Morgan Maceyko, identifies as a caregiver and an artist. She has expressed the gratitude to possess a professional career that includes both passions, art, and helping others with disabilities.
In high school, she discovered painting as her selected medium. She attributes the passion and skill set as a natural gift. She believes the award was passed down by her Grandfather, who was an established artist during WWll era.
Morgan received her Bachelor of Arts Degree from Keystone College. During her time at Keystone College, Morgan studied psychology and visual arts. While in school, she obtained employment with Keystone Community Resources as a Direct Service Professional in a residential home. The residential home consisted of 8 male individuals with autism and intellectual disabilities. During her employment in the residential setting, Morgan introduced art and creativity within the residence. Providing the individuals a creative outlet ensued Morgan to reflect and appreciate the marriage between the population and fine arts. It is Morgan’s belief creating art is an escape from high stimulating situations, its an escape from reality just for a moment. Art is an expression, especially for those who are non-verbal, and it’s a form of therapy. She believes creating art challenges the mind and motor skills. Art is used to expressing a story, a dream, an imagination, art is Morgan’s happiness.
Emily McKeel DPP, Art Instructor
As a young child, Emily’s love for art began at around 8 years old, when she began taking lessons to learn more about art media and improve her skills. Through the years her love for art grew more and more, and she started showcasing and selling her art professionally. Her artwork has been exhibited in local shows and also online. Emily has experience working with a variety of art media, and her studio practice is centered around acrylic painting and focuses on creating abstract works. Emily states that acrylic painting has brought a sense of comfort to her as she can share her love of art with so many other individuals. Art is a creative outlet for Emily as it is a way of expressing herself and telling stories to others through her work.
Alana Kautz DPP, Art Instructor
Alana Kautz is an artist and caregiver based in Northeastern Pennsylvania. Alana has completed coursework in commercial design, and advertising design, and focuses her studio practice on realism portraiture, and collage. Awards include Junior Placement in the Jim Henson Company's Dark Crystal Contest, and Advanced Placement in Design from the National Occupational Competency Testing Institute. In addition to her work in the arts Alana has been engaged in caregiving roles for several years: helping individuals with developmental and intellectual disabilities navigate life and gain independence. She has the most experience working for people with non-verbal autism, down syndrome, and dementia.
Sunday Olaniyi DPP, Art Instructor
Multi-Award winning Nigerian born Sunday Olaniyi is a multimedia visual artist, and fine art instructor. He grew up in ancient city of Osogbo, known as the land of indigo, and moved to Scranton, Pennsylvania in the United States. He is exploring in various painting techniques, craft, sculpture and the use of beads as a craft oriented medium. In his art Olaniyi investigates the relationship between space, form and color, in non-representational forms as well as semi-abstracted human and animal forms. He crafts in wood and foil intrinsic African themed sculptures and textile designs inspired by his African heritage.
He received a certificate in Painting and Decorating from Government Technical College Iwo and studied Fine and Applied Arts at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife. Olaniyi participates in Art Conferences, group exhibitions and Cultural Festivals across Nigeria. He has exhibited both locally and internationally.
In 2015, he participated in the "Life in my city art festival". Olaniyi was awarded Best Entry from Ibadan Zone. He also received Visionary Excellent Award by the Interdependence Hexagon Project, Scranton, Pennsylvania, USA. Mr. Olaniyi has been teaching and initiating several artistic workshops in elementary and high schools in Nigeria He has collaborated with Willow Creek middle school art department in Rochester, Minnesota USA. James Clemens High School Madison, Alabama USA. In 2016 he was invited to give lectures on African art and culture at the University Campinas in Sao Paulo, Brazil.
Kristin Meola DPP, Art Instructor
Undergoing Construction
Nadia Clemens Program Manager/Program Specialist
Nadia Clemens is a digital artist from the Scranton area. She is a recent graduate of Marywood University, graduating with a Bachelor's degree in Graphic Design in May of 2021. Her art focuses on bright colors and bold graphics and is heavily influenced by pop art. Being an avid gamer, she always saw herself working on video games when growing up. As she grew, though, she realized that she wanted to work with people in a teaching environment. With a passion for music as well, Nadia does her best to combine both visual and musical arts in her projects and lessons. She has some teaching background, having given music lessons and having student taught in the area. Having started as a DPP/Art Instructor, she has gained over 2 years of experience working with individuals with intellectual disabilities. Nadia loves to make others happy with her positive attitude and hopes to encourage people to love to create.