Sandra Tomas Roig Ryder was born in Valencia, Spain. She began dancing at the age of 6, including: ballet, flamenco, tango, Salsa, Samba, Latin dance, modern, jazz, acrobatic rock, and commercial dance. At 18, she joined the Professional Conservatory Ballet on Valencia. She danced professionally in Spain, Japan, Paris, in commercials, and for Celebrity Cruises as a principal dancer. In 2019, she moved to Corning, NY, where she is developing an online fine art business specializing in mandala and graphic design.

Katherine Fultz is an illustrator, surface designer, and yoga instructor in Corning, NY.

Although she is not formally trained in art, Katherine grew up surrounded by artists of all stripes and inherited an eclectic interest in the visual arts. She has worked as an ethnographic photographer in Latin America, a web and graphic designer, and now designs fabric, stationery, and jewelry. Although she loves to paint in gouache and other wet media, she has switched almost entirely to the iPad for its flexibility and convenience (particularly with two kids running around– no clean-up!). She especially loves combining traditional and digital media to create bright, cheerful, and whimsical designs.

Katherine began practicing yoga in 2003, and her practice is an ongoing exploration of mind-body connectedness. Practicing yoga balances her physical training for triathlon and generates mental focus and calm in her everyday life. Her yoga style is a playful vinyasa flow interspersed with longer holds of individual poses. She encourages students to make the practice their own, reflecting on how each pose feels in their individual bodies. In her classes, students will find opportunities to challenge themselves, as well as time for mediation and quiet reflection. Her training as a yoga instructor has included yoga philosophy, history, pranayama, meditation, and a strong emphasis on teaching methodology. Katherine believes yoga can have a positive influence on everyone’s life, and she looks forward to sharing yoga with students of a variety of backgrounds and levels.

Yoga Training and Certifications:

RYT-200, Yoga Alliance.    2014- 2020.

300- Hour Teacher Training. Practice Yoga, Dayton, OH.    September 2013- May 2014.

10- Week Fundamentals of Anatomy. Leslie Kaminoff, Online Teacher Training.    2013- 2014.

Katherine moved to Corning with her husband, two kids, and three cats in 2019. Prior to NY, she lived in Southeast Missouri; Los Angeles; Ann Arbor, MI; Dayton, OH; St Louis, MO; Guatemala; Santiago, Chile; and Chicago. She really hopes she won’t have to move again. When she’s not painting, you can find her running, hiking, gardening, or cooking.

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.

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.

Becky McNeill is a self-taught modern improvisational quilt artist whose quilts have shown in fine art galleries and exhibitions across the country. Her work is known for its vibrant color palettes, bold geometric patterns, the aspirational messages and stories conveyed through the use of shape and hue. As part of her creative process, McNeill also paints in a loose, whimsical style that brings relaxation and joy to her work flow. The playfulness of her painting is a counterbalance to the precision and intricacy of her quilting work. She is a member of the ARTS Council of the Southern Finger Lakes, Studio Art Quilt Associates, and the Modern Quilt Guild. Her work can be found at Finger Lakes Unique on Market Street and by commission on a limited basis via her website.

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.

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.

Filomena has been creating art for more than 25 years and admits to being generally over stimulated by cute, bizarre, and funny topics. She received my BFA from Jersey City University, teaches art to a variety of audiences, and is a certified life coach. Filomena has painted multiple murals around the Twin Tiers and loves her job!

Angela Daniels has a degree in Elementary Education with minor in Fine Arts. She taught elementary school for seven years while working as a professional actor in the evenings. She studied acting with Brent Hansen at Dixie State University, with Frank Gerrish and was part of his FAT Studio performing troupe and with Robert Carnegie at Playhouse West in Los Angeles. Angela loves the theatre and is thrilled to be working with 171 to provide performance and training opportunities to children and adults in our vibrant town.