belt, at Three Treasures Martial Arts in Corning, and Grandmaster Kenny Kuek, 8th degree Black Belt, at USA Masters Academy in Canandaigua. She earned the certification of Black Belt and began instructing in 2012. She has traveled to Malaysia for training as part of an International Martial Arts Exchange. Mary has competed in martial arts tournaments, medaling in both silver and gold, as well as participating in numerous local demonstrations. She has also been the recipient of several awards, including Tai Chi Student of the Year, and Instructor of the Year. In 2013, she began teaching Tai Chi Wellness at 171 Cedar.

“I practice Tai Chi for its health benefits, such as rejuvenation, wellness—both body and mind—and stress management. It has improved my balance greatly, and aided in my recovery from a neck injury.” In today’s fast-paced world, Mary believes everyone can benefit from Tai Chi.

http://www.marcrubinassociates.com/

Painter and graphic designer Marc Rubin paints still lifes that invite meaning and evoke story. He captures everyday objects at eye-level and sized in the frame as they are in the world, but he imbues them with a spirit and presence so that, emotionally, they become larger than life. Rubin’s masterfully-painted representational oils are exhibited in galleries throughout the Northeast.

New York State Certified Teacher Jacqueline Knitter has been teaching since 1974, and has a special love for teaching French Language. Her extensive experience and training in language education, along with her personal travels, have led to the development of Jackie’s signature teaching style. She incorporates the enthusiastic use of props, toys, videos, and even cooking to impart knowledge of French language and culture to young students through play. Jackie has been teaching French for children at 171 Cedar Arts Center since 2010.

2015 recipient of 171’s Bob Kinner Faculty Award for Teaching Excellence.

Dr. Daniel LaBar is a pianist, composer, organist, and choral director. With degrees from Oberlin College Conservatory of Music and the American Conservatory of Music in Chicago, IL, he went on to receive the Doctor of Musical Arts from American Conservatory of Music in 1979. Dr. LaBar has won awards in composition and has been commissioned to compose for the Texas Boys Choir. He has taught piano and theory at Glenville State College in West Virginia and at SC State College. He has been a 171 faculty member since 2000.

For inquiries about lessons, please contact instructor directly.

• email: dlabar001@yahoo.com
• phone: 607-846-8411

Dino Losito began studying the piano at age four. He attended William Patterson University in Wayne, NJ, where he studied jazz performance. Since then he has performed throughout the US and abroad, including such notable venues as Birdland, Bluenote, Dizzys at Lincoln Center, and the NBC Rainbow Room (NYC). Mr. Losito has also been featured on over a dozen recordings, and his debut CD Like That, has received critical acclaim. Mr. Losito has also been an active teacher for over 20 years, teaching students of all ages, beginner’s to advanced in traditional piano, reading, theory, or pop/jazz piano. Instruction is custom tailored to the age, skill level, needs, and goals of each individual student. Faculty member at 171 since 1996.

Please visit dinolosito.com for more information.

Dino is accepting new students. For inquiries about lessons, please contact instructor directly.

• email: dinolosito@gmail.com
• phone: 607-738-1380

Michael Volino grew up in an Italian-American household in Campbell, NY. Michael went on to obtain an associate degree from CCC and a bachelor’s in political science from SUNY Geneseo, where he took the opportunity to study abroad in Rome and Siena. After working 6 years in the bakery business, Michael decided to continue his education at Middlebury College where he studied in Florence and received a master’s degree in Italian studies. He’s currently pursuing a PHD in Italian Studies through Middlebury College. Michael’s goal is to dispel common Italian stereotypes and share his love for Italy, its culture, and language.

My name is Taylor Keister and I am a 25 year old, recent MFA in Painting graduate from Alfred University. I come from the small town of Horseheads, NY with very little exposure to the art scene, so I have made it my mission to travel in order to find new inspiration and stimuli to motivate my work. I’ve studied abroad in both Italy and Germany, diving head first into the roots of traditional painting. Within my work, I am trying to expand on and push the boundaries of traditional and classical painting, by investigating more contemporary avenues of image making. This includes an intense exploration of material, and how far I can push what a painting is / means to me. My goal is to encourage a deeper, more progressive way of thinking about abstraction through painting, while creating bridges and breaking barriers between what the world has taught us about this two dimensional practice.

Learn more about Taylor, her work and intention as an artist on her website at www.taylorkeister.com.

www.wilsonong.com

Wilson Ong grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area and went to Brigham Young University, receiving a B.F.A. in painting and drawing. He furthered his studies at the Arts Students’ League in New York City, studying with nationally renowned figurative artists, Ted Seth Jacobs and Harvey Dinnerstein. He has sold his work professionally as an artist and illustrator since 1983. In addition to his professional art, Wilson was a full-time art instructor and department chair for nine years at the Waterford School in Sandy, UT. During that time he was named the State Art Educator of the Year as his students garnered numerous national and in-state awards. He continues teaching and strives to inspire each student to realize their artistic potential. “The process of art has always been a challenging and rewarding experience. As a teacher it is my purpose to guide students through these challenges so that they too can feel the rewards of creating beauty.”

Kirk has been a Ceramic Artist for 25 years.  He has a Bachelor of Art: in Art, Theater, and Recreation, with a focus on Ceramic and Print Making from Northwestern Collage, Orange City, IA. He was a ceramics instructor at Orange Street Pottery, Wilmington, NC, and is currently teaching at 171 Cedar Arts Center, Corning, NY. He has taken classes at both locations, as well as at John C. Campbell Folk Arts School, Brasstown, NC, Over the years he has also attended many other ceramic workshops and Talks.  He currently works in a small pottery studio at home, with a focus on wheel thrown functional wear.  He also enjoys helping out with his wife’s basket making, brewing beer with friends, cooking, and woodworking  projects.

The focus of Kirk’s work is to make beauty that supports the joy found in the everyday.  For Kirk pottery is a personal journey of self-exploration and problem solving.  In clay we can find where we come from and who we are.  The potter can dig clay from the ground, form it into a vessel, fire it with discarded brush, then add fresh vegetables from the garden and you have a meal to enjoy with friends.

Katie Peterson is holistic chef specializing in plant-based cooking and a yoga instructor focusing on mind/body nourishment. Though cooking has always come naturally to her, it has taken her years of experience in fields beyond the culinary realm to develop and nurture her own unique (and extraordinarily simple) healthy eating and lifestyle habits.

Katie achieved a Bachelors in Applied Science of Culinary Arts from Le Cordon Bleu, as well as certifications in nutrition, integrative wellness, life coaching. She completed a 200 hour certification as a registered yoga instructor. She has combined her years of education, industry, and life experience to offer simple and approachable tools to help lessen the overwhelming nature of healthy eating.

Tara Osburn received her Masters in Special Education from the State University of New York College at Geneseo. She enjoys working with young children and their families as an early intervention provider and incorporates her love of American Sign Language as she teaches children with a variety of communication challenges.

Christina was born in Johnstown, New York, a small town outside of Albany, New York. The State University of New York in Potsdam awarded Christina her Bachelor of Art in Studio Art and she earned her State of New York Teaching Certification in the Area of Art in May of 2006. She continued her education in Potsdam, completing a research thesis pertaining to the integration of the arts into the regular classroom setting. She was awarded her Master of Science in Education for the area of Curriculum and Instruction in August of 2007. At the recommendation of a respected mentor Christina applied and was accepted to the Graduate Painting and Drawing Program at Louisiana State University for the Fall 2009 semester. Christina completed this course of study in December of 2011. Christina lives and works in Corning, New York where she has taught arts courses and demonstrated her art techniques at Corning Community College, 171 Cedar Arts Center, as the Museum Educator at the Arnot Art Museum, and for The ARTS Council of the Southern Finger Lakes. She represented by West End Gallery.

Rebecca Finch graduated in 2003 with a Masters in Commercial Art and has been painting in oils, drawing and teaching since that time. She has been in several group exhibits at 171 Cedar Arts and is an Associate member of Oil Painters of America. Rebecca has taught numerous sketching classes to children, teens and adults as well as a year-long drawing course to homeschooling students and a beginning painting class to adults. She enjoys sharing the joy creating art and watching her students take off with their newly learned skills.