Instructors

O'Hara/Zappitelli

Janet Alexander Janet is an accomplished metal artist with her work shown in museums across Texas. She has over 35 years experience in jewelry metal arts. She also teaches workshops and has been a classroom instructor for over 9 years. She appeared on HGTV Crafters Coast to Coast and That’s Clever demonstrating her lost wax casting and wax carving techniques. Janet has a BFA in Metals from the University of North Texas and has studied metal working with several Master Jewelers. Janet currently holds a Level 2 certification for PMC instruction.

Ed Barker Ed Barker graduated from North Texas State University with a Master’s in Art Education. He has continued studies in casting and jewelry repair from the Wilkinson School of Jewelry in Little Rock, Arkansas. Ed specializes in fabricated and cast jewelry, emphasizing organic and graphic designs. He has extensive experience using metal as well as stones as focal points.

Gene Curtsinger Gene Curtsinger received his BA in ceramics from the University of Dallas and his MFA from Indiana State University. He has taught at different colleges in Indiana and Ohio, the most recent being Lourdes College and Owens Community College in Toledo. His main interest in clay is large thrown and altered pieces.

Barrie Curtsinger Barrie Curtsinger grew up in Dallas and received her Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Dallas with a major in Ceramics. She and her husband moved to Ohio for a number of years where they owned and operated a studio-gallery. Barrie also taught ceramics at Owens Community College in Toledo, Ohio for the four years prior to moving back home to Texas. Her main interest in clay is handbuilding, but she enjoys throwing also.

Renuka Ekbote Renuka received a Master of Fine Arts from the Meadows School of Art at Southern Methodist University in May 2010. She also earned a Masters in Visual Arts from Faculty of Fine Arts M.S. University Baroda, India in 2006. Renuka has both taught and exhibited internationally.

David Elliff David started in the printing business in 1969. He has worked in every phase of the business including hand-setting type out of the California Job Case, composing and running a letterpress. David currently works at UTA as a manager of the University owned print shop.

Diane Flynn Diane Flynn began studying glass in 1978. She has studied architectural glass with Dennis McCredie and Tiffany-style lampshades with Joe Porcelli. She has operated her own glass studio since 1985 and has evolved into a hot glass artist, specializing in fusing and lampworked beads. Diane has attended University of Texas at Arlington’s glassblowing program. Her blown glass art has been displayed at the Dallas Museum of Art’s gallery store.

Kristen Giles Kristen Giles studied art and ceramics at Trinity University in San Antonio and at East Texas State University. She has continued her education with classes at the Southwest Craft Center, San Antonio, and the Craft Guild. Kristen’s main interest is in high fire stoneware, with a special interest in glaze formulation and application.

Forrest Jackson Forrest Jackson began bookbinding at the Craft Guild in 1997 and has further studied with master bookbinders Sally Key, Jim Croft and Jan Sobota. Antiquarian in spirit, Forrest prefers repairing books published before 1830, but is happy to help with the restoration of newer books, as well.

Esther Kibby Esther has been a bookbinder for eight years and has studied with Sally Key, David Lawrence, Susan Grant and Jim Croft. She currently teaches at the Craft Guild of Dallas and is a professor of graphic design and photography at the Art Institute of Dallas.

Elizabeth Knodle Elizabeth Knodle received her BA Degree from Texas Women’s University and did graduate work in Denmark and Finland. She is a veteran art instructor in the DISD and Dallas Arts Magnet School. Elizabeth is an instructor with the Whole Beads Show and travels with them all over the USA to teach.

David Lawrence David Lawrence has taught hand bookbinding at The Craft Guild of Dallas since 2001. He has won several awards in the USA as well as UK and Czech Republic for his fine work.

Kip Maley At an early age, Kip discovered he had an enduring interest in molten glass. He has studied with some of the best artists in the U.S. Including Josh Mazet, Michael Barley, Mark McCourt, Dolly Ahles, and Judy Carlson. Kip has taught at the Craft Guild since 2005.

Virginia Marsh Clay Advisor--- Virginia Marsh has an MFA degree from Ohio State University and taught at the university level for many years. She was artist-in-residence at the Banff Centre School of Fine Arts in Alberta, Canada, has exhibited her clay work widely, conducted workshops all over North America, has published numerous articles, and her work has been featured in major pottery books. She volunteers at the Craft Guild and continues to exhibit her hand-built and wheel-thrown work.

Suzanne Morgan Suzanne Morgan is a self taught fiber artist. She loves experimenting with new techniques and sharing the joy of creating with others. Suzanne has operated her own fiber arts business since 2005, selling in regional galleries and is evolving into a felting artist specializing in nuno felting. She teaches in and around the Dallas area and nationally.

Marilyn O'Hara Marilyn began her jewelry career opening her own gallery on the beach in Cape May, New Jersey in 1975, selling her work exclusively. She earned a BFA degree from University of North Texas and worked on her MFA in Tucson at The University of Arizona. She has also studied Advanced Stone Setting at Gemological Institute of America. She has specialized in restoration of antique jewelry and has been commissioned for one-of-a-kind pieces for major companies, including Bachendorf’s and Zale’s. Since 1989, Marilyn has worked as a 'ghost designer' for several top designers in the US and has also exhibited in galleries and museums across the country with her own line of jewelry.

Alice O'Leary Alice's art training began at a very early age as the daughter of an accomplished artist, and continued at The University of North Texas with BFA in Fashion Design. After leaving the commercial field to pursue a fine art career, Alice studied with many nationally recognized artists such as Kevin Macpherson, Ron Rencher and Laura Robb, to develop her unique style of painting. Working primarily with oils, but also pastels and watercolors, she is inspired by color and the way light hits a subject and tries to capture that feeling on canvas. She has a strong background on color theory and uses a limited palette preferring to mix most of her colors in order to obtain a more unified color harmony in her paintings. Color, value and strong composition are stressed in all classes while students are developing their own style of painting.

James Olney James recieved his Bachelor of Science in ceramics in 2002 from Southwestern University in Georgetown, Texas. He continued his education in North Carolina working as an apprentice for master potter Mark Hewitt from 2002-2005, and has enjoyed working and learning alongside master potters from Minnesota and New York. Abroad, James lived for two years in Tanzania as a peace corps volunteer exchanging ideas with local village potters. Recently, he has returned from travels throughout India, Nepal, and SE Asia learning about the traditions in pottery and culture there. James works primarily on the potter's wheel and believes holding sacred the entire process of making pots from earth to fire.

Elizabeth Padgett Elizabeth Padgett worked as a graphic designer for 22 years in Dallas and Houston. She is primarily self taught and works in various mediums including watercolor, acrylic, collage and photography on paper or canvas supports. She has been in international and national exhibitions, many group and solo shows, and her work has won numerous awards as well as a Signature Membership in the Southwestern Watercolor Society.

Jelcy Romberg Jelcy began studying jewelry at the Craft Guild of Dallas during the late 1990’s. In addition, she has studied beading under other teachers from coast to coast, and in Canada. As past co-chair of the Dallas Bead Society, Jelcy is a member of several other beading groups in various states, and is a popular featured artist in workshops across the country. She is the official bead teacher for the Bead Market Shows and is on the faculty of the Canadian Bead Oasis, a huge bead show across Canada. To see more of her work, please go to: www.jelcy.com.

David Zappitelli David began his jewelry making career many years ago under the apprenticeship of a 53 year veteran jeweler. His background includes being the shop foreman for a renowned jeweler in Cleveland from 1971 – 1980. Since moving to Texas in 1980, David has worked as a professional jeweler with an emphasis in stone setting. He teaches metalsmithing, stone setting and polishing classes.

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