Faculty

Jill Markovitz is the founder and director of Fairmount Art Center and Queen Village Art Center and a Philadelphia native. She holds a Masters of Fine Art from the University of Massachusetts and a BA in Art Education from the University of New Mexico. She has dedicated her career to art education, holds a K-12, PA teaching certification, and has taught art at every level from pre-school through university. Jill has established vibrant and diverse art programs in many settings, bringing her commitment to current theory and best practices to students and teachers, alike. Jill is an accomplished, exhibiting artist with her large-format photographic work. Passionate about the cultivation of community through the arts, Jill led the development of the Fairmount Arts Crawl in 2004 and founded the Fairmount Arts Council in 2005. In 2007, Jill was honored with the Rising Star award from the American Red Cross which distinguishes women who demonstrate outstanding achievements and who positively impact their community.

Abbien Crowley is the Assistant Director of the Art Center and has been developing dynamic arts programming with us, since 2006.  She holds an MA in Art Therapy from Drexel University and a BS in Liberal Studies with a concentration in Fine Art and Art History from The University of Scranton. Abbien is a practicing art therapist and has provided therapeutic services to both adults and children throughout the Philadelphia area. Abbien has been with The Art Center for over 5 years and serves as Assistant Director and early/elementary art education specialist.

Rachael Brown earned a BFA from MICA, specializing in large format photography, while exhibiting her work throughout the Baltimore area.  She currently works towards masters degrees in arts education and arts business. Rachael has experience teaching in a wide variety of settings including public, private, charter, and  Montessori schools as well as interning at the Michner Art Museum, volunteering at a community center for at-risk youth in Baltimore, and, she teaches family studios at the Philadelphia Museum of Art.

Kate Cicalese earned a BFA in Painting from Syracuse University and a Masters in Art Education from Temple University.  She is a certified art teacher, and painter, and has brought her classical and abstract painting skills to students of all ages.  A working artist, Kate has exhibited her work throughout the Philadelphia region.

Ananda Connolly received her B.F.A. in photography from the University of the Arts in 2000. She became involved in community based art outreach working with non-profits and volunteering. After several years she decided to cement her commitment to art education and is currently pursuing her Masters in Education at the Tyler School of Art. She recently participated in the summer enrichment program offered by The Philadelphia Arts in Education Partnership as a teaching artist. She continues to be active as an artist in printmaking and book arts.

Amanda D’Amico is a book artist, writer, printer, and offset enthusiast. She manages the Borowsky Center for Publication Arts and the Digital Imaging Labs at the University of the Arts where she graduated from the MFA Book Arts/Printmaking program in 2007.

Brandi Davis is a former pre-k teacher and a professional Parenting Coach with a Bachelors of Science in Child Development and Family Studies. Brandi also lectures about parenting and education at multiple colleges and venues in and around the Philadelphia area and has been published in several local and national publications in addition to publishing her first parenting book this year, O.K. I’m A Parent Now What?

Kathleen Eastwood received her MFA from the San Francisco Art Institute and her BFA in drawing-painting from The University of the Arts.  She is a skilled draftswoman and painter.  Her work consists of large-scale oil paintings, drawings and digital photographs.  Kathleen has exhibited, and has work in collections, on both coasts.

Jennifer Gin received a BFA in Fibers/Crafts from the University of the Arts in Philadelphia with a concentration in Fibers and Mixed Media. She has extensive experience with textile printing and fabrication and has taken additional coursework at Temple and Drexel Universities in graphic art and pattern drafting. Jennifer also enjoys freelance work creating digital archives, designing costumes for local dance groups, and teaching English as a second language. In addition to her classes at FAC, Jennifer is the Senior Secretary/Assistant in the graphic Design Department at UArts.

Miranda Hitzemann has worked at FAC in many different capacities and comes to us with diverse experience. She earned a masters degree in Urban Spatial Analytics from the University of Pennsylvania and a bachelors of fine art in architecture from the Massachusetts College of Art and Design. She earned many scholarships and accolades throughout her studies. In Boston, Miranda worked as an architect for many years. She also studied under a master porcelain artist for six years and exhibited her ceramics and furniture design throughout the Boston area. Additionally, Miranda has served on the Fairmount Arts Council and worked as the Business Liaison to develop and nurture the Fairmount Arts Crawl, a yearly arts event.

Sarah Horne is a graduate of the University of the Arts, Fibers and Glass Department and has completed additional course work at Tyler School of Art, among others. She has received awards for her creative work including a Kimmel Scholarship. She has taught both adults and children in a variety of settings including UArts and teaches at the Delaware Center for the Contemporary Arts. Sarah s diverse experience also includes work with the International Opera Company of Philadelphia creating set designs and costumes. Sarah s fine art is in numerous private collections and she exhibits throughout the Greater Philadelphia area.

Sarah Lewis is a graduate of the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts certificate program in painting. Working with a juxtaposition of simple materials used in new ways to create conceptual installations, Sarah has exhibited her work in annual exhibitions at PAFA. She is versed in traditional approaches to painting and drawing and has experience teaching people of all ages.

Katie Parry teaches many of our children’s programs.  She comes to us with an MFA from Tyler School of Art and a BFA from Kenyon College.  She has worked in a host of creative capacities and teaching positions , throughout her career.  From gallery assist to set designer and arts educator.  Most recently Katie has worked with  the Children’s Museum of Art in New York and a Montessori school working working with children ages 2 and up.  Katie has inspired kids creatively through the Interlochen summer program in Michigan and taught high school students at Tyler.  She has done community outreach through Eatside Arts Council and volunteered for Free Arts New York.  Katie is a practicing artist and makes  collaborative animations with poets and musicians.

Sara McLaughlin comes to us with passion for knitting, interior design, and architecture. She holds degrees in communications, interior design, and most recently earned a Master’s Degree in historic preservation from the University of Pennsylvania. Sara currently works in the preservation studio of a Philadelphia architectural firm and moonlights as a knitting instructor to feed her love for the arts! She is an accomplished knitter with over 7 years of teaching experience in Boston, New York City, and Philadelphia and has designed and knit sweaters for Barney’s New York.

Stephanie Nolan is an early childhood music teacher with over 10 years of experience including parent/child settings at Sally’s Music Circle. Additionally, she has experience teaching  at Montgomery Early Learning Center, BZBI Synagogue, the Phoebe Thorn School, and other enrichment programs throughout the area. Stephanie holds a BA in Dance & Literature from Goddard College and has additional training in early childhood music theory from The Settlement School of Music, along with voice training. Stephanie also brings her energetic and developmental teaching style to families through concerts and benefits.  She is also the founder of Stevie and the Bluescasters, a four piece, acoustic blues and R&B group that has been performing for 20 years from Philly to New York and is the headlining band for this years’ Riverhead Blues Festival in New York.

Meaghan Paice holds a BFA from the University of Massachusetts and has over ten years of experience working as an early childhood educator and nanny.  Her passion for arts and culture have taken her to Spain, Greece & Hawaii where she spent extended periods of time living, working, and creating immersed in the culture of each region.   Meaghan has also shared her culinary talents with many, working as a chef at a yoga retreat and founded her own toffee company.

Katie Parry teaches many of our children’s programs.  She comes to us with an MFA from Tyler School of Art and a BFA from Kenyon College.  She has worked in a host of creative capacities and teaching positions , throughout her career.  From gallery assist to set designer and arts educator.  Most recently Katie has worked with  the Children’s Museum of Art in New York and a Montessori school working working with children ages 2 and up.  Katie has inspired kids creatively through the Interlochen summer program in Michigan and taught high school students at Tyler.  She has done community outreach through Eastside Arts Council and volunteered for Free Arts New York.  Katie is a practicing artist and makes  collaborative animations with poets and musicians.

Rachel Polizzi holds a BFA from The Fashion Institute of Technology, NYC in Graphic Design/Display and Exhibition Design. Originally hailing from Buffalo, Rachel was brought to Philadelphia to design custom letterpress/engraved wedding invitations and stationery for Two Paperdolls LLC and Louella Press. She is currently in the process of receiving her Art Education certification at Moore College of Art and Design and is also a teacher with their Young Artists Workshop program.

Jenna Robb received her BFA from the Rhoad Island School of Design and took additional course work at Parsons School of Design.  Jenna worked as the textile designer for Free People developing prints and fabrics for production.  Teaching in both Connecticut and Philadelphia, Jenna has taught classes and workshops to kids for over nine years.

John Ryan is a Philadelphia photographer with a B.A. in sociology and philosophy from Temple University. He has studied photography and art history at Drexel University, Mason Gross, University of the Arts, and Temple University.

Alexis Schaffer is fashion designer with a BFA from Moore College of Art and Design. She has worked in research, design, and creation for a number of companies including Rasta Imposta (kids costumes), Goodland Apparel (kids clothing), Andrew Sportswear (embroidery specialist), Michael Simon (women s sweaters) as well as interning at Anne Klein and House of Field in New York. In true Philly style, Alexis has created costumes for Mummers groups including a fancy brigade.

Laura Velez has studied art at a range of institutions including the New Orleans Center for the Creative Arts, New York Academy of Art, and The Arts Students League. She received her undergraduate degree in Fine Art from Louisiana Tech. Laura is a talented portrait and figure painter, who, in graduate school at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, shifted her focus to sculptural installation. Laura has exhibited her work widely and has received honors including the Eagles and Angels Award from PAFA.