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Morgan Maceyko
​DPP, Art Instructor

​​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.

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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.

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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.
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Raquel Cruz
​DPP, Art Instructor 

Raquel Cruz is a New Jersey native who has lived in North East PA for the past 3 years.  Growing up she was heavily involved in drama and fine arts. She attended her local acting school and was featured in multiple plays. Throughout high school she studied photography, painting, wood working, ceramics, collage work and drawing.  She used those skills and applied them during her college years at Raritan Valley Community College where she studied graphic design. Currently her passion is in acrylic painting and she passes down that same love for art to her children.  She is a mother to 3 children and focuses on teaching empathy, gratitude, and self-expression to her family.  She comes from a proud Puerto Rican family who values creativity and have encouraged her throughout the years to become the artist she is today.  Art is her passion.  She works mostly in acrylic paint and drawing with a focus on abstract art. She uses art as a form of therapy and a sees it as a source of joy and a way to connect with those around her.  Raquel has used her natural caring energy and artistic flare in caregiving and childcare fields for the past 10 years. Raquel is a featured artist at Ozone Gallery and aspires to continue presenting her art to world.   

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Nadia Lipperini
​Manager, ArtWorks Gallery & Studio 

Nadia Lipperini 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. She has never worked with people with disability, but is eager to learn more about the field and pursue it. Nadia loves to make others happy with her positive attitude and hopes to encourage people to love to create.

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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.

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