EWI Graduates
Where are they now…
Graduates Class 2009
Irina Avilova
Oil, Watercolor, Pen and Pencil
Irina’s life began in Moscow, Russia where she first took up drawing and painting at a young age. Despite never taking any formal drawing or painting classes, she has been included in many exhibits across the world, winning awards such as 3rd place in the 2009 Reston Century Art Contest and in 2006 the People’s Choice Award at the “Paint & Beyond” group show at the National Gallery Center in Reston, VA, and even hosting her own art shows. Her art is a great representation of her background- moving from Russia to America at a young age, along with all the places she has traveled or would like to travel to. Irina really values that all of her knowledge and talent of art is self-taught, so each piece has been her own idea with uncensored creativity.
May Al-Souz
Paintings & Illustrations
May initially began her work as an artist in Baghdad, Iraq, where she grew up and studied painting. Since then she has worked as an artist and illustrator, expressing the culture, traditions and ways of life in Iraq. Along with painting, May also enjoys painting fabrics, fashion designing, and making her own greeting cards.
Naomie Belayneh
Paintings, Icons, Notecards & Handpainted Wood Boxes
Being from Ethopia, Naomie has made their culture, traditions and beliefs a part of her art, along with the women and nature. She initially studied art at Addis Ababa Fine Art School where she also took part in their gallery, working and exhibiting there. Since coming to America, Naomie has taken part in many exhibitions and shows, where she sells her paintings and notecards.
Priscilla de Lima Ledesma
Photography
P
riscilla is a photographer who was born and grew up in Brazil, but now resides here in Washington D.C. She has participated in many exhibits in the area and has also had work published in multiple social media networks as well. Priscilla holds a Fine Arts degree from the Corcoran College of Art & Design and works today as an independent photographer.
Rolyn Nakalanzi
Jewelry & Paintings
Rolyn creates various pieces of jewelry and paintings as a result of the inspiration from nature and the world that surrounds her.
Sahar Ismael
Mixed Media Paintings
Sahar attended the University of Baghdad where she studied to be an architect, which was able to expand her creativity and artistic knowledge. She brings her life experiences into her art, showing viewers her point of view and how she likes to look at the brighter side of life. Sahar has been a part of various exhibitions and galleries in both Iraq and in the United States as well.
Gwynne Mason
Paper Making & Fiber Works
Gwynne has taken her passion for fiber, paper and the environment and turned it into her own business. She started Jessies Fibrenomicon, a very eco-friendly business, where she produces handmade papers from plants that have been grown nearby, along with paper made from recycled paper, cotton, and linen from old clothing.
Julia Logan
Jung Eun Kim
Maha Hassan
Munit Sefanit Mesfin-Champagne
Sarah Aldalawi
Graduates Class 2008
Jodi Flood
Jewelry Designs
Jodi owns her own business, Magpie’s Treasure, where she is able to sell the jewelry she has created. Most of her jewelry has been produced from collecting all sorts of materials, sometimes recycling them at the same time, and putting them together to create unique, but fun designs. Jodi’s Etsy Shop
Sushmita Mazumdar
Writer, Book Artist & Educator
Sushmita began writing stories for her son when he was a child about her own childhood in India. This soon turned into a storybook business with the help and support of EWI. Sushmita now teaches classes and workshops around the Washington D.C. area and also produces storybooks based on the stories of others. Besides teaching and running her own business, Sushmita also spends time volunteering at the Smithsonian’s Freer & Sackler Galleries of Art.
Valentina Dimilo
Carmen Dupuy
Gina – Jieun Kim
Isabel Castaneda
Louis Sangare
Marlene Belgrove
Graduates Class 2007
Alison Sigethy
Glass Art
In recent years, Alison has been awarded the Emerging Artist Award from Artomatic, as well as making Artomatic’s Top 10 Picks Lists. Besides her love for the outdoors, Alison uses glass to create art that often look as if they are alive. She even recycles glass to create this art, saving it from landfills while also making use of it. Quote from Alison– “Since graduation from the EWI class, my art career has really taken off. Accomplishments include being juried into the Torpedo Factory Art Center in 2007, getting my own studio in 2009, winning Artist of the Year there in 2010, and getting a solo show (scheduled for January 2011). I also got into the prestigious Smithsonian Craft Show in 2010 and my work is currently carried in the Phillips Collection museum shop.”
Article featuring Alison and her glass art
Arline Ostolaza
Pen & Ink, Pencil, Graphite, Charcoal, Oil, Acrylic, Watercolor and Mixed Media
After moving to New York from Puerto Rico at a young age, Arline soon discovered how much she liked drawing portraits of the people around her. After holding various jobs at firm and as a homemaker, she received a Bachelor’s Degree in Fine Arts. Recently, Arline has launched ArlineArts as a way to share her work with the public.
Debbie Schran
Glass Art & Jewelry
Debbie began as an Art Teacher but ended up taking up other jobs and leaving the world of art behind. She later discovered the art of fusing glass and was soon hooked! Her business, Be Fused Hot Glass, sells both glass jewelry along with practical glass items like coasters, at shows all over the D.C. area. Over the past few years, Debbie’s creations have been featured in “Attractions” Magazine advertising a craft show, as well as in “Elan Magazine” where she is referred to as the “Glass Goddess.” Debbie’s accomplishments as a result of EWI include learning to enjoy/love our art but not forgetting the business perspective if you want to continue in your craft as it does take money to do our art. Also, having encouragement- having someone show an interest in your work in the beginning is outstanding; camaraderie with the other artists was wonderful, and understanding that you are not alone and you can get good advice.
Evelyn Brooks
Jewelry Design & Education
Just recently in 2010, Evelyn Brooks of Peru was awarded the Fashion Chamber Choice Award by the Greater Washington Fashion Chamber of Commerce and in 2009 Entrepreneur on the Rise by Council Magazine, and was also included in the Washington Life May Power Issue as The Best of Peru in Washington DC . She was first introduced to jewelry design when growing up in Peru, working alongside her father in his jewelry business. After working in the airline industry for a while until deciding to commit her time to her own jewelry business.
Fatana Baktash
Oil, Watercolor, Pastels, Pencil, Pen & Ink, and Charcoal
Fatana is a well known artist both in the United States and in Afghanistan, having been featured in Who’s Who of American Women 2004-2005 and has also been a apart of exhibits including the National Association of Women Artists, Gallery West in Alexandria, the National Geographic, NBC4 gallery, Torpedo Factory and the Embassy of Afghanistan in Washington DC. Besides being a part of exhibits here in the US as well as in Afghanistan, she has also received many awards and recognitions for her work. Here in Alexandria, VA she has also taught various art classes for drawing, portraits and watercolor classes. Article featuring Fatana
Mariana Fernandez
Scenic Artist & Set Design
Mariana is originally from Argentina, where she first began her work. After her schooling, she worked for various television channels, working in the costume and mask departments. Mariana then expanded her studies, taking up set and scenic design. Here in the United States she has worked as a teaching assistant for basic design classes and as well as a set designer and scenic artist for various theaters.
Marina Reiter
Abstract Art & Paintings
In recent years, Russian born Marina Reiter has been featured in the Washington Post multiple times as an Artomatic artist recognizing her great talent and work. Although Marina was born in Russia, throughout her youth she moved often to other countries, which really opened her eyes to the world around her. She initially studied fine arts, art history and literature in Moscow, then came to the United States where she focused solely on studying art. With her art, Marina focuses on the connections and relationships between people and the emotions connected to them. She has also been a part of multiple publications and many exhibitions both in the US and in other countries including Austria and Spain. Article about Marina
Kata Witorsch
Jewelry Designs
Kata grew up in Hungary where she later sang, taught piano, and worked as a marketing executive. Her great background combining both creativity and fashion has allowed her to create such artistic jewelry.
Altinay Kuchukeeva
Cheryl Lavoie
Pencil, Pen, and Charcoal Drawing
Judy Stone
Maria Jose Ugalde Alcazar
Teresa Canales
Sheryl Gordon
Graduates Class 2006
Diane N’Diaye
Quilts, Jewelry Designs and Cultural Specialist
Diana attended our Entrepreneur Training for Success to help her daughter Mame, who has Asperger’s syndrome and bipolar disorder to create a small business to promote Mame’s ink and pen drawings. Not only they succeed to build their business and market Mame’s drawings, but they also launched a new music venture to promote Mame’s recent musical pieces
Diana Baird N’Diaye is a cultural specialist and curator on the staff of the Center for Folklife Programs & Cultural Heritage at the Smithsonian Institution. Her research interests and specialties lie in the areas of participatory cultural research methods, ethnoaesthetics, material culture, cultural representation, cultural policy, African and African Diaspora folklife, and ethnicity. Dr. N’Diaye has directed research on community-based culture in Bermuda as curator of a program on the island for the 2001 Smithsonian Folklife Festival.She also directs the Smithsonian’s participation in the South African National Cultural Heritage Training and Technology Program, a collaborative training program in participatory heritage research for South Africa in partnership with Michigan State University, the Chicago Historical Society, and several South African cultural institutions.
Mame N’Diaye
Illustrator & Music Composer
Mame was recently awarded the “Award of Excellence” given by VSA arts for her print “Nature and Spirit #1″. Mame is able to artistically express herself through both her music and drawings. She composes, sings, and even produces her music, whose lyrics focus on life in a new and different way from other artists. Her art establishes a great connection with a spiritual journey around the world, including both the mind and spirit. Mame has visited countries all over the world, which have shown her different types and styles of art and music that have also been a part of the inspiration for her works today .
Article about Mame winning the “Award of Excellence”: www.vsarts.org/prebuilt/showcase/gallery/exhibits/vw/2004/m_ndiaye.html
Video of Mame’s Music: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KEgsD7MKofo
Edith Graciela Sanabria
Paintings, Jewelry Design & Poetry
Edith Graciela Sanabria has been interested in the arts since growing up in Bolivia as a child. She currently has a business run out of Mount Vernon Antiques where she is able to sell her jewelry. She has also published a book of her poetry which has been translated into multiple languages and sold in various countries around the world. Read blog featuring Edith.
Jenny McKenzie (Jenny Ohs)
Paintings & Notecards
Jenny McKenzie has been painting & drawing since a young age when first losing her sight, ability to hear, and the use of her hands. She has since learned to cope, creating her own way of holding her pen, pencil or paintbrush and continues to produce popular and even award-winning art. She began exhibiting her work in 1999 at a Craft Show, and went on to attend the American Association of the Deaf-Blind conference in 2000 where she was awarded one first place ribbon and two second place ribbons for her art. Attending each of these introduced Jenny to shows and exhibits and has attended at least one each year ever since.
Joyce Wagner
Mosaic Table, Jewelry Design and Gift Products
Joyce Wagner works with pressed flowers, creating simple yet elegant magnets, along with mosaics and pieces of jewelry, selling them at various markets in the D.C. and Alexandria, VA area out of her business, Reinvented Elegance.
To read a blog posting talking about Joyce & her work click here.
Mekbib Gebertsadik
Paintings & Murals
M
ekbib Gebertsadik has been a creator of art for his entire life, going from studying painting and illustration in Ethiopia and other countries, to currently exhibiting and receiving much attention here in the U.S.
Meseret Desta
Paintings
Meseret Desta began her studies of art in Ethiopia, more specifically, mural art before moving to the United States with her husband, Mekbib. Exhibits of her work have taken place in Ethiopia where she first studied art, abroad, and most recently in the U.S. & the D.C. area. Since coming here she has spent time studying graphic arts, web design and animation as well.
Rabia Naeem Pervez
Silk & Wearable Art
Rabia Naeem Pervez is a silk and wearable art artist from Pakistan. After Rabia began painting silks when her daughter was young, she soon found that many people would be interested in purchasing these. She soon started her own business, Silk’N Paint and expanded to working with silks in different forms and even began creating jewelry as well.
Tayseer Shibrain
Paintings
Tayseer Shibrain has been painting ever since she was a child living in Sudan, but now does so here in America. By enrolling in EWI’s Entrepreneurial Training Program, she was able to get a better feeling of how to manage her business including how to price her artwork and how to advertise, or market herself and her work.
Article that mentions Tayseer.
Wynn Creasy
Paintings & Silk Art
Wynn Creasy entered into the program at EWI hoping to get a better idea as to how to sell her art and make a business of it. Wynn has since been a part of multiple art shows in the D.C. area, which she attributes to the great experience of the business program at EWI.
Wynn’s blog- Wynn Creasy Fine Art
Newspaper Article that mentions Wynn.
Sarina Harris
Paintings & Education
It has been a lifelong dream of Sarina’s to be an artist- ever since she was a child, living in Malaysia. She has studied art both in Malaysia and in the United States, and has also had the opportunity to travel to and teach art in many countries such as Italy, Mexico, Thailand, Germany, and in many others.
Sharmila Karamchandani
Graphic Design, Jewelry Design, Note cards & Education
Sharmila is an Indian- born artist, more specifically graphic designer, who spends a great deal of time teaching various forms of art and volunteering. Most recently, she was awarded 2008 Teacher of the Year Award by the Virginia Career College Association, proving just how much of a difference EWI has made in Sharmila’s life. She completed EWI’s Training for Success back in 2006 and has since helped the organization by providing client services, assisting using her graphic design knowledge & abilities, and by helping instruct EWI’s Entrepreneur Training for Success.
Sonia Punjabi
Jewelry Designs & Paintings
Sonia’s Indian background and heritage contributes a great deal to the colors and designs she uses in the jewelry she makes and in her paintings. Sonia, who took part in EWI’s business training program back in 2006, believes that it made a very positive contribution to her knowledge and experience of running a business and is a great cause helping the women who need it the most.
Jessamyn Hoshikawa
Paintings, Drawings, Ceramics, Photography, Sculpture and Quilts
Jessamyn Hoshikawa has been creatively expressing herself with different mediums since she was a young girl. Besides creating art, she also has a great passion for teaching art as she believes that the artists to learn from are children. In recent years she has interned at the Smithsonian’s Freer and Sackler Gallery, and has student taught art classes along with private art lessons.
Nina Tisara
Photography & Mosaics
Nina began as a photographer many years ago and soon after started her own family-run business, Tisara Photography. “After the EWI training, with Marga’s support, I (Nina) organized my many art endeavors into Nina Tisara Enterprises and formally incorporated Living Legends of Alexandria as a 501(c)(3). Living Legends of Alexandria identifies, honors and chronicles Alexandria’s recent history makers.”
Blanca Vasquez
Community Organizer working with Hispanic communities in Northern Virginia
Juanita Moh
Jewelry Designer
Tricia O’hara
Painter & Event Planner
Alex Nutbohm
Painter
Barbara Bach
Pen & Ink
Holly Gierl
Painter & Jewelry Designer
Sam Bishop
Photographer
