Faculty
Katie Adams received a BFA in Metals/Jewelry at Tyler School of Art in 1990. She then taught and had a productive studio practice until leaving Philadelphia in 2000 for Tucson, Arizona. Katie returned to Philadelphia in 2006 with a husband, daughter and three dogs to renovate an old warehouse in Germantown where they have ample room to make their artwork.
Jill Allen was a resident artist at the Watershed Center for the Ceramic Arts and has exhibited her clay works in galleries throughout the country. She is also an instructor at The Clay Studio in Philadelphia. MFA, University of South Carolina; BFA University of Illinois.
Ashely Ayers has performed in various corpes and soloist roles in the Nutcracker, Cinderella, and Sleeping Beauty to name a few. She has studied ballet, jazz, modern, and tap with a major in ballet performance. BFA, University of the Arts.
Gail Bracegirdle was awarded a Leeway Foundation Window of Opportunity Grant in 2004. She is a signature member of the Philadelphia Water Color Society and her paintings are exhibited in juried, group and solo shows throughout the region.
Angela Combs has exhibited in New York City and Philadelphia, most recently at ArtForms in Manayunk, PA and has taught ceramics at the 92nd Street Y, NYC. MFA, Tyler School of Art; BA, Bennington College.
Dianne Corbeau also teaches at Fleisher Art Memorial and Perkins Center for the Arts. Her paintings have been collected and commissioned by The University of Pennsylvania and The Illinois Institute of Art, to name a few. Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, certificate.
Amy Danford teaches in our community outreach program Fostering Creativity. This art therapy program is provided free to foster children and their families. Amy holds her Master of Arts Degree in clinical art therapy from Long Island University.
Sandra Davis is prolific in ballet, jazz, modern, tap and voice. She received her BFA in Ballet Performance from The University of the Arts. Sandra also teaches at Anastasi Dance Studio in Philadelphia.
Elaine Douds recently exhibited her oil paintings at Artists House in Philadelphia. She is also an accomplished watercolor artist who teaches private students in the area. Elaine received her certificate from the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts and also happens to be a registered nurse.
Patti Dougherty was introduced to glass beads while researching ancient glass at The British Museum. She began collecting glass beads as a way to learn about ancient cultures and to understand the techniques of glass bead making. Her current work uses marine biology as a reference. MFA, Maryland Institute College of Art; BFA, Tyler School of Art.
Margo Fotta is a custom framer at Allegheny Art Company in Newtown Square. She has exhibited her work in both solo and group shows at Joshua’s Café in Jenkintown and in the juried exhibitions at Abington Art Center. BFA, Tyler School of Art.
Esther Goldberg has studied many modalities of yoga including Astanga and Bikram, beginning her studies at the Kripalu Yoga Center in 1973. She has combined her experience in both dance and yoga to create Yoga~Flow, the method that she teaches at the Art Center and elsewhere. She has a BS in dance from Penn State University.
Juliet Gundy has served as the art teacher for Pennridge Elementary and Middle Schools in Perkasie, PA. She is also an art educator for the James Michener Museum of Art. MAed, Arcadia University; BA, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University.
June Hines has taught at the Abington Art Center since 1998. She is a certified Pilates instructor and is currently directing The Pilates Studio at The Pennsylvania Ballet. She holds both a BFA and an MFA in dance from The University of Oklahoma, and has taught at Mercyhurst College and Allentown College.
Dyani Hugo is currently the Studio Supervisor for the Metals and Jewelry Department at Arcadia University. She worked as a certified art therapist for five years. Prior to that, she studied at the Glasgow School of Art in Glasgow, Scotland. MA Creative Arts in Therapy; BFA, Metals and Jewelry Design, Arcadia
Bruce Humphries has exhibited his art in a variety of galleries throughout the country. He was most recently a visiting artist at Rhodes College in Memphis, Tennessee where he also taught 3D Design and an aesthetics class. MFA, University of Kansas; BFA, University of Kentucky.
Debbie Kowalchuk also serves as our ceramics technician. She is a certified art teacher and currently teaches at The Center School in Roslyn. Debbie was one of 15 teachers from The University of Maryland selected to study art and culture in Mexico. BS, Art Education, Tyler School of Art.
Pat Lima graduated from Temple University in 1987, and has been a printmaker since 1989. Her artwork has been shown in numerous national and regional shows, including The Art of Printmaking in Newport, RI and Art of the State in Harrisburg, PA. She has been teaching at Abington Art Center since 1996.
Jacque Liu is the recipient of a Fulbright Scholarship in Berlin, Germany. He has a wide range of experience as a ceramics instructor, writer, and curatorial assistant in Bloomfield Hills, MI. MFA, Cranbrook Academy of Art; BFA, Alfred University.
Henry Martin teaches painting and drawing at AAC and throughout the Philadelphia area. He paints both corporate and private commissions. Henry has his certificate from The Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts.
Martha Kent Martin has a BFA in Metalsmithing from Tyler School of Art. She has been a practicing professional jeweler since 1979 she has taught metal technique since 1986. She has exhibited locally at The Germantown Friends Craft Show, Woodmere Art Museum, Abington Art Center and The Rosen Show, regionally at Peter’s Valley Craft Show and nationally in Chicago and Baltimore.
Vanca Muller is a Tyler graduate with experience in photography, painting, drawing, and crafts. She is also a talented writer and musician.
Melissa Mytty is also a Resident Artist at The Clay Studio in Philadelphia, PA. She received an MFA in ceramics from The Cranbrook Academy of Art.
Mimi Oritsky shows her paintings at the Amos Enos Gallery, the AIR Gallery (both in NYC), and the Chestnut Hill Gallery in Philadelphia. She also has her work included in the collections of Delaware Art Museum, the Reading Public Museum, and Arcadia University. She holds a BFA from the Maryland Institute, College of Art, and an MFA from The University of Pennsylvania.
Stephanie Pagona Pappas has years of experience working with pre-schoolers as a head teacher at The Goddard School in Horsham, PA. She is also owns her own jewelry design business Sterling Designs by Stephanie. Tyler School of Art; West Chester University.
Wendy Patterson has spent the last 25 years perfecting her art of jewelry making. Her love of the craft has brought her to AAC to share the methods of metal smithing in a fun and nurturing environment. Her work is sold through the By Hand Fine Arts Gallery in Haddonfield, NJ.
Monica Ponzek has a BFA in Graphic Design and Illustration from Tyler School of Art. She is currently in graduate school studying art education at Arcadia University.
Bob Skiba is a dancer, choreographer, and teacher. He has taught historical and vintage dance for universities and music groups. He also directs his own dance company, “Mixed Pickles” in performances of American Social dances from the Civil War era through the 1930’s.
Laura Skidmore did her student teaching for The School District of Philadelphia and the Abington School District. She currently teaches at the AJ Preschool. Tyler School of Art, BFA Ceramics & Glass w/ teaching certification.
Kathleen Hope Smith graduated from Hussian School of Art with a major in illustration. She has taught for over 20 years, teaching private classes, camps and workshops, as well as being a substitute art teacher for area high schools. She is also a practicing painter and stained glass artist.
Harriet Sommer teaches art workshops for seniors throughout our community in residences such as Sunrise of Dresher and Maple Village in Hatboro. Philadelphia College of Art and Design, Certificate in Art Therapy.
Kara Lynn Spalding also teaches in our Community Outreach Programs at AAC. Kara has exhibited her paintings throughout the Philadelphia area. In addition to classes at AAC, she teaches teenagers for the Mural Arts Program.
Carol Stirton-Broad received her BFA from Tyler School of Art. She has also studied at the Glasgow School of Art, the Scuola Arte del Mosaico in Ravenna, Italy, and the Orsoni Mosaic Foundry in Venice, Italy. In addition to AAC, she teaches classes at the Main Line Art Center and The Philadelphia Art Museum.
Eva Szabo is a graduate of the Hungarian National Ballet Institute. She is co-founder of the Gyori Ballet. She has been awarded an International Certificate in Dance Education, teaches from the pre-ballet to the professional levels and is on the faculty of The Pennsylvania Ballet’s Rock School and The University of the Arts.
Debbie Ulrich teaches in our Fostering Creativity program, which offers free art therapy sessions for foster children. She has also worked at Genesis Centers in Collingswood, NJ and Frankford Hospital in Bucks County. MA, Hahnemann Creative Arts in Therapy Program; BA, Art Therapy, Rutgers University.
