FACULTY ARTISTS
Karen Arp-Sandel, Visual Artist & Educator
Karen has a BA from U-Mass Boston and is a graphic designer, yoga teacher, and visual artist. She is the Artist Mentor for ArtShop, a studio art program in Kidspace at MASS MoCA. She teaches art classes at IS183 and Sinai Academy. From her home studio in Canaan, New York, Karen creates watercolor landscapes, mixed media collage, assemblages, and artist books.
Cynthia Atwood, Visual Artist
Cynthia graduated with a BFA in painting and printmaking from the University of Kansas and graduated with a MFA in Visual Arts/Sculpture from Vermont College of Norwich University. In 2005, Cynthia was awarded a Klots Residency in Brittany, France, and had a solo show at Morgan Lehman Gallery in New York City.
Barbara Beach, Visual Artist & Educator
Barbara earned her BFA at Virginia Commonwealth University and MA at Lesley University. She enjoys teaching art using art history as a spring board. She also loves creative hand sewing, cooking, interior designing, and gardening.
Paula Beaudin, Yoga Instructor
Paula is certified in Yoga for the Special Child and Interdisciplinary Yoga. Through the Starlight-Starbright Children’s Foundation, she teaches at hospitals such as St. Vincent’s Medical Center, Cornell Medical Center, and St. Mary’s Rehabilitation Center. Paula also teaches at Berkshire County ARC, combining classic yoga with games and improvisation to inspire light-heartedness.
Barby Cardillo, Actor
Barby has appeared on many Berkshire County stages. She has worked in arts education for over seventeen years with Shakespeare & Company, Girls Inc., Barrington Stage, Main Street Stage, and CATA. She is a founding member of the Royal Berkshire Improv Troupe and directs the theatre program at Camp Hawthorne’s Arts Camp in Raymond, Maine.
Laura Christensen, Visual Artist & Educator
Laura has a MFA from Utah State University and has exhibited at Southern Vermont Arts Center in Manchester, Offenes Haus Oberwart in Oberwart, Austria, The Art Center of the Capital Region in Troy, New York, and Kidspace at MASS MoCA. She worked as Visual Arts Educator Coordinator at MASS MoCA from 2000 to 2007 and is currently a Visiting Associate Professor for the Department of Fine and Performing Arts at the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts.
Lara Gonzalez, Performing Artist & Educator
Lara Gonzalez is co-founder/artistic director of Marafanyi Percussion, and along with her musical partner, Yael Shacham, has appeared on stage at MASS MoCA, South Orange Performing Arts Center, The Knitting Factory, and more. Lara has been a resident teaching artist and accompanist for the New Jersey Performing Arts Center since 1998 and is a graduate of Fordham College at Lincoln Center with a BA in Art History and Studio Art.
Susie Hardcastle, Visual Artist
Educated in England at Falmouth School of Art and St. Martin’s School of Art, Susie has a degree in painting, sculpture, and art history. She produces one of a kind hand-painted fabrics, paintings, and sculpture.
Pat Hogan, Visual Artist
Pat has lived and worked in the Berkshires for seventeen years. CATA is her passion. Previously she has taught at IS183, where she served as Department Head for Painting and Drawing. Her work can be seen locally at SKH Gallery and Godwin & Lundquist Fine Art in Great Barrington and at Deborah Davis Fine Art in Hudson, New York.
Leslie Klein, Ceramic Artist
Founder of Clay Forms Studio, Leslie has been teaching for over twenty-eight years. Her work has been exhibited throughout the United States at venues including the Herter Gallery, the University of Massachusetts, and Ceramics/Northeast. Her commissions include the Boston Freedom Award, presented by Coretta Scott King and Boston Mayor, Thomas Menino, to Dr. Charles Jacobs, founder of the American Anti-Slavery Group.
Dawn Lane, Dancer, Choreographer & Educator
Dawn has performed at Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival, BIFFMA, The Unicorn Theatre, Boston Arts Academy, The Egg, and Boston Conservatory. Her award-winning humor has been funded by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, the LEF Foundation, and the Mid-Atlantic Arts Council. She is one of three nationally chosen dance educators selected to teach Curriculum in Motion™ for Jacob’s Pillow. She holds a BFA from Massachusetts College of Art and a M.Ed. from Lesley University. In 2007, she received the Distinguished Educator in Dance Award from the Mass Arts Alliance.
Marlene Marshall, Visual Artist
Marlene is a certified art therapist, watercolorist, mosaic artist, teacher, and author of several books on decorative arts. Her work has been exhibited and sold in galleries and museum shops throughout North America. A graduate of The New School of Social Research in New York City, she also holds a graduate degree in alternative therapies from Greenhouse Inc. in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
Sarah McNair, Visual Artist & Educator
While completing her M.S. in Environmental Education, Sarah developed her love of teaching science through art. Nature journaling, science illustration, botanical watercolors, and now architectural illustration are the main body of her work. She considers becoming an A.R.T. tracker for CATA a great honor and looks forward to helping artists in Northern Berkshire County realize their creative visions through painting.
Diane Prusha, Actor
Diane is thrilled to be back for the eighth year working with such gifted actors. Working with co-teacher, Barby Cardillo, she continues to be awed, inspired, and challenged in this most extraordinary environment. Diane has worked for Shakespeare & Company for many years in a variety of roles, and most recently at New Jersey Repertory Theatre and Berkshire Theatre Festival.
Roger Reed, Juggler & Mime
Performing as Roger the Jester for thirty-five years, Roger has delighted audiences of all ages in twenty-three different countries. Starting as a street performer on the streets of Boston, he went on to perform with the Swiss mime/mask theatre, Mummenschanz. He then appeared in Circus Brazil Jack in Switzerland, Circus Roncalli in Germany, and Circus Knie in Switzerland. He spreads joy and laughter through his silent physical humor, object manipulation, magical moments, musical mayhem, and audience play. Roger thanks all of his CATA students for teaching him new ways to juggle!
Senta Reis, Artist, Educator & Facilitator
Senta has a M.Ed. from Lesley University and is a registered yoga teacher. Her joy and passion is in working with people of every description providing opportunities for self realization through visual arts, drumming, puppetry, and yoga. She is currently working to integrate her eclectic collection of skills into a “comprehensive toolbox for joyous compassionate living” to share with those who cross her path.
Peter Schneider, Pianist & Accompanist
Peter has overcome much to reach this point in his life, not least of which is his blindness. Pete says, “I see with my ears.” Born in Korea, raised in Seaford, Long Island, and now residing in Great Barrington, Peter travels the country performing in concerts, festivals, and workshops with Vikki True and her band.
Janice Shields, Rustic Artist
Janice spent much of her life creating art as a hobby. In 1995, with the encouragement of many, she became a full-time artist. A circuitous route over the next year brought her to the beginning of her rustics business, Cut It Out. Janice teaches at the Arnold and Polly Hill Arboretums and has been featured on the PBS series Victory Garden, in The Boston Flower Show, and in many books and magazines.
Yael Shacham, Performing Artist & Educator
Yael is co-founder/artistic director of Marafanyi Percussion and, along with her musical partner, Lara Gonzalez, has appeared on stage at MASS MoCA, South Orange Performing Arts Center, The Knitting Factory, and more. Yael has over ten years of experience serving children and adults of all ages and populations. Yael is also a certified Music Together teacher and a graduate of the Institute of Audio Research in New York City.
JoAnne Spies, Singer/Songwriter
JoAnne is a singer songwriter using music to help discover and understand environmental issues, build community, and empower voices for positive change. Recent works include songs written for Marmalade Production’s Watershed Waltz, an interactive environmental program for schools, and Sounding the River, an ongoing event that honors Mohican heritage, celebrates the river, and brings together diverse parts of the community. Two upcoming CDs are Following the River and Snow in Paradise, featuring Marc Black.
Carol Stroll, Poet
Carol inspires adults and children to write from their own memories, thoughts, and feelings. In April 2007, the AfterSchool Poets program developed by Carol was given a Gold Star Award by the Massachusetts Cultural Council as an outstanding project that celebrates diversity, fosters collaboration, showcases artistic excellence, and provides learning experiences for people of all ages and backgrounds. Her book, Poems and Portraits, was published in 2000. She is preparing her next book, Once You Know, You Know, for publication.
Vikki True, Singer & Performing Artist
Vikki promotes healing and community-building through singing, drumming, listening, and loving. Vikki has toured the U.S. and abroad appearing in concerts, festivals, clubs, coffee houses, churches, synagogues, on radio, television, and some great kitchens and back porches. She holds a BA in Music and Theater from Mt. Holyoke College and is a member of NATS (National Association of Teachers of Singing) and IAJE (International Association of Jazz Education).
Stefanie Weber, Dancer
Based in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, Stefanie carves a niche as a multi-media artist and as artistic director of Creatures of Habitat. She has continually trained in the arts and athletics of dance since the age of three, specializing in Rhythm Tap. She is an alum of the Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival School, The Jazz Tap Residency, and an Environmental Science graduate of the University of Massachusetts. Her work has been seen at LaMaMa Etc., The National Museum of Dance, Jacob’s Pillow, The New York Dance Center, The Audubon Society, DanceSpace Center, WhiteWave, and Williamsburg Art Nexus.
Michael Wolski, Visual Artist & Puppeteer
An award-winning playwright and set designer, Michael comes to the Berkshires from British Columbia. He continues to perform his one-man shows William K. Whiskers and Michael’s Surprise Shows to the delight of family audiences while pursuing his latest love, painting.