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The Leadership Team
This dedicated team is 100% volunteers!
Email paaguild@gmail.com if you are interested in joining the efforts.
Officers
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Jeanne Petrosky - President
Jeanne Petrosky brings all the experience that comes from being a self-employed, full-time artist for 36 years. She found out that passion, persistence, courage, faith, and the graciousness of others, are what helped her through the years.
Her hope is to expand the message that the arts are a vital part of a healthy revitalization effort.
Her hope is to expand the message that the arts are a vital part of a healthy revitalization effort.
Judith Byrd-Williams - Vice President
With over 50 years as an artist, Judith Byrd-Williams has dedicated herself to the arts and nurturing creativity. As a Visual Communication Consultant, College Professor, and CEO of J.Byrd Productions, she has refined her artistic and educational skills.
Judith has also made notable contributions to the YWCA Black Heritage Celebration at The Hill School, blending artistic vision with community service.
Judith has also made notable contributions to the YWCA Black Heritage Celebration at The Hill School, blending artistic vision with community service.
Don Havas - Treasurer
Don Havas has served the Guild in a variety of positions for a number of years. In retirement, he wants to explore his interest in art and improve his skills by engaging with other artists.
In his previous life he worked as a manufacturing engineer and brings those organizational skills acquired in that career to the Guild.
In his previous life he worked as a manufacturing engineer and brings those organizational skills acquired in that career to the Guild.
Rebecca Carpenter - Secretary / Show Photographer
Rebecca Carpenter is a mixed media collage artist, primarily a photographer.
She loves to explore and photograph the figure in abandoned spaces, as well as dynamic landscapes.
Rebecca also loves to play with textures in encaustic, especially a lot of the vintage papers and fabrics that she has collected over time.
She loves to explore and photograph the figure in abandoned spaces, as well as dynamic landscapes.
Rebecca also loves to play with textures in encaustic, especially a lot of the vintage papers and fabrics that she has collected over time.
Committee Chairs
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Robyn Burckhardt - Membership Chair
Robyn Burckhardt, a veteran artist and workshop leader, works from her studio, "The Nest," in Spring City. Currently, she is painting anchorages along the Chesapeake Bay's Eastern Shore, where she and her husband spend summers on their sailboat.
Her works capture flat landscapes and shallow waters, with expansive skies that burst with color, evoking a sense of calm.
Her works capture flat landscapes and shallow waters, with expansive skies that burst with color, evoking a sense of calm.
Mia Curran - Hospitality Chair
When Mia Curran was seven her father, an artist, photographer, and teacher, handed her the first 35mm film camera. Now, an award winning artist, she captures her images with an iPhone which is always ready for the unexpected.
With a BA in Anthropology from Penn State, Mia continued her education with master classes in Anthropology (Temple), Education (West Chester), and Accounting (Penn State).
With a BA in Anthropology from Penn State, Mia continued her education with master classes in Anthropology (Temple), Education (West Chester), and Accounting (Penn State).
Naomi Jones - Website
Naomi Jones is a graduate of Moore College of Art and Design in Philadelphia where she earned her BFA, Art Education and is working towards her Master’s degree in education.
Naomi has her DOE K-12 Art Education certificate and a Barnes deMazia Certificate from the Barnes Foundation and has been studying the arts for over 25 years.
Naomi has been working with students of all ages for all of her professional career and enjoys being an impactful part of others’ lives.
Naomi has her DOE K-12 Art Education certificate and a Barnes deMazia Certificate from the Barnes Foundation and has been studying the arts for over 25 years.
Naomi has been working with students of all ages for all of her professional career and enjoys being an impactful part of others’ lives.
Johanne Lamarche - Communications Chair
Johanne Lamarche, a French Canadian, came to Philadelphia for a periodontics residency and stayed for love.
After 20 years as a volunteer art educator with Art Goes to School, she developed a passion for creating her own art.
Inspired by the beauty of nature, both in its glory and decay, her paintings aim to evoke uplifting energy, inspiration, escape, and a sense of beauty.
After 20 years as a volunteer art educator with Art Goes to School, she developed a passion for creating her own art.
Inspired by the beauty of nature, both in its glory and decay, her paintings aim to evoke uplifting energy, inspiration, escape, and a sense of beauty.
Shanthi Manickam - Historian
Shanthi Manickam is a talented fine artist from Pennsylvania.
She specializes in creating stunning oil and acrylic paintings in a representational style.
Her subjects range from landscapes and florals to portraits and figures.
She showcases her work in art shows across various cities in Pennsylvania and also online.
She specializes in creating stunning oil and acrylic paintings in a representational style.
Her subjects range from landscapes and florals to portraits and figures.
She showcases her work in art shows across various cities in Pennsylvania and also online.
Fran Parzanese - Masters of Art Chair
Fran Parzanese has been painting for over forty years, primarily in watercolor and alcohol ink.
A former elementary teacher, she honed her craft by taking numerous workshops all these years.
She's a former Berks Art Alliance president and currently runs their still life workshop. She maintains a studio at the Goggleworks Center for the Arts where she teaches watercolor.
A former elementary teacher, she honed her craft by taking numerous workshops all these years.
She's a former Berks Art Alliance president and currently runs their still life workshop. She maintains a studio at the Goggleworks Center for the Arts where she teaches watercolor.
Anne Mitchell Reid - Online Gallery
Anne Mitchell Reid, born in Glasgow, Scotland, studied at the Scottish College of Textiles and Edinburgh University's College of Art.
After running a design and craft business in the Scottish Highlands for a decade, she has spent over 40 years as a weaver, selling her work in galleries and shops across the Atlantic.
Anne also works with pastel, mohair, and found objects. Since 1989, she has been based at Spring City Mill Studios in Northern Chester County, USA.
After running a design and craft business in the Scottish Highlands for a decade, she has spent over 40 years as a weaver, selling her work in galleries and shops across the Atlantic.
Anne also works with pastel, mohair, and found objects. Since 1989, she has been based at Spring City Mill Studios in Northern Chester County, USA.
Amy Schade - Adventures Chair
Amy Schade is a Signature Member of Pennsylvania Watercolor Society, Baltimore Watercolor Society and National Collage Society whose work is included in private and public collections in PA, MD, WV and FL.
After retiring as Art Director in the advertising and visual communications profession, she explores painting and mixed media art forms.
Her work having been recognized with Merit Awards in several international venues.
https://amyschade.com/
After retiring as Art Director in the advertising and visual communications profession, she explores painting and mixed media art forms.
Her work having been recognized with Merit Awards in several international venues.
https://amyschade.com/
Douglas Wilson - Alt Spaces / Press Releases
Douglas Wilson moved to Pottstown in 2022 from Chicago.
He's a sculptor and gardener who retired from teaching after 36 years. He and his partner, Kevin, enjoy traveling and have been all over Europe and Asia.
He's a sculptor and gardener who retired from teaching after 36 years. He and his partner, Kevin, enjoy traveling and have been all over Europe and Asia.
Committee Supporting Members
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Steve Fabian - Graphics
As Steve Fabian’s career in advertising and design winds down, he looks forward to more time to paint. Throughout the years he has had the privilege of studying drawing, painting, and other art forms under many wonderful people.
Steve is inspired by the good, the bad, and the ugly. The human experience. The old masters, as well as contemporary artists.
“By the natural world, and by human nature. I paint because I have to. It is who I am and how I express my feelings. I believe that all forms of art are a celebration of what it means to be human.”
Steve is inspired by the good, the bad, and the ugly. The human experience. The old masters, as well as contemporary artists.
“By the natural world, and by human nature. I paint because I have to. It is who I am and how I express my feelings. I believe that all forms of art are a celebration of what it means to be human.”
Ari Ott - Design Team / Show Photographer
Ari Ott is a painter, graphic designer, and errant art instructor. Beginning their career as a classically-trained artist, they moved on to specialize in illustration.
They first became involved in the art guild in 2022 as a way to remain connected to their hometown and artistic roots.
Ever since then, Ari has been PAAG’s show photographer, providing demos and graphics, and an all-around friendly face!
They first became involved in the art guild in 2022 as a way to remain connected to their hometown and artistic roots.
Ever since then, Ari has been PAAG’s show photographer, providing demos and graphics, and an all-around friendly face!
Brooke Steytler - Design Team
Brooke Steytler is an animator and art educator.
Tim Stringer - Design Team / Show Photographer
Tim Stringer, originally from MD, has also lived in DE, IN, OH, SC, and now resides in PA. He has spent time overseas in Japan and the UK.
With a background in graphic design, Tim applies these skills to his photography. He is the author of Botanicals: A Photo Essay and The Chronicles of Ashtetton.
With a background in graphic design, Tim applies these skills to his photography. He is the author of Botanicals: A Photo Essay and The Chronicles of Ashtetton.
Belinda Williston - Adventures
Belinda Williston grew up with the joy of drawing and always dreamt of being a cartoonist.
Over the years, she has lived in various states (California, Washington, Ohio, Florida, and Pennsylvania) and has shared a bit of her art in each location.
Her love of art has lead her to create in many mediums including photography, hand painted t-shirts, hand drawn Christmas cards, poetry, acrylic painting on wood and currently drawing/pen & ink and watercolor on cotton paper.
" I found art helped me get through 2 cancers and gave me a special appreciation for life!"
Over the years, she has lived in various states (California, Washington, Ohio, Florida, and Pennsylvania) and has shared a bit of her art in each location.
Her love of art has lead her to create in many mediums including photography, hand painted t-shirts, hand drawn Christmas cards, poetry, acrylic painting on wood and currently drawing/pen & ink and watercolor on cotton paper.
" I found art helped me get through 2 cancers and gave me a special appreciation for life!"
Nina Yocom - Social Media
Nina Yocom was born and raised in suburban Philadelphia.
Her earliest exposure to fine art was when her mother volunteered in public elementary schools with a program called “Art Goes to School.” This innovative program exposed her to a
variety of artists and their work.
Her father, an award-winning photographer, also influenced her own lens. This background, along with a liberal arts education, cultivated an appreciation for how art is a conduit of connection.
Her earliest exposure to fine art was when her mother volunteered in public elementary schools with a program called “Art Goes to School.” This innovative program exposed her to a
variety of artists and their work.
Her father, an award-winning photographer, also influenced her own lens. This background, along with a liberal arts education, cultivated an appreciation for how art is a conduit of connection.
"Building the road is more difficult than traveling the road."
Lisa Muller
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