Sharon Swisher Cooley

Sharon has been teaching piano, voice and organ for 45 years in Biglerville. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Music Performance and piano pedagogy.

Following college, she opened her music studio in the Biglerville area, where she now teaches piano, voice and organ lessons. She has served three churches over the years as organist and choir director. Presently she is the choir director at Zion U.C.C. in Arendtsville and co-organist at St. Paul’s U.C.C. in New Oxford. She also directed and accompanied the St. Paul’s Singers, a local gospel men’s quartet, for over 24 years and organized and directed the New Oxford Community Messiah Choir. Sharon still enjoys accompanying and performing professionally.

Several years ago, she was approached by Wendy Heiges to help begin an adult digital piano class at the ACAC. This has been so much fun for her as she enjoys working with the adults each week and helping them explore piano in a different way than many were used to.

Sharon was awarded the Outstanding Young Educator Award in 1991 by the Bermudian Jaycees, and the Honorary European Citizenship award in 1997 in Norcia, Italy. She served on the Partnership Committee of the American Council for International Studies in Boston, MA where she assisted in developing fine arts performance tours abroad. In her spare time, she and her husband organized Broadway trips and adult group tours for at least 25 years. She is a substitute teacher at Biglerville and Gettysburg High Schools and loves to sing with her talented husband, Kevin.

A major highlight of her career was being able to showcase her best students in Performance Tours abroad.

Sharon is active in the Eastern Star which she is serving as choir director and will be serving as organist, for the state of PA.

Susan Henry

Susan is a member of the Adams County Arts Council and recently received an Applause Award for Outstanding Volunteer Service with the Arts Council.  She is an instructor in the Adult Class curriculum teaching Hammered Silver Earrings and Pendant classes. This Summer will be her second Summer Art Camp teaching The Art of Jewelry Making. Both in the classes and Summer Camp, she enjoys sharing the limitless creativity of jewelry making and encouraging self-confidence through creativity.

Susan is a self-taught jewelry artist.  Twenty years ago she began creating beaded jewelry on precious metals with crystals, gemstones, pearls, bone, and shell beads. Her work has evolved into forged, textured and soldered precious metal wire and sheet fabrications. She has displayed her work at numerous craft shows in Pennsylvania, Maryland and Delaware and her jewelry is in shops in Lebanon, Myerstown, Gettysburg and Chincoteague Island, VA.

Retiring after 30 plus years in the medical field,  Susan began volunteering in the Heirloom Seed Project at the Landis Valley Museum in Lancaster, PA.  She also was a volunteer in the VISOR Program at the Lebanon VA while working part-time at Layser’s Flowers in Myerstown, PA.  When she and her husband relocated to Gettysburg three years ago, Susan enrolled in the Penn State Master Gardener Program and became a Master Gardener. Susan’s love of gardening and flower arrangements can be seen in the container plantings at the entrance to the Adams County Arts Council and the floral silk flower arrangements around the Center.

Jóh Ricci

Jóh’s fiber art awareness began at an early age when her Great Aunt taught her how to crochet. It was then that she began creating fabric with the simplest of tools; yarn, a needle and her hands. Self-taught, she has worked in a number of techniques and mediums since then, although she continues to seize the true spirit of her fiber art by creating one-of-a-kind contemporary baskets and sculptural vessels.

A passion for weaving began with an elective course while at Kutztown University where she earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree. She continues to weave, incorporating a variety of techniques for her tapestries, wall hangings and wearable art, with endless possibilities to explore. A recipient of numerous awards, Jóh’s work is also included in several private collections, included in a variety of magazine publications and fiber art books. She has exhibited her work at some of the most prestigious juried shows including The Smithsonian Craft Show, The Philadelphia Museum of Art Craft Show and American Craft Exposition, to name a few, as well as invitational and juried gallery shows across the US and abroad.

As an artist and an arts educator, Jóh finds the importance of bringing art to individuals and to nurture the creativity within. She has taught at various art education centers in PA and MD, Healing Arts Programs, Kid’s Camps, The Milwaukee Art Museum, continuing education classes at colleges, after-school art programs, summer schools and as an Artist-in-Residence throughout Adams County and York. ‘Beginning with the simplest element – a thought, an idea, a feeling, one can express themselves in a creative way and find their artists’ voice….’

johricci.wixsite.com/artist

Carla B. Long

Carla is an award-winning, published photographer, business owner, and teaching artist in South Central Pennsylvania. Creatively she focuses on capturing raw, authentic, organic moments as she sees life through the lens of her camera. Her goal as a photographer has always been to find the things that connect people and capture the pieces that make people uniquely different. Her goal is to capture moments of a journey that tell part of a story. Carla received her first camera at age six and was never without one close. Carla took her first photography class in 2002 from Harrisburg Area Community College and thus growing her love for photography. She spent many years growing as a photographer capturing moments in her own life. In 2011 she began capturing moments for other people, having her first of many family portraits along with senior session. Carla photographed her first wedding in 2013 and thus began a transition from a hobby photographer to a full-time professional photographer. She formed her business, The Journey is the Life Photography, in 2017. Through the years, she has serviced clients from small families to sizeable international biotech conglomerates, sports leagues, numerous couples wedding nuptials, all while continuing to keep the artistic integrity. In 1997, Carla received a Bachelor of Science in History with minors in Accounting, Business, and Political Science from Eastern Mennonite University. In 2017 Carla was accepted as a teaching artist by stARTSomething, which is a regional partner with the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts and the Cultural Alliance of York County. Carla is a proponent for integrated arts education within schools. Her collaborative goals in education are and have always been connecting the creative process to a subject area that allows students to construct and demonstrate understanding in another subject area. Carla is also an advocate for arts within her community. She serves on the board of Hanover Area Arts Guild since 2018. Carla was the Treasurer for two years and is currently the Vice President. Before her work at the Guild, she served as a publicly elected official for Gettysburg Montessori Charter School, where she served for two of her three years as Treasurer.

Levato Shaw

I received my Bachelor’s degree from Rowan University in Art Education and taught for three years at the John Fenwick Elementary School in Salem, New Jersey.  I then had my own pottery business, Earthworm Pottery for ten years in both New Jersey and Pennsylvania.  I resumed teaching again at Bermudian Springs Middle School, where I taught for 28 years.  During that time I received my Master’s Degree from McDaniels College in Westminister, Maryland.  I also took numerous post-graduate courses at the University of the Arts in Philadelphia, Pa.  After retirement from teaching I took language classes at Harrisburg Area Community College in York, Pa., began teaching at the Adams County Arts Council and lead paint nights for various organizations.

I  had a one woman show exhibiting my pottery in Cherry Hill, New Jersey and won numerous awards for my pottery at various crafts shows. My watercolors have been published in the White Rose Journal and I have donated watercolors and acrylics the past several years to the Land Conservancy of Adams County.  There are colored pencil and fabric works of mine hanging in the Gettysburg Church of the Brethren and I have done both colored pencil drawings and acrylic paintings for retirees from that congregation.

Sandy Hurtack

I have been doing primitive crafting and painting since moving to East Berlin over 30 years ago. I enjoy taking old pallet and barn wood and recreating them into signs/porch signs with various mediums.  I currently have a treasure box where I collect items to be repurposed.  I enjoy the challenge of taking something old and giving it new life into something useful.

Acrylic Paint Pouring is a recently acquired skill. Mixing colors of paint with pouring medium and watching the canvas come alive with abstract designs brings satisfaction in knowing your piece is one of a kind.

I love spending time outdoors and most of my inspiration comes from nature.

J’Amy Graham Thomas

I earned my B.S. in Nutrition from The Ohio State University and it all started because I grew up in a family of “foodies!”

My grandmother was the Product Publicity Director for General Foods during the Depression. My mom was the on-camera food editor, chef and Home Economist for a live cooking show on NBC out of New York City.  As far back as I can remember, I was cooking in the kitchen, or talking about food.  Cooking with my family, I grew up not only learning culinary skills, many tips & tricks, and exploring different cuisines, but also the importance of nutritious and fesh food. ** All through school, I worked for restaurants and helped start a catering business, plus had training as a chef and caterer in Washington, D.C.

My passion is to share what I learned – that cooking and eating together is what binds us together.

My goal is to improve health and wellness, and the quality of food we eat, by teaching interesting classes to students of all ages, with a focus on fresh and wholesome foods in an approachable style…

Nancy Whitman

I love architecture and have studied the life and work of the Italian Renaissance architect, Andrea Palladio, in the US and Italy.  I’ve given presentations to various groups including the Arts Council and AC Historical Society.  It’s hard not to notice the Italianate style in Gettysburg; I’ve been studying it and want to share this with others.

Christian (Chris) Parker

I have a long standing interest in stained glass from an early age, however did not take a class until approx. 5 years ago.  I am now addicted to stained glass. I took some formal lessons, but have mostly self taught and have made small sun catchers all the way to 24”x36” panels, both for family and for private customers.  I was generously included in the 20/21 Annual ACAC Juried Arts show for my piece “Blue Jay Transom”.  I love sharing my love of stained glass with others and enjoy teaching all ages as well as collaborating with others to bring their ideas to glass.  I have enjoyed getting more involved with ACAC over the last 1-2 years and look forward to teaching my 1st class with ACAC in December.

Fabio Carella

Fabio was born and raised in Palermo, Sicily. He is the first born of his four siblings. “Growing up in an Italian household, I enjoyed the cooking of my mother. She always made it a point to prepare home-cooked meals for the whole family to enjoy, and she imparted her love of food to me.”

Fabio arrived in the United States in 1995.  In 1997, he married Katie Monteleone, with whom he has three beautiful daughters.

He is the founder, owner, and visionary of Fabio’s Events & Catering, a very successful event planning and catering company, based in the heart of Gettysburg at the Adams County Arts Council, where he also teaches classes and camps in cooking and painting.

Fabio loves teaching cooking classes and taking groups on culinary tours of Italy to share his passion for life, food, culture & wine… and knowledge of the culinary world.

Fabio’s Events caters private dinner parties, corporate events, and lavish wedding affairs.

Paula Kravits

When I was a teenager, babysitting a family of five children, I came up with art projects to keep them busy. This continued and when I was a young mother I tried all sorts of things to do with my four children. Macrame, clay sculptures, paper- mache were all included at the kitchen table. After they were grown and I started to work, I put away the arts and crafts. Fast forward to when the first grandchild was born and I was shopping for pictures for the wall of the nursery. My daughter said, “Mom, why are we buying them? I bet you could paint them.” Through the years I have created mixed media art for all nine of my grandchildren, taught Valentine card making in my community, and decorated my home and others with my own creations. Taking classes at Adams County Arts Council (ACAC) in Gettysburg has helped me to improve my skills and learn new skills. I also show my art at the ACAC twice a year. Creating art takes me to another place, where time is forever and I can dream up ideas anytime at all.

Harry

Harry grew up in Gettysburg with his eight brothers and sisters. At a young age he began his culinary journey by working in a pizzeria and learned every facet of the business.

At the age of 20, he moved to Boulder, Co and worked at two landmark restaurants: the New York Deli and Antica Roma where he was lucky enough to work under the well-known Chef Carlos Ruiz with a focus on both Northern and Southern Italian food.

When Harry returned to the East Coast, he landed in the kitchen at the Annapolis Yacht Club under Chef Robert Carney. Then he joined the Wild Orchid Café as Head Catering Chef at the Wild Orchid in Annapolis after the Yacht Club.

For over 16 years Harry owned and operated Romeo’s Café in Mercersburg PA. Romeo’s was known as a local favorite for its hand tossed New York style pizza and cheesesteak sandwiches made on fresh bread made three times a day.

Brienna Richelle Smith

Brienna is a portrait & wedding photographer located in Gettysburg, PA.  She strives to create work that is timeless and joyful for her clients.  Brienna grew up loving art class, and in high school found her love of photography in the darkroom developing her black and white photos.  She decided to pursue photography as a career, and graduated from Marywood University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in photography in 2006.

After college, Brienna returned to her hometown of Gettysburg to begin her photography business, Brienna Richelle Photography. Today, she photographs over 300 high school seniors each year and loves creating portraits that capture their unique personalities.  She also has the honor of documenting wedding days and special events, family milestones, and first portraits for her littlest newborn clients.  Brienna loves being a photographer and using her creativity and knowledge of lighting and posing to capture moments that her clients will treasure.

To view her work and learn more, visit her website at www.briennarichelle.com

Walter P. Wagner

Walter retired to Gettysburg in 2018 after 38 years of practicing law and trying cases in Hawaii, on Long Island, and throughout the greater New York metropolitan area.

Walter developed a lifelong interest in wine when he travelled through the Napa and Sonoma Valleys in 1983. He has since returned to those arears, and has also visited wine regions in France, Germany, Oregon, and other parts of California. Walter lived on Long Island where he witnessed and enjoyed the growth of the burgeoning wine country on the island’s east end. In recent years, Walter has developed a special interest in the unique wines of the Finger Lakes and has visited often. He enjoys drinking and collecting wine from all regions, especially those he has visited (although the drinking part often interferes with the collecting.)

Walter’s other hobbies include reading, writing fiction, fishing, entertaining, and cooking to compliment his wines. His wife Fran and he are proud parents of four sons and seven (so far) grandchildren.

Holly Fox

Ms. Holly Fox began her dance training with the Hildegard Hamme School of Dance. Throughout her career she has studied at the University of the Arts; Martha Graham School; Alvin Ailey School ; Broadway Dance Center; STEPS on Broadway;;Harrisburg Dance Conservatory; CPYB; and Dance Alloy under numerous master teachers. She completed her undergraduate work at Towson University from where she holds a BFA in Dance Performance & Education and graduate work for Arts Administration at Drexel University. During her performing years, she performed extensively in the Baltimore, New York, and regionally.
     Her choreography has been seen at Gettysburg College Summer Theater Festivals, Columbia ArtsFest, Broadway Dance Center’s Choreographer’s Showcase, Gettysburg YWCA’s Dancing With The Local Stars, and numerous productions and events for Gettysburg Dance Center. Additionally, she choreographed for the Gettysburg High School & Littlestown High School musicals, New Oxford Senior High color guard, and served as Dance Team advisor and choreographer at Gettysburg High School. In the fall of 2008, Ms. Fox was honored to have been selected as the local dance coordinator for the prestigious Moscow Ballet, assisting in rehearsals for the children’s cast of “Great Russian Nutcracker” performance that was held at the Majestic theater.
      Ms. Fox was the founder of Gettysburg Dance Center. She served as director from 1997 to June 2010. An accomplished dance educator with over 35 years of teaching experience, Ms. Fox has been an instructor for Gettysburg College, Harrisburg Area Community College, Goucher College, Taneytown Dance Center, and served as artist-in-residence for several elementary schools. Many of her students have gone on to pursue successful careers in dance and dance related fields
       Currently, Ms.Fox is an instructor with Vibe Performing Arts in Gettysburg, PA; and offers consulting and private coaching to students of all levels, dance instructors, and dance program directors through Dancing Fox Consulting based in Gettysburg, PA and Georgetown, DE.  Ms. Fox resides in PA and DE with her husband Larry. In her spare time she enjoys travelling, singing with The  Gettysburg Choral Society, writing, horseback riding, and spending time with her granddaughter/family/friends. Ms. Fox is thrilled to be offering classes at Adams County Arts Council to share her love of dance with dancers of all levels and ages.  Her motto:  “Find a job you love and you’ll never work a day in your life.”

Lou Sackett

Dark Star Farm

1340 Sells Station Road

Littlestown, PA 17340

484.802.9519 lousackett@aol.com

Lou Sackett is a chef, restaurateur, food writer, and culinary educator with more than forty years’ experience in foodservice. She literally grew up in a restaurant, learning the basics of cooking and fine-dining service from her father at an early age. After an apprenticeship in France, Lou became chef-owner of two acclaimed Philadelphia restaurants: World’s Fare, specializing in international cuisines and charcuterie; and Zócalo, an award-winning contemporary Mexican restaurant. She inspired hundreds of students as chef instructor for The Restaurant School at Walnut Hill in Philadelphia, Yorktowne School of Culinary Arts in York, and Dauphin County Technical School Culinary Arts Program in Harrisburg. Lou is co-author of Professional Garde Manger: A Comprehensive Guide to Cold Food Preparation (John Wiley & Sons, 2010) and American Regional Cuisines: Food Culture and Cooking (Pearson, 2011). She is currently developing a manuscript on world cuisines, as well as a food-driven novel.

Adams County has been Lou’s home since she settled in her 1865 farmhouse outside Littlestown about ten years ago. Her spacious country kitchen and heirloom vegetable garden are the scene of continued exploration of European, Asian, African, and Latin American cooking. Lou’s cooking classes are based on professional methods and techniques but encourage experimentation and imagination—all with a heaping helping of fun. Lou looks forward to sharing her passion for cooking with her neighbors at the Adams County Arts Council.