MakerSphere Instructors

Ali is a Brooklyn born multiethnic/multiracial artist/painter. An environmentalist, feminist, humanist - she has lived and traveled internationally. Throughout her journey, Ali has worked closely with international folx in both school settings and artistic realm(s) in the roles of student, colleague, teacher & performer. Art is an integral part of who/how Ali identifies and how she moves through the world and allows its influence. Remaining with an open mind and heart and contributing to creating more beauty is what motivates her work and inspires her to share the magic of art making in joining MakerSphere.

Jenni grew up in Germany where she obtained her diploma in Graphic Design. She volunteered in Botswana and lived in New Zealand before settling in Vermont 15 years ago. Here, she went back to college and got her B.A. and then Art Teaching License. She has experience working with students ages 1 to adult and loves learning something new every day

Julio Desmont was born in Camperrin, in the south of Haiti. He moved to Port au Prince in his early childhood, where he began his artistic journey. His inspirations in these early times were the animations of the Walt Disney cartoon characters, Pablo Picasso whose inspirations went back to Africa and the original American painter, Georgia O’keefe. His major influence however, was the totemic arts of the people with roots in Africa. This modernist artist employs deep vibrant colors, lines and shapes that are at times mesmerizing and evokes a quickening in the hearts and bodies of onlookers akin to a spiritual experience.

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In 2001, Desmont entered the Ecole Nationale Des Beaux Arts (ENARTS) in Port au Prince to study fine arts. It was at this institute, that he  began to dream of what could be achieved by the young if the arts were made available and central to their upbringing and education. He then voluntarily worked with kids teaching foreign languages, including English through art and drawing; bringing to full circle the ideas that he had as a very young budding artist himself.

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The artist Julio Desmont currently resides in Burlington, Vermont. He now collaborates with the Clemmons Family Farm, one of the rare African American owned farm homes to a cultural and healing center for African Americans and african diaspora. He teaches and helps develop workshops for students in grades from kindergarten to seniors in high school focused on social (in)justice in partnership with the Clemmons Family Farm.

Bob is a flatlander that came to Vermont to escape the snowstorms from growing up in Buffalo, NY. He attended College at Oswego State. Bob’s interest in woodcarving began in 1975 after inheriting his grandfather’s woodcarving tools, and then teaching himself how to carve. He retired a few years ago after 40 years as the Industrial Arts and Design & Technology Instructor at Lamoille Union Middle and High School.

Bob enjoys doing carvings in all styles from wildfowl to chainsaw carvings. He has been a member of the Green Mountain Woodcarvers since moving to Vermont and serves as the Club’s Secretary, newsletter and website editor. He has taught numerous classes for the GMWC, the CVU ACCESS Program and Waterbury MakerSphere. An item of interest is that he has never sold any of his carvings, preferring to give them away as gifts to family and friends. While demonstrating Woodcarving at the Shelburne Harvest Festival, he was asked to sell one of his small bear cub carvings and instead invited the person to sign up for a Carving Class where they would learn how to create the piece for themselves, and get much more personal satisfaction.

Mame grew up in Poultney, Vermont and moved to magnificent Duxbury 25+ years ago. She has taught children and adults clay and art for 20+ years. Many students began with Mame at the Schoolhouse Pottery in the Moscow village community of Stowe. Mame later began the Seminary Art Center in Waterbury Center and continued her love of opening creative doors for students of all ages.

“Often people don’t believe they are artistic. I love to show them they are naturally creative given the right art toys and some encouragement. When we focus on making art, we let go of the whole world for a little bit and we become rejuvenated. Everyone should be making something fun they are proud of. It is just plain good for the soul.”

MK Monley has just retired from a 30-plus year teaching career in both special education and art. She is joining the MakerSphere teaching roster because she loves working with children and to ease her transition into retirement. In the art realm, MK has a passion for clay, book arts, chalk pastels, and the River of LIght Lantern Parade. She’s involved in community art projects whenever possible!

Brian Schwartz is an educator at the Green Mountain Technology and Career Center in Hyde Park, VT. GMTCC is a technical high school that serves students from Craftsbury Academy, Hazen Union School, Lamoille Union High School, Peoples Academy, and Stowe High School. All students who attend GMTCC are working toward high school graduation as well as the acquisition of industry credentials, college placement credits, and real-world technical skills.

I paint subjects from every day life — like a clothesline or a kitchen tool or part of a landscape — in colorful and unexpected ways in an effort to focus on the beauty, texture and richness in our ever day experience.  

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By playing with color, perspective, shape and composition, I develop images that are easily recognized, yet different enough from the way we typically think of them that they engage our attention and sense of wonder. The finished works offer a reminder that the same subject can be experienced in very different ways, even by the same person, depending on what they bring to the moment.  

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These pictures become an exploration of the effects of mindfulness and distraction in our lives. I develop them as a reminder for myself of how much happier I am when I am truly (if briefly!) present in my interactions with the world around me — but it is clear from viewers’ reactions that they resonate with others as well.  

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I am a mostly self-taught painter.  I have been painting -- a lot -- for about ten years. I am an eager student, hungrily cobbling together my arts education through workshops, books, blogs and our local arts community. I started selling my work in 2012 and rented a dedicated studio space in 2013. I have participated in several group and solo shows each year since then.

Sarah-Lee Terrat is a professional artist living in Waterbury, Vermont. From 1985-1997 she was Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream’s Environmental Designer. 

In 1997 she launched YeloDog Design, specializing in original illustration and murals, environmental and product design, and color consultation. She created original painted murals for businesses, healthcare facilities, restaurants, hotels and residences.

Sarah-Lee was chosen in 2001 to design the Vermont State Quarter, part of a U.S. state coin series. In 2015 she received an Arts in Public Buildings Grant from Vermont Arts Council for a mural project in the Vermont State Office Complex.

In 2016 Sarah-Lee launched FUZZU, a pet toy design partnership, featuring colorful and humorous products for cats and dogs. Her designs can be seen at fuzzutoys.com