MCAA FACULTY
Danielle Auriemma-D’Amico
email: info@juxtaposegallery.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/daniellestudio.art
Danielle Auriemma-D’Amico is a New Jersey artist whose work has been exhibited both nationally and internationally. She received her BFA in Illustration from School of Visual Arts in Manhattan, freelanced for several years then became the fifth owner of Juxtapose Gallery. After a long hiatus, in addition to running her business, she began creating again, and sharing her passion of art history and creating art through teaching others.
Kat Block
email: katblock123@gmail.com
Kat Block has been a career artist and art educator for over thirty years. Se is a mixed media artist and watercolorist, and has exhibited widely. Currently her work is displayed in Newark Airport Terminal A as one of twenty to New Jersey artists of 2025. Her work was featured in the 2010 release, “Remember Me” starring Pierce Brosnan. She designed the posters for Union County Jazzfests. She illustrated two children’s books. Her work was displayed as a banner on Monroe Street in Hoboken. Her teaching incudes the Visual Arts Center of New Jersey, the du Cret Center for Art, Arts Middle School and High School as part of Teen Arts NJ in Middlesex and Monmouth Counties New Jersey, as well as workshops throughout the state. She received her BA Summa Cum Laude from Kean University.
Casey Cruz
email: caseyannecruz2000@gmail.com
website: https://carnationsandcarnage.com
Casey Cruz received her BFA in Drawing, Painting and Printmaking from William Paterson University. Within her short career, Casey has exhibited her work in multiple galleries throughout New Jersey— including having her own solo exhibition for her independent comic series. Casey operates in both the world of fine art and the world of illustration, colliding both practices to push the envelope of creation. Using both traditional and digital mediums, Casey has taught various youth and adult classes at MCAA with the emphasis on helping artists grow and adapt to new mediums. She uses her strong foundation in drawing to help beginners from all ages excel in their artistic pursuits. Casey’s goal for MCAA is to help the studio thrive and implement new ways to serve newer generations of artists as the world of fine art expands and shifts.
Peggy Davo
email: peggydavo@hotmail.com
Peggy has 15 years’ experience teaching Art Enrichment Programs in various local schools and Art Centers. She is a member of the Potters’ Guild of New Jersey, a docent, volunteer and member of the Girl Scout Pottery Badge Program at The Stickley Museum at Craftsman Farms. She has a BA in Fine Arts Education, NJ Teaching Certificate K-12 from Montclair State University and AS Jewelry Design - Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) State University of NY
peggydavo@hotmail.com or 973-668-6806
Laurie Harden
email: hobbilobbin@optonline.net
website: www.laurieharden-us.com
Laurie Harden was raised in an artistic family in Morris County. Laurie attended Kansas City Art Institute- majoring in painting, and then she transferred to Rhode Island School of Design where she got a BFA in Illustration. She worked as a free-lance illustrator for several years. In the 1990s Laurie began teaching Children’s Art Classes and never looked back. She taught them a variety of mediums and subjects and discovered a love of teaching. Ms. Harden teaches at several art associations and galleries- where she offers Adult Classes in Painting, Pastels, Portraiture, Drawing and Figure Drawing.
Laurie’s fine art has been exhibited nationally. Her paintings and portrait commissions are owned by many notable persons and institutions, including former NJ Governor Brendan Byrne, the late Japanese Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi, Sloan Kettering & Saint Barnabus Hospitals and the National Cancer Institute. Ms. Harden belongs to and shows with the American Artists Professional League, The Catherine Lorillard Wolfe Art Club, The Pastel Society of America, The Pastel Society of N.J., the Art Centre of N.J., and more where she has won many awards.
Nina Nemeth
email: nina.nemeth@yahoo.com
website: www.ninanemeth.com
instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nina_nemeth_artist/
Nina Nemeth received her B.F.A from Southampton College, L.I.U and her M.F.A. from Pratt Institute, NYC. She has been a life long artist with over 30 years of teaching experience in art studios and museums.. Nina is a working artist who has received numerous awards and recognitions for both her art work and community involvement. Nina’s work has been on display locally at Morris Museum, Gallery 10 South, Mayo Starlight Gallery, Speakeasy Gallery, as well as numerous restaurants and alternative venues; her works can be found in the permanent collection of art lovers both in The U.S. and abroad, and from all walks of life.
More recently Spike Lee purchased Nina’s series of twenty paintings “Do You Remember When?” , A series about life during times of the Covid pandemic. She is thrilled to have been included in Spike Lee’s most recent film project , “NYC EPICENTERS” 40 Acres and a Mule / HBO Films Production.
You can Read About it here —-> Click here
Nina is very proud of her students who continue to grow and thrive as artists; To look more carefully at the world around and to discover beauty in unusual places is the philosophy that is an integral part of Nina’s work as an artist and instructor.
John Power
email: powerart11@gmail.com
John Power studied at the Art Students League under the master draftsman Gustav Rehberger. He is a member of the Blackwell Street Artists . John directs the Life Drawing group at Morris County Art Association as well as teaches life drawing workshops.
powerart11@gmail.com
908-377-6592.
Anju Saran
email: AnjuSaranArts@Gmail.com
website: AnjuSaran.com & www.AnjuSaranArts.com
Anju Saran is an established artist who has exhibited her work in major competitions and represented by galleries in New Jersey, New York, Florida and abroad. She has also exhibited in New York Art Expo 2011. Anju has been painting since childhood and holds Masters in Fine Arts. She has expertise in painting portraits, figures, florals, still life, landscape using different mediums, such as oil, watercolor, acrylic, pastel and charcoal. Anju is also working as a graphic and digital artist. She wants to share her knowledge and experience with the students
Michael Shacham
email: michael@shachambronze.com
website: www.shachabronze.com
Michael Shacham apprenticed in Israel, studied 5 years at the Art Student's League and attended the New School. He established the first successful Art Bronze Foundry in Israel, still family operated.
Exhibited since 1967 in Israel, US and Europe and is
widely represented in public and private collections.
Taught at Israel Department of Education, privately in
his NYC studio, at NJ Institute for Interior Design, at
Somerset Art Association and currently teaching at
the American Woodcarving School.
Linda Schulman
email: dezigner4@yahoo.com
Linda is a mixed media artist that uses organic design, vibrant color, mark making and unusual textures to create beautiful visual images through a process of layers and collage. Collage papers are painted individually which then come together to create one large cohesive piece.
Each piece is unique and embellished with drips, splashes, and subtle transparent layers to create depth and amazing detail. Many pieces are mounted on wooden panels which are then glazed with a beautiful glass like epoxy resin coat creating a brilliant finish and a magnificent shine. Linda’s inspiration comes from the world around her (especially nature) always focusing on pattern and texture. Her intuitive painting style is continually evolving as she experiments with new mediums to expand her artistic creativity. Linda lives in Northern New Jersey. Her work has been displayed in numerous exhibitions, art galleries, juried art shows and have found their way into many private homes. Linda also teaches some of her creative techniques throughout the year at a number of different art programs and workshops including the Morris County Art Association.
Her artwork is presently displayed and sold at:
ATHun’s Art Gallery, Savannah, GA
Evalyn Dunn Gallery, Westfield, NJ
CBL Fine Art, West Orange, NJ
West Orange Arts Center- Art Gallery & Gift Shop, NJ.
Eileen West
Email - eileen.west2@gmail.com
Instagram - @ewest_mixedmedia/
Eileen West is a visual artist based in Morristown, New Jersey, whose work explores the relationship between intuition and the natural world. Known for her layered compositions and thoughtful use of color and texture, Eileen creates pieces that invite viewers into a quiet, contemplative space. Her work often blends abstract and representational elements, reflecting both emotional depth and a deep appreciation for organic forms.
Her artwork has been shown in regional exhibitions and community arts events throughout New Jersey. Beyond her studio practice, Eileen is a trained SoulCollage® facilitator and frequently leads classes and workshops that encourage participants to tap into their own
intuitive artistry.