Meet the Art Teachers
of
Nyack Public Schools
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Deirdre Kenna
Deirdre Kenna
Visual Arts Department Chairperson K-12,
Nyack High School Educator, Artist
Who's your favorite artist?
I really love the work of a Brooklyn artist named Swoon. She is a combination of a street artist and printmaker. She creates these beautifully layered pieces that resonate with me.
What type of art do you make?
I love to get my hands on any creative material. I especially love collage, painting, and printmaking. I love all the steps involved with printmaking and can get lost in the process. I just like working through the steps and exploring what happens through trial and error.
What is your favorite thing about teaching art?
I love when a class reaches that level of comfort that students contribute to each other's ideas, thinking and give meaningful feedback. It is like this synergetic flow that boosts everyone's creativity and sense of community. It is wonderful to be able to work in an environment like that.
Christine Di Dio
Christine Di Dio
Upper Nyack Elementary Educator, Artist
Who's your favorite artist?
It is so hard to choose! But if I had to choose just one, it would have to be Frida Kahlo. The way she used self-portraiture to share her truth is something I have always admired.
What type of art do you make?
In my free time, I work as a mural painter, mostly creating creative spaces for children or scenery. I also love to experiment with mixed-media collages and sewing.
What is your favorite thing about teaching art?
My favorite thing about teaching elementary art is seeing a child's face the first time that they make a discovery with an art material. It such a joy to be part of their foundational art experiences. My favorite thing about being an art teacher is being able to help empower our students to use the arts to positively impact our school community. I love collaborating with them and our amazing Art Department to find new ways to do so.
Danielle McDonald
Danielle McDonald
Nyack High School Educator, Artist
Who's your favorite artist?
There are so many artists I admire, including my students! My favorite artists make me see the world from a perspective different from my own, transform the ordinary into something meaningful, document stories, fight injustice and make indifference to beauty and struggle impossible. Some of these artists include Mark Bradford, Ai Wei Wei, Noah Purifoy, Diego Rivera, Wangechi Mutu, Yoko Ono, Kerry James Marshall, Wendy Red Star, Mel Chin, Jacob Lawrence, Luchita Hurtado, Pepon Osorio, Jenny Saville, and Judy Baca.
What type of art do you make?
I am a painter and illustrator. When I am able, I like to work collaboratively to create large scale community based murals.
What is your favorite thing about teaching art?
My favorite part of teaching is watching students connect to themselves and each other through the process of making art. I love when the art studio becomes a community and the atmosphere is fun and creative.
Frank Milillo
Frank Milillo
Valley Cottage Elementary Educator, Artist
Who's your favorite artist?
Marcel Duchamp and Da Vinci
What's your favorite type of art?
Classic oil painting (Renaissance)
What is your favorite thing about teaching art?
Seeing students make art that they are proud of!
Jenna Nelson
Jenna Nelson
Nyack High School Educator, Artist
Who's your favorite artist?
Hard to pick one, but Edward Weston and Brandon Stanton are definitely my top two.
What type of art do you make?
Photos! I love digital and black and white film photography. Fun fact, I actually photograph weddings and more outside of school.
What is your favorite thing about teaching art?
Hands down, seeing students make something they are proud of. When I see someone make a cool print, drawing, painting, etc. I get so excited for them. In my classes, I make sure it's a fun and supportive environment. I want everyone to look forward to coming to class.
Lauren Rubino
Lauren Rubino
Nyack Middle School Educator, Artist
Who's your favorite artist?
I am always trying to learn about new artists, admiring their techniques and trying to deconstruct their process. It’s hard for me to pick a more current favorite, but I’ve always loved the artist Albrecht Dürer. Similar to my passion for patterns and detail, he created very rich, intricate woodcut prints as well as extremely detailed botanical watercolor paintings.
What type of art do you make?
I am a lover of all art forms! My current passions are realistic acrylic paintings, crocheting, and building scenery for plays.
What is your favorite thing about teaching art?
My favorite thing about teaching are is watching my students take a broad concept and create a meaningful piece of artwork that tells me more about them. I love that each piece of art is different, unique and personal.
Annie Silverman
Annie Silverman
Nyack High School Educator, Artist
Who's your favorite artist?
My favorite artist is Liath Mcgregor.
What type of art do you make?
I make all kinds of art! But I love creating portraits of people that reveal something more about them through the materials I use. My favorite medium to do this in is oil paint.
What is your favorite thing about teaching art?
It is definitely tough to choose a favorite for this question! My favorite things about teaching art is being a supporter in another person’s journey through life, and encouraging their artistic explorations and discoveries.
Tanaisha Semidey
Tanaisha Semidey
Liberty Elementary School Educator, Artist
Who's your favorite artist?
I really enjoy Faith Ringgold’s quilt work.
What type of art do you make?
I enjoy drawing portraits.
What is your favorite thing about teaching art?
My favorite thing about teaching art is giving children opportunities to bring themselves and personal interests to their work. Every piece they make tells an interesting story, and these stories help me get to know the them better as individuals and as artists.
Caitlyn VanderMaas
Caitlyn VanderMaas
Nyack High School Educator, Artist
Who's your favorite artist?
Some of the creatives who have influenced and inspired me include Andy Goldsworthy's nature-based works, the graphic designers David Carson, Paula Scher and Jessica Hische. In the area of film, video, and contemporary media I am most inspired by the carefully developed genius of Greta Gerwig's filmmaking, the dedication to storytelling and creative process of Casey Neistat, and the mindset and deceptively dedicated work ethic of Peter McKinnon.
What type of art do you make?
I have worked in many different mediums from small-scale metal sculptures and bookmaking to graphic design, media arts, and video production.
What is your favorite thing about teaching art?
I love supporting students as they start to explore and develop their own voices and come to understand just how capable they are! When students find a creative process that allows them to express themselves and effectively bring an idea to completion, that is both magic and a skill that will forever change how they approach the world and themselves.
Lianna Venturella
Lianna Venturella
Nyack High School Educator, Artist
Who's your favorite artist?
Currently, my favorite ceramic artists are Christopher David White and Noriko Kuresumi because of their unique and beautiful approach to the medium. Also, like myself, their work is heavily inspired by the beauty and power of nature.
What type of art do you make?
I am a ceramic artist and an oil painter, however for the past few years I have been focusing on wheel-thrown pottery.
What is your favorite thing about teaching art?
It is hard to pick one favorite! I feel so grateful to have the opportunity to share my love and passion for art with my students. I never get tired of seeing how excited they get when they create a work of art they are proud of!
Maxwell Wild
Maxwell Wild
Nyack Middle School Educator, Artist
Who's your favorite artist?
I don't really have one, but I do love Kehinde Wiley’s stuff.
What type of art do you make?
Cardboard stuff and functional woodwork.
What is your favorite thing about teaching art?
There’s more than one right answer. For the same assignment, each student’s work will be a different interpretation.
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