Meet the Artists of Democracy by Design

Sawsan Alhaddad

Sawsan Alhaddad started pursuing art as an adult, in her desire to practice something creative. She attended art classes at the Cleveland Museum of art and community art centers. The first medium she used was watercolor, followed - over time - by other media, including printmaking, pastel, charcoal, clay sculpture, batik, cold wax, encaustic and most recently, collage. She worked in a representational style for almost 20 years and then took up the challenge of abstract work.

Deb Berkebile

I am an artist with an extensive background in textiles and quilt making.  Recently, I have been exploring surface design and multi-media in my artwork. I am a naturalist and environmentalist at heart. My current body of work explores satellite imagery and creating ‘false-color’ artistic depictions of remote sensed satellite images (Geographical Information Systems). I started a new series of work combining natural dyes and Shibori techniques.  I have used rusted hand dyed fabric dipped into an indigo vat.  Manipulating the fabric with lots of Shibori techniques has led to this series with Sashiko hand stitching finishing numerous pieces. I create most of the fabrics I use in my design process. I use surface design techniques, hand-dyeing and painted fabric, plus digital manipulation of images printed on fabric. I enjoy the challenges of creating original artwork that combine my passions and interests.

Betsey Burrell

Betsey’s art story began as an art student at Wittenberg University and then a stint as PR Director for the Salvador Dali Museum in Cleveland and subsequently in Florida. This explains her whimsical attitude; after a career in writing and design she now spends her summers making beautiful gardens and winters creating artistic pieces out of whatever is at hand.

Jenny Campbell

Jenny Campbell has been a freelance cartoonist and children’s illustrator for 37 years, with more than 25 children’s books to her credit.  Jenny also is the writer and cartoonist of the nationally syndicated cartoon strip, “Flo & Friends”, distributed by Creators Syndicate in Los Angeles.  In addition, Jenny was a monthly contributor to “Highlights for Children” for 12 years; has illustrated hundreds of K-5 textbooks for most major publishers; and has done a wide variety of commercial cartooning as well. Her clients have included schools, hospitals, national parks and major corporations, among others. A former newspaper feature writer, she also does some occasional freelance writing and also is a popular speaker throughout the midwest.

Marty Culbertson

Marty Culbertson was born and raised in the Chagrin Valley.

Marty loves every opportunity she can take with her camera and finds the time to be spiritual and restorative. This passion for photography started when Marty was at Orange High School in 1975 and took her first photography class. In 1977 Marty did her Senior Project on the development of color prints, working with a professional photographer which helped to enhance her understanding of light and color in her compositions. Taking pictures continued to be a hobby for many years, but it is really only in the last 10 years that Marty has put intentional focus on improving her skills.

Abby Denton

Abby lives in Chardon and enjoys nature photography around Northeast Ohio and wherever her travels take her.  She also likes working in acrylics and her artwork and photography have been displayed at the Geauga County YMCA.  She participates annually in the Metzenbaum Art Show, held in November.  Abby is a graduate of Chardon High School and has an associate’s degree from Lakeland Community College.  She has been employed at Bob Evans in Chardon for the past 10 years as a hostess.  Abby is the daughter of LWVGeauga member Gail Roussey.

Susanne Wise Dotson

A northern Ohio native, I graduated from the University of Akron, BFA in 1974 and earned an MFA from Columbus College of Art and Design in 2019. The guiding force in my work is to express the joy of life through color blended with the reverential beauty of nature. Memory fragments the images we see. My goal is to paint the feelings we experience with abstracted parts of a garden.

Lisa Eastman

My Reverie is painting the Natural Landscape. Luminous Landscapes of Light and Color Inspire me. The Majestic Rotation of the Universe, Blessing us with the Grand Sunrise, Sunset, followed by a Star filled Sky. The Beauty of a Valley of Emerald Green, with Rivers of Life, meandering along a Peaceful Journey towards the Sea. The calming lull of Water in Rivers, Lakes and Oceans. The Rainbow mist of a Grand Waterfall. The Serenity of the Forest and the changing of the Seasons, Are a most symbolic Metaphor to the Seasons of our Lives. A Painting can touch your Heart and serve as a Nostalgic place of the Beauty our World.

Ed Erbach

I received my first set of oil paints while in high school in 1965 and began taking lessons from a woman in a nearby town, copying paintings from the Masters. From there I went on to obtain a college degree in Architecture and subsequently began a 50-year career as an Architect. I would dabble in art in various forms over that time, but very sporadically. Over the past few years, I’ve begun painting again more earnestly, first in oils and more recently in oil pastels. It is my hope that whatever comes through me will elicit a feeling of “Presence” … and hopefully joy!

Brigitte Fiorille

Brigitte Fiorille enjoys teaching classes in Ceramics, Children’s Art, and special events along with her current role as Art Director at Fairmount Center for the Arts. A graduate from Grand Valley High School, Orwell OH, she received an Associate of Art from Lakeland Community College, Kirtland OH and a Bachelor of Fine Arts, Ceramics from Kent State University, Kent OH. As a lifelong resident of Northeast Ohio, her path in the arts has been interwoven with her personal work and involvement with local communities.

Kate Frank

Kate Frank is a gourd artist and needle felter. She is a life-long resident of Bainbridge, but also spends time in Prescott, AZ where she sells her needle-felted denim jackets and “Bo People” needle-felted figures. She is happiest when creating- no matter what the modality or outcome!

Carolyn Frankel

Carolyn Frankel is an artist and a writer, having illustrated her three books Be Like Rachel, Lessons of Character From Women of the Bible, Poems From the Pandemic, and Spiritual Warrior. She holds an undergraduate degree from Ohio State and a Masters from Cleveland State She is a Martha Holden Jennings Scholar, and a recipient of an International Paper Company Award as well as a BP of America Award. She has won numerous awards for her art and poetry and believes in living a creative and spiritual life.

Elaine Gerber

Elaine M. Gerber has lived in Ohio for most of her life; she began drawing and painting as a child. She was graduated from Cleveland State University with a degree in English. She lives with her husband in Chardon Township.

Mark David Gottsegen (1948-2013)

Mark Gottsegen earned his BA in 1971 from the University of Rochester, and his MFA from Boston University in 1974. He joined the art faculty at the University of North Carolina-Greensboro (UNCG) in 1976, teaching all levels of drawing and painting, as well as a course in art materials for 31 years. Recognized as one of the foremost authorities in the science of art materials, his book on the subject - The Painter’s Handbook - is regarded by art teaching faculty as the standard painting manual for the contemporary artist.

Cath Griffith

Lifelong artist painting in oil and acrylic. Inspired by nature and design. Recent juried art shows are Gates Mills, Fairmont, Burton Library, Geauga Hospital. 

KC Henry

My passion for ceramics has developed throughout my life – starting with my original love of collecting pottery. After taking a few ceramic classes – I quickly turned my back yard office into a pottery studio – changing my creative focus and my personal time commitment. I was further blessed with master level mentors who greatly influenced the development of my work.

My pieces echo a love of the natural world -– from organic stoneware designs to earth tone finishes. The horses I create reflect my career in equine therapy – the magical healing impact and amazing reflective relationship horses have with humans.

Margaret S Heydorn

I discovered a new passion at age 56 when I attempted my first oil painting. Since retiring in 2015 with more time to paint and study, I’ve been accepted into 19 regional juried art shows, winning 6 awards. In 2018 I joined an artist studio and recently joined the Board of the Valley Art Center in Chagrin Falls. I feel fortunate to be a part of this vibrant Northeast Ohio art community.

Ellen Howard

Ellen Howard has lived in Greater Cleveland within the 216 area code her entire life. She graduated from Notre Dame College in 1970 with a B.A. in art and enjoyed additional instruction at the Cleveland Institute of Art with Francis J. Meyers and Peter Paul Dubaniewicz. While teaching high school art at Cleveland Central Catholic for 44 years she became familiar with a wide range of art materials and techniques. Over the years she has exhibited as a member of the Euclid Art Association along with local juried shows, with a mix of watercolors, figure studies and photography.  Since her retirement in 2014 she has combined her traditional sewing skills with inventive use of textiles in original fiber designs. Stellar Suit adds the component of using scraps of available materials.

Kelly K Kimball

I am I retired firefighter and mom. My entire life I have been drawn to photography. I love to do all types of photography, but my favorite thing to photograph is sports. Sports are so dynamic and challenging!! I love anticipating and capturing the perfect action shot. I live in Chagrin Falls with my husband, our son (soon be moving out to go to school in Florida) and our two Golden Retrievers TidBit and Lincoln.

Anne Kmieck

Anne T. Kmieck is a fiber artist who creates installations that center the body in spatial experiences.  Her embroidered clothing constructions suggest artifacts wrapped in history that directly connect to today’s issues around gender, culture, and identity.  She has received two Ohio Arts Council Individual Excellence Awards, 2015 and 2021.  She holds a BFA in painting from the Cleveland Institute of Art, and an MA in art education from Case Western Reserve University. 

Sarah Komaromy

I have enjoyed the privilege of growing up and living in northern Ohio. Always having an interest in taking pictures when I was young, after high school I really started to dive into taking more photographs everywhere I went. My first camera was an Olympus film camera that was with me day and night. Capturing everything from sunsets, to flowers, to cemeteries across Ohio. Over 12 years ago, I was blessed to meet my now husband. Together we have a son, who is slowly starting his own photography journey. I am also thankful to have a wonderful connection with his aunt as we share the same passion for photography. We both love the sunsets of Lake Erie, to the covered bridges in Ashtabula, and especially the colors of fall.

Kathy Komaromy

I was born and raised in NE Ohio and didn’t appreciate what it has to offer until I started taking pictures. I have always enjoyed taking pictures of family gatherings and vacations. I started out with the Kodak Instamatic with the flash cube. Photography sure has come a long way since the days of those Instamatic cameras. My retirement gift to me was a Canon Rebel DSR camera.  Everything looks better through the eye of the camera. I started printing and framing pictures and saw even more beauty in them. I am drawn to sunsets, clouds, water and ‘naked’ trees. My goal is to expand my photos to all things’ nature.  I want to push myself and look outside of my comfort zone for more photo opportunities as well as hone my photography skills and camera knowledge. All of this will allow me to share my view of Northeast Ohio with others through the eye of my camera. 

I truly am “Enjoying the Outdoors, One Photo at a Time”. Quoting a fellow photographer, “Life is a Gift, Live It”

James Komaromy

At 9 years old I already have an eye for taking photographs. Before I could even walk, I would be out on photography adventures with my mom, and my aunt Kathy. By my 3rd birthday I got my first mini camera, and I would take it with me everywhere we went. By 2023, I entered my photographs into my first photography contest at Penitentiary Glen. Ever since then, I have enjoyed taking new photographs every year to show anywhere I can. I am currently an honorary member of Euclid Arts, and this year I will be the featured junior artist at the Euclid arts spring show. I plan to continue on my photography journey, improving my skills as I go, and showing my photographs.

Steve Koren

Steve Koren, a resident of Cleveland, Ohio and a graduate of Cleveland State University, came to the United States from Yugoslavia at the age of six. Following four years in the US Army and a forty year career in financial services, he discovered oil painting as a means to make retirement interesting and rewarding. His art education includes courses at the Chagrin Valley Art Center, Orange Art Center, Cuyahoga Valley Art Center, Cleveland Institute of Art, and workshops with Ramon Kelley in Santa Fe, New Mexico. his works are known for bols and bright colors depicting a city skyline, an iconic structure or a portrait in a mosaic of colors. See his instagram page at #stevekoren99

Ed Korsberg

Ed Korsberg worked as an engineer his whole career, but as he approached retirement age, he knew he needed a hobby. Now, five years later, Mr. Korsberg has become an expert in the intarisa art form, a meticulously difficult art form which uses wood to create masterful wall hangings. Intarsia involves using a pattern and then cutting, tooling, and sanding small wood pieces in various color shades of wood to create the finished project.

Ken Long

Ken Long began to create photodigital art a few years before he retired in 2019. Since then, he has had solo gallery shows at the Cleveland Metroparks Rocky River Nature Center and The Gathering Place West, exhibited and sold his work at BAYarts, and won two first place awards at the Westshore Arts Council annual juried show. You can see more of his work at https://www.facebook.com/riverphotocraft and contact him at riverphotocraft@outlook.com.

Clara Manfredi

I focus on making art that is meant to be interacted with and as affordable as possible to other working class people because everyone deserves to be able to have art they love in their homes. My work draws heavily from growing up with Brain Froud and Jim Henson and the beautiful creatures and worlds they shared with us all. When asked what I do I typically say, I make monsters, which is true and simpler than all these words.

Mickey Mencin

Mickey is a self-taught, "old-school" printmaker, creating hand-carved Linoleum prints, illustrations and home goods in a modern Arts & Crafts style. Her block prints are hand-painted in vibrant colors making each one a unique work of art. Prior to printmaking, Mickey led creative, content and brand teams at KeyBank, Hyland Software and her own agency, Ideamarks. She holds degrees in Journalism and Graphic Design from Kent State University and is a former director of the Beck Center for the Arts.

JoAnn P Mynchenberg

I live in Chagrin Falls with my husband Gary. I have 3 children and 3 grandchildren. I enjoyed my career as an Art Educator K-12 at Chagrin Falls Village Schools, a dream come true! Before that I taught children’s workshops at the VAC. I absolutely love teaching and exposing young children to the world of Art. I developed at a very early age a passion for visual art when my third-grade teacher brought it to my mother’s attention that I had a talent for drawing. Mom then enrolled me in the Cleveland Cooper School of Art. There I found my people! I received my Art Education degree from The Ohio State University, minored in Photography, Weaving and Art History. I just could not get enough!! While teaching, I Received my Masters in Printmaking from Kent State University. Here I focused on Intaigo, silk-screen and lithograph with Professor Noel Riffle, extreme perfectionist! Fell in love with the possibilities along with the messy process! Now retired I’m spending more time with the family, enjoy/struggle learning oil painting, gardening and volunteering for my favorite charities! Contact info mynchjp@gmail.com

Eileen O’Connor

Eileen O’Connor, a Mayfield Village-based oil painter known for landscapes inspired by regional natural beauty, studied at the Cleveland Institute of Art and is currently mentored by master painter Kami Mendlik. Her work, including several award-winning pieces, has been featured nationally, regionally and locally, including Oil Painters of America, American Impressionist Society, and the Zanesville and Springfield Art Museums. View her paintings at Sara’s Place, Tommy’s on Coventry or www.EileenOConnorFineArt.com.

Kate Oulton

Kate Oulton is an artist living and working in Northeast Ohio. Her work is primarily focused on documenting and exploring the ephemera- the fleeting, transient qualities- of specific times and places as they contribute to our experiences. Her process is meditative and rhythmic, capturing, tracing, manipulating, painting, and cutting found patterns, each one evidence of the complex and interdependent systems that underlie our environment and the surroundings that have witnessed histories, both personal and collective. You can find Kate’s most recent work and contact her for collaborations and commissions on Instagram at @kate_oulton.

David Randall

“The best colors from sunlight are the ones found in its shadows.” —David Randall

I’ve been pursuing watercolor since 1980 (age 14) as a life-long hobby.  30 year career as graphic design and branding professional is making way to full time pursuit of art. Primarily self-taught—I'm inspired by natural landscapes and structures, water, and the infinite emotions of color and light recreated only by water and pigment.  Next: Large format acrylic landscape and still-life behind the scenes; soon to open a gallery and virtual storefront.  Randall resides in Bainbridge Twp with his family and dogs.  The 2 paintings here result from a visit to his beloved Andrew Wyeth’s Maine: Olson’s (Cushing).  Wyeth’s quintessential 1948 “Christina’s World” depicted this house and property, and he completed over 600 paintings here over his 80 years of painting.  The home is in tact…and preserved as it was in Wyeth’s time.  The Northern Pines are witnesses from the back yard painting —reflected in the window on the Northern side of Olson’s. 


Suzanne Regan

Suzanne Regan worked in several different mediums since her days at Kenyon College where was a Fine Arts major. She finds the different mediums rewarding - the richness of oil, the process of intaglio printing, and the practice of drawing. However, acrylic on canvas has now become her most frequent choice of medium. Although her subject matter ranges widely, she loves capturing different images of nature. She also paints numerous commissions that include, but are not limited to, animals, portraits, and landscapes. Almost any surface can become a canvas. Suzanne’s work can be found on the walls at the Pepper Pike Country Club and in many homes in Cleveland and around the country. Suzanne has exhibited locally at art shows including the Gates Mills Art Show, The Mayfield Art Show, and the West Woods Art Show, winning awards.

Barbara Rosene

Barbara Rosene is a painter and jazz vocalist based in New York City and in her hometown of Richfield, Ohio. Her vibrant abstract landscapes and colorfield paintings are deeply inspired by the music she performs, blending emotion and sound into captivating visual art. www.barbararoseneart.com

Amy Sancetta

Amy Sancetta enjoyed 30 years as a staff photographer with the Associated Press, where she won the Pulitzer Prize in Feature Photography in 1993. She worked as the organization’s U.S. national photographer, as well as stints in the Philadelphia and Cleveland bureaus. She has traveled the world covering 11 Olympic Games, numerous Super Bowls, World Series, Masters, Kentucky Derbies, U.S Open Tennis tournaments, NBA and NHL Finals and the FIFA World Cup. She has covered numerous national political conventions and inaugurations, the Oscars, Emmys and the Sundance Film Festival, as well as the 9/11 attacks in NYC and the Oklahoma City Bombing. Amy has enjoyed teaching stints at Penn State, West Virginia University, John Carroll University and the Rich Clarkson Workshops, and is herself a proud graduate of The Ohio State University.

Mary Ann Sedivy

Artist Mary Ann Sedivy’s passion is painting the landscape in both the plein air fashion and through abstraction. Mary Ann has her degree in Fine Arts and Art Education from Hiram College.  She spent 31 years as an art educator at Notre Dame Cathedral Latin High School in Chardon, Ohio. Mary Ann’s painting career has spanned 45 years during which she has exhibited in Ohio in numerous juried exhibitions and has had several solo shows.

Ellen Smith

Ellen Smith studied fine art at Boston College, the Massachusetts College of Art and The Cleveland Institute of Art although her career was spent as a Librarian. She continued to paint periodically while working and raising four daughters with her husband in Chesterland. Now retired, she devotes many hours oil painting and taking art classes at the Valley Art Center.

Kathleen Stefancin

Kathleen is a native of Ohio, a photographer, registered dietitian, poet and award-winning children’s book author. “I began my love of photographing nature during the passing of both parents to dementia. It was here that I found comfort, peace and the whispers of hope. I’ve taken over 20,000 nature photographs of the Cleveland Metroparks and Lake Erie sunsets. My nature walks are the inspiration for my poetry and children's books. My hope is that you fall in love with the whispers of each photograph.” www.smartpicks.com

Cris Clair Takacs

Cris Clair Takacs has been a bookbinder for over forty years. In restoring books the art is to hide the art. In design binding the art is to showcase the book. From Toledo, Ohio she went to Ohio University  and took up bookbinding after her move to Geauga. Her  bindings have been  exhibited and are   in private and university collections. She lives in a century home in Chardon, Ohio with her husband and two cats.

Kristen Walenga

I’ve always loved making things including a messy work area. I settled on sewing starting with clothing and traditional quilting. Eventually, I realized that making perfect points meet perfect points was never gonna happen. I found freedom in imperfection. I’m largely self taught, although I have taken workshops and classes from amazing artists where I eventually realized I was a fabric artists, not a quilt maker. I use a variety of techniques and am inspired by many things, especially nature and colors around me. I enjoy the process as much as the final product.

Martha Young

Martha earned her undergraduate degree in Art from San Jose State University, completed graduate work in Art Education from SJSU, and studied textile arts at the Cleveland Institute of Art. A longtime resident of Cleveland Heights, Martha has been making art and teaching here since 1973 in public schools, private schools, the Cleveland Institute of Art, and in after-school settings. Besides her teaching, Martha is active in the textile arts community as an exhibitor, curator, and installer of artwork.

Caleb Zelch

Caleb Zelch is a 17-year-old high school student who has been creating jewelry since age 11. He started his company, Zelch Zoo Designs, when he was 13. His designs often include beading, metalwork, handmade glass, resin, and found objects (shells, beach glass, rocks, and repurposed antiques). Caleb began working with glass two years ago, starting with torch work, and is now learning how to blow glass.