Teaching Artist for Adults Archives

Loretta Mijares Dance, Literature, Other, Other, Teacher/Instructor, Teaching Artist for Adults I am the creator of MovingWriting, an innovative modality of creativity combining movement/dance and expressive writing for personal growth. I offer regular MovingWriting workshops open to all. No writing or moving experience necessary!

I earned my PhD in Literature from NYU and have been teaching college English for over 20 years. I have studied with Linda Trichter Metcalf (Writing the Mind Alive) and Natalie Goldberg (Writing Down the Bones), and am certified in Transformative Language Arts Foundations with the TLA Network as well as in Amherst Writers & Artists workshop leadership. Equally as important to my work in embodied writing facilitation is my many years of practice as a Zen meditator and conscious mover, especially Moving with Life (www.zuzaengler.com), Soul Motion®, and Gestalt Awareness Practice. My passion is in bringing these practices of embodiment to writing in the context of supportive community, to deepen our capacities for presence and open new portals of creativity and insight.

Karen Miles Acting, Ballet, Choreography, Dance, Film Office, Improvisation, Music, Other, Other, Other, Performance Art, Talent, Teacher/Instructor, Teaching Artist for Adults, Teaching Artist for Youth, Theatre, Visual Arts, Vocal Combining the arts with movement and meditation has the profound ability to build a community of resilience, authenticity, and compassion. I believe in creating a sacred space for curiosity and play, for learning and growing, for creative expression and supportive listening. I am an actress, singer, dancer, yoga instructor and teacher. I work with students from K-8 grades, as well as adults. I am currently co-directing the after school Performing Arts program at a local elementary school. My partner and I also have a Stagecraft class we offer to get students/parents involved backstage. Other programming includes Art & Yoga, Creative Movement, and Explore Yoga Path. All can be modified children and adults. I have an extensive background in dance and the performing arts, I am a certified yoga instructor, a CA certified substitute teacher, and a PCS art docent. My mission is for all my students/clients to walk away feeling creative, empowered and emboldened to share their gifts with the world.

Taryn Moller Nicoll Arts Administration, Illustration, Mixed, Painting, Printmaking, Teacher/Instructor, Teaching Artist for Adults, Visual Arts

Taryn Möller Nicoll (MFA'17, Louisiana State University) is a visual artist and instructor with ten years of experience in art education, curatorial practice and public program development.

In her studio practice, Taryn explores the intersection of fine art, medical science and the human body. She seeks refreshed investigations into notions of the good and the beautiful and, for her, that entry point is the human body; that ‘envelope’ rendering us equal: equally fragile, equally resilient. Her works have been exhibited at venues such as Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA), Johns Hopkins Welch Medical Library, the New Orleans Pharmacy Museum, and the Shaw Center for the Arts in Baton Rouge.

Taryn has taught foundations, studio art and art history courses at Nova Southeastern University and Louisiana State University. Additionally, she has delivered artist lectures at academic institutions such as Johns Hopkins University, Maryland; the University of Dresden, Germany, and the University of Pretoria, South Africa.

Prior to relocating to the North Bay in 2022, Taryn was the Chief Curator for the City of Pembroke Pines in Florida. In this role, she directed exhibitions, cultural events and art education initiatives at Pembroke Pines' cultural institutions, including the Frank C. Ortis Art Gallery, Studio 18 Art Complex and the Charles F. Dodge City Center.

Eileen Nagle Acting, Artisan, Children's, Choreography, Directing, Fiction, Film Office, Folk Art, Improvisation, Jewelry, Literature, Non-Fiction, Other, Other, Other, Other, Performance Art, Poetry, Puppetry, Storytelling, Talent, Teacher/Instructor, Teaching Artist for Adults, Teaching Artist for Youth, Theatre Eileen Nagle M.Ed is an elementary/ middle/ high school teacher who specializes in Children's Theatre. A native of West Sonoma County, Eileen writes and directs children's plays and teaches acting classes. Shakespeare for Children; Musical Theater, Improv and Playwriting all for children are at the center of her creativity. She would love to go to your space and direct during school, after school drama clubs, teach playwriting and work with the home school community, having homeschooled her own children. At the university level she taught teachers how to integrate the arts into their regular lesson plans; enhancing the enjoyment and retention of the core subjects. Eileen leads workshops for adults and older children to teach Script and Text Analysis based on Character Roles, a way to look at your own or other's work and evaluate how sound the structure of the story is. Playwriting/ Screenwriting At the University level Eileen taught Public Speaking, Interpersonal Communication and Theater For Elementary Teachers courses. She was the Outreach and Workshop Coordinator for the Noorda Theater for Children and Youth. Eileen would love to partner with home school groups, afterschool programs; mixed adult children groups would be fun. She has worked in most locations so a 'stage' is not necessary. The time of day and week is workable.

Katie Nealon Creative Sonoma Grantee, Design, Graphic Design, Literature, Poetry, Printmaking, Teacher/Instructor, Teaching Artist for Adults, Teaching Artist for Youth, Visual Arts folding bones press is one woman creating hand-made, letterpress printed goods in sonoma county, california. katie is a commercially trained printer, published poet, and lover of lead type.

Skylaer Palacios Acting, Audio, Ballet, Choreography, Composition, Creative Sonoma Grantee, Dance, Film, Improvisation, Improvisation, Instrumental, Latin, Media, Modern, Music, Other, Performance Art, Professional Performance, Teacher/Instructor, Teaching Artist for Adults, Teaching Artist for Youth, Technical, Theatre, Video, Vocal Sky is a performing artist who has created a successful career as a singer, dancer, and actress. She was raised in Healdsburg and graduated from Sonoma State with her B.A. in Liberal Studies and Performing Arts. She has worked extensively in the commercial and film industries. For the duration of the ACE fellowship, she will be focusing on releasing new music and creating a community oriented music video that features dancing, youth, and the talent of other local artists.

Brooks Palmer Acting, Children's, Composition, Directing, Fiction, Film Office, Folk Art, Illustration, Improvisation, Instrumental, Literature, Media, Music, Non-Fiction, Painting, Performance Art, Puppetry, Storytelling, Talent, Teacher/Instructor, Teaching Artist for Adults, Theatre, Video, Visual Arts, Vocal I'm a creative artist who loves to work in many fields. I write short humorous stories. I paint surrealistic art. I perform quirky improvisational songs and short stories on stage. I draw funny words-of-wisdom cartoons. I write books of surreal fantasy humor. I perform my As You Are show for eager audiences. I don't question my creativity. When it shows up, which is often, I put it on paper, or record it, or perform it. I love to put what I do out into the world, whether it's on stage, or online, or published as a book, or on a gallery wall. I love to uplift people with my creations. I hope my art makes people feel good about being alive, and inspires them to be creative in their own way.

Bridget Palmer Acting, Arts Administration, Children's, Creative Sonoma Grantee, Dance, Directing, Fiction, Improvisation, Literature, Other, Teacher/Instructor, Teaching Artist for Adults, Teaching Artist for Youth, Theatre Bridget has directed theater projects with youths ages 4 -14 for over 20 years through her programs Santa Rosa Children’s Theater, Show Biz Kidz, A Theater For Children, and her role as a Drama Specialist in Sonoma County schools. She guest directs at a variety of locations and also works for the Luther Burbank Center as a Teaching Artist. Her Residencies include Story Ninjas, Math Dance, Empowering the Inner Hero, Mastery Through Movement, and Eco-System in a Box. Bridget enjoys “play”ing with hundreds of children each year and loves the excitement of performance projects which culminate within 6-10 sessions. She studied Theater Directing at UC Berkeley and completed the LBC’s Kennedy Center Teaching Artist professional training, as well as several other Arts Integration professional development trainings related to Drama, Movement, and Storytelling. Bridget helps children become high performers through acting-based activities. Bridget also loves writing scripts and producing comedy improv. She founded and ran the 6th Street Improv adult troupe from 2008-2013 in Santa Rosa at the 6th Street Playhouse. In 2018, she wrote her first play for children: "Alex & The Magic Staff", with an anti-bullying theme. She is currently looking for a producer for her screenplay, Amazing Grace. Miss Bridget's latest passion is saving Nature. In 2023, she is launching https://wesavetheworld.org, the story sharing platform kids can use to become eco-heroes.

Margo Perin Literature, Teacher/Instructor, Teaching Artist for Adults, Teaching Artist for Youth Margo Perin is the Sonoma County Area Coordinator for California Poets in the Schools and has taught poetry and creative writing for more than thirty-five years. A nominee for the Pushcart Prize, Margo’s teaching methodology has been featured internationally, including O, the Oprah Magazine, The Press Democrat, The San Francisco Chronicle Sunday Magazine, Mexico’s El Petit Journal, Holland’s Psycologie. Her book publications include The Opposite of Hollywood; Only the Dead Can Kill: Stories from Jail; and How I Learned to Cook & Other Writings on Complex Mother-Daughter Relationshpips, as well as co-founder of Whoa Nelly Press, whose mission is to publish unheard, marginalized voices. Margo teaches poetry and creative writing in schools, after-school programs, juvenile hall, alternative schools, children’s homes, through Poetry Out Loud, libraries, community centers, art centers, hospitals, jails and prisons. Since the October 2017 Sonoma County fires, Margo has taught writing workshops to children and adults to help them heal from the trauma of the fires, as featured in The Press Democrat. Having grown up in five countries and two continents with a father on the run from the law, Margo has a deep understanding of issues faced by at risk children, youth and adults and the exigencies of living as an outsider to mainstream culture. As a writer, her direct, hands-on development of writing techniques to help foster a strong sense of identity, self-empowerment and healing from trauma informs her teaching methodology. Her experience as a cancer survivor has also given her a special understanding of the particular and often invisible needs of students with health issues. She is passionate about providing the opportunity for commonly unheard or marginalized perspectives and stories to be expressed and appreciated.

Victor Temple Arts Administration, Ballet, Choreography, Dance, Hip-Hop & Funk, Improvisation, Latin, Modern, Other, Performance Art, Professional Performance, Teacher/Instructor, Teaching Artist for Adults, Teaching Artist for Youth Victor Temple is an internationally known dancer, choreographer and teacher. He has danced with the Dance Theatre of Harlem, Cirque Du Soleil, American Repertory Ballet, Oakland Ballet, Alabama Ballet, New Jersey Ballet, Honzhou Song and Dance Group, Shanghai Ballet, and the Central Ballet of China. While living in China, he won a gold medal for the Asian Choreography Competition and was the first westerner to hold a position as a member of the Chinese Dancers' Associations, as a liaison of western dance styles. Mr. Temple choreographed the opening of the China and Hong Kong reunification ceremony and was honored with a statue of his likeness at the theater entrance of the Arts University of Mongolia in recognition of his accomplishments. He has been Artistic Director of New World Ballet since 2005. He has been awarded the Spirit of Sonoma County award and named one of the 22 People to Watch in 2022 by the Press Democrat. Mr. Temple was also named King of Carnaval, San Francisco in 2004.

Jill Valavanis Artisan, Fiber Art, Jewelry, Sculpture, Teacher/Instructor, Teaching Artist for Adults, Teaching Artist for Youth, Visual Arts I am a teaching artist. With an MFA in Integrated Three-Dimensional Media, I use a variety of materials to create sculptural and functional objects. Fiber is my favorite medium. Currently, I am using my sewing machine to create freehand abstract embroidered pieces. For over 20 years I have enjoyed teaching art to both children and adults, from toddlers to seniors, in schools, colleges, community centers, museums, art centers, gardens, and private homes. I believe that anyone has the capacity to be creative, and that making art is good for one's mental and physical health.

Asherah Weiss Arts Administration, Creative Sonoma Grantee, Folk Art, Illustration, Improvisation, Mixed, Multi-Media, Muralist, Other, Other, Other, Painting, Photography, Printmaking, Puppetry, Sculpture, Teacher/Instructor, Teaching Artist for Adults, Teaching Artist for Youth, Theatre, Visual Arts Asherah Weiss is an educator, community artist, and organizer. Since graduating from California College of the Arts in 2011, she has helped start many projects that bring people together around arts and placemaking, in Sonoma County and the Bay Area, including the PLACE for Sustainable Living in Oakland, and womb space collaborative arts in Santa Rosa. Her belief in the democracy of the arts has inspired her to bring creativity to people of all ages and abilities, including as a credentialed art teacher at Healdsburg Junior High through the first school years of the pandemic. In 2022, she co-created the globally known project Peptoc, a hotline and series of posters with uplifting messages from kids (call 707-8PEPTOC), and is now continuing the project with Jessica Martin in the form of a book full of young people’s wisdom and humor from around the world. Her excitement lies in what creativity can do for the world— making things more collaborative, sustainable, beautiful and meaningful. Current Projects include:

Co-creator of the Peptoc Project, currently taking submissions for a book of uplifting messages from young people around the world. See peptoc.net
Programs Director at Artstart
Coordinator of Earth Protector Parade at the 1st Climate Fest on April 22nd, 2022 in the Healdsburg Plaza
Artist in Residence at West Side Elementary School

Yuka Yu Audio, Design, Film, Film Office, Graphic Design, Media, Multi-Media, Multimedia, Music, Other, Production, Teacher/Instructor, Teaching Artist for Adults, Teaching Artist for Youth, Theatre, Video Hailing from Taipei, Taiwan, a city with a thriving nightlife that goes until the wee hours of the morning, Yuka grew up with the birth of the electronic music scene in Asia in the late 90s. Taiwan is a renegade democratic island that become independent from China. With a mix of Taiwanese, Dutch and Japanese, Yuka began DJ’ing while living in London in Camden Town, training under the London Sound Academy. “We need music so we don’t forget that there are places in this world that aren’t made out of stone. Like the Taiwan Strait between Taiwan and China, like the Berlin Wall between West Berlin and East Berlin, music has the ability to transcend any borders.” Yuka said. Her musical style is influenced by acid, psychedelic tunes and oriental rhythms. Immersed in a multi-cultural and conflicted atmosphere, her experience in Eastern and Western culture inspires her creation of music. Her first vinyl she bought in Berlin feature the 'jahyu', a tribel flute, where the string melodies slide effortlessly amongst a powerful roots-based dubstep beat, creating a unique sound full of flavour. While living in London, her musical career has brought her many gigs in London and Berlin, such as DJ’ing at Ministry of sound, The Cause, RoadTrip and The Workshop, Number 90, Factory 45, White Post, Vortex, Cafe 1001, Troubadour, Humboldthain Club, and Kaffee Burger. She has also performed at the One Love Heart Festival in Santa Rosa, Reeferpalooza in Sacramento, Thumpty in New York, and in New Orleans with the Dohm Collective. Yuka currently resides in Sonoma County and performs regularly in San Francisco, Oakland, San Jose, Sacramento, Santa Rosa, and Sebastopol. She aims to build a global community, a Yutopia, welcoming people of all background, nationality, color, gender, sharing music and inspiration.

Nicole R. Zimmerman Creative Sonoma Grantee, Fiction, Literature, Non-Fiction, Poetry, Teacher/Instructor, Teaching Artist for Adults, Teaching Artist for Youth

NICOLE R. ZIMMERMAN is a recipient of the 2019 Discovered Award for Emerging Literary Artists Grant, made possible, in part, with funds from Creative Sonoma and the National Endowment for the Arts.

She holds an MFA in Writing from the University of San Francisco, which nominated her essay to the AWP Intro Journals Project. Her literary work is published in Creative Nonfiction, The Best Women’s Travel Writing, Los Angeles Times, The Rumpus, Hypertext Review, Sonora Review, The Dewdrop, About Place Journal, Halfway Down the Stairs, Toho, Cagibi, Ruminate, Noyo River Review, Birdland Journal, Origins, and South Loop Review, which nominated her work for a Pushcart Prize.

Nicole has freelanced as a reporter for Petaluma Patch, as a Towns correspondent for The Press Democrat, and as a copywriter for Viator/TripAdvisor. She is an alumna of Lit Camp, a juried writers conference. She designed curriculum and taught in K-5 at Sonoma Country Day School and led creative writing workshops in after-school programs in Petaluma.

Born in Brazil and raised (mostly) in Northern California, Nicole lives with her wife in Penngrove where she hosts Shut Up & Write!™ sessions and facilitates creative writing workshops (see Writing From Memory or Imagination on the creative calendar). She is an AWA affiliate, certified to lead workshops in the Amherst Writers & Artists (AWA) method.

CREATIVES