All of our teachers are working artists, professional art educators, and art historians, carefully matched to the classes they teach. The list below has links to short biographies of instructors and staff for the Creative Workshop.
If you are looking for a specific teacher/artist not listed, please email us at creativeworkshop@mag.rochester.edu.
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Simmi Wallace
Simmi has a passion for using art to engage others over a broad spectrum of topics. From wonky watercolor workshops, playful puppeteering, and creative crafting, you’ll never take a dull drawing class with him! Simmi performs as a puppeteer with the Calgary Animated Objects Society (CAOS), which has contributed to his usage of puppets as…
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Skyler Elfeldt
Skyler Elfeldt is an artist and art educator, passionate about helping anyone find their love for art. She encourages her students to include their interests and use these to inspire and influence their exploration of art. Growing up outside Albany, NY, Skyler spent her time in both art and dance studios. She graduated from Pratt…
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Stacy Mayou
Stacy was raised in Palmyra, New York. She was able to explore the world, first living in Maine then Florida, England, Kansas, Pennsylvania, and Connecticut. She received a BFA from the University of Maine, studying painting and photography. Stacy has worked professionally in the Marketing Field and as a freelance graphic artist for over 30…
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Sue Barnes
Sue Barnes is an artist from Rochester, NY. She has an impressive history of involvement in the greater Rochester Arts Community, both as a practicing artist and as an educator. She has extensive experience in ceramics, but more recently has been interested in fiber arts. Much of Sue’s fiber work includes whimsical creatures designed to…
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Taylor Kennedy
Taylor Kennedy is a multi-media artist. She is interested in conceptualizing the sentimental narratives behind the family dynamic, in an attempt at understanding the cyclical nature of people and familial lineages. She works in drawing, painting, printmaking, photography, and installation. Taylor earned her BFA with Honors in Fine Art from RIT in 2015 and her…
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Tom Carpenter
Tom Carpenter is an artist and educator who has exhibited and taught internationally. A creative workshop instructor since 2000, Tom has taught drawing, photography and clay. He works to collaborate with, support, and encourage his students. Tom earned an M.A. in Multidisciplinary studies. Buffalo State Collage and a B.S. in Art Education at Nazareth College.…
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Unique Fair-Smith
Unique Fair is a Fine Artist from Rochester, NY who seeks to use his skill set as an artist and activist to empower people to be the change they wish to see in the world. Growing up, he developed a passion for community organizing, and after high school, Unique attended the Rochester Institute of Technology…
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Warren Mianecke
Warren Mianecke has taught at the Creative Workshop since 1992 and also serves as the night registrar. His classes emphasize a welcoming environment for creativity, discovery and laughter, often through drawing. Warren holds a BA in Studio Art from SUNY Geneseo and an AA in advertising art from SUNY Farmingdale. Warren writes that he “helps…
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Whitney Brown
Whitney Brown joined the Creative Workshop’s teaching artist staff in December 2017. She comes to us with great experience working with children of all ages as creative artists. Both in Florida and locally, Whitney has worked with kids in arts-focused schools and daycare settings. As a Creative Art Director and professional Artist with over 15…
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Zara Davis
Zara Bronwyn Davis is a ceramic and fine artist, working and teaching in Rochester New York. She graduated from the Rochester Institute of Technology in 2019 with a BFA in ceramics. Zara was a Flower City Arts Center resident artist for three years, where she refined her skills and developed her current body of work.…