Winter and Early Spring Instructor Biographies 2008
Jane Birdsong is a familiar face at RCCAC, having served as a volunteer for many years. She has spent most of her working career as a French teacher and radio copywriter & producer. She has acted and directed at the Old Brick Playhouse and was a founding member of the all-women band, “The Elktones,” (2001 cd Got What It Takes). Her BA degree is in speech & theatre; communications and French from Indiana University, with a Master's in Alternative Education.
Fran Caldwell is a native West Virginian with a BA from Bethany College. She taught school in New Jersey until her children were born, then gave piano lessons. She was a substitute teacher in the new Martinsville district school system for several years. She has studied porcelain art in numerous schools and workshops throughout the country; and, is certified by the World Organization of China Painters.
Scott Green completed music degrees at the University of Memphis and WVU,
including a Doctor of Musical Arts in composition. He teaches music at Third Ward Elementary School, is on the adjunct faculty of West Virginia Wesleyan College, serves as organist in two local churches, and frequently collaborates with the Old Brick Playhouse.
Leslie Henderson has been making baskets for over 20 years. She sells and teaches a variety of fiber arts - including fabric weaving and knitting as well as reed and bark basketry - throughout the region. She holds a Master's degree in Forestry. Her work can be seen locally at Artists at Work in downtown Elkins.
Virginia Hicks is a certified art teacher for grades K-6 West Virginia as well as a nationally certified art teacher for grades 7 - 12 in England. In addition, she holds a BA in Textile Design, a Masters Degree in Education, is an adjunct Professor of Art at WV Wesleyan College, an ArtsBank artist and a regular teacher at RCCAC.
Joan Kefover is an accomplished potter and sculptor with more than thirty years of experience as a practicing artist and teacher. She holds a BFA from the Maryland institute of Art as well as advanced studies at San Diego college.
Kadra Kramer, a graduate of West Virginia Wesleyan College, has been teaching art classes for over three years and holds a BA in Studio Art. She is owner of The Blue Door Studio in Elkins. Kadra specializes in monotype printmaking and currently has work on display at Artists at Work in downtown Elkins.
Devon McNamara is Associate Professor of English and Irish Literature at West Virginia Wesleyan College and a published poet. Her work has appeared in The Christian Science Monitor, The Hiram Poetry Review, Boston's Dark Horse, The Laurel Review, Trellis, and other publications. She has participated in twenty years of Poets-in-the-Schools programs in seven states, including West Virginia, and conducted workshops in reform facilities, prisons, summer arts camps, and adult education programs.
Bill McWhorter is a practicing artist in Elkins, WV. He graduated from Humboldt State University, California, in 1975, and his work was soon accepted into galleries in San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Denver. Using the landscape as his dominant theme, Bill’s work is both representational and romantic. “I’ve always believed that drawing from nature is instructive for good composition and basic design.”
Marjory Moses has a degree in visual arts and studied with master printmaker Will Petersen and painter Bill Gerhold. A certified teacher, she has offered children's art classes in Elkins at The Art Medium and RCCAC. She was a founding member of Artists at Work cooperative in Elkins and her work is represented by West Virginia Showcase Gallery. Some of her award-winning artworks are in the permanent collections of the State of West Virginia's Cultural Center, the Avampato Museum in the Clay Center, and West Virginia University. Her stained glass windows are in homes throughout a four-state region.
Susie Mullens learned to weave at the Barbour County Winter Fair and has been weaving and designing baskets for the last four years. She has taught basket weaving for the RCCAC in the past. She also enjoys stained glass, pottery, jewelry making, knitting, sewing and outdoor landscaping.
Susan Pell has been creating pottery for over 20 years. She spent seven years as an elementary and secondary teacher. Susan has been teaching at RCCAC since 2004.
Maggi Rhudy has degrees in Art and German literature as well as teacher certification. Freelance artist Rhudy is also an experienced teacher. She has taught art and German to students ages 5 to 75. She retired from teaching at Elkins High School and now enjoys pursuing the many artistic techniques she has taught.
Alison Siewny holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in Art Education from Ohio University. She has been teaching art to children in preschool through middle school in private, public and art center settings for over 10 years. She has had students contests under her direction have been finalists and received honorable mentions in national art competitions.
Richard Smith is an experienced instructor of blues music, guitar, voice and piano. Richard was co-founder of Creative Links in Elkins, and performed throughout the region with Voices From the Earth, and as an instructor for the Augusta Heritage Center at Davis & Elkins College.
Valerie Voge holds a B.S. in Parks and Recreation Administration and has taught preschool related programs for 10 years She is certified as a Kindermusik Educator, Exercise Ball Specialist, Rehabilitation Specialist, and Personal Trainer.
Kenneth D. Waddell is now retired from the field of education and currently is an adjunct professor at Alderson Broaddus College. A member of the Seneca Trails Artists’ Guild and a juried member of the West Virginia Watercolor Society, he has received numerous awards for his oils and watercolors. His paintings can be viewed at Mountain Treasures in Philippi.
Kate Weber has a BA in Art from The College of New Rochelle, NY where she concentrated in ceramics and photo-silk screen. For the past 15 years she had her own pottery studio and has exhibited her work in galleries in Arizona and West Virginia.
Kevin “Woody” Woodcock creates his visual artworks in his home studio and works as a commercial silkscreen printer and sign maker at The Art Medium Company. He received his BFA in Printmaking at West Virginia University in 1986 and his MFA in Printmaking at Louisiana State University in 1989. Kevin was a resident artist in the Artsbank program in 1994 and has taught workshops in area schools. “When I was young the wilderness seemed like a place of mystery and adventure. This sense of mystery and adventure is still with me when I am creating artwork.”