Kate Stapleton-Parzych is an artist and educator, teaching as a Lecturer at the University at Buffalo and Daemen College since 2005. Her artwork is based in digital and darkroom photography; many times including images she has shot as elements in artist books she creates. A Western New York native, she received her BFA and MFA from the University at Buffalo. Currently, she is participating in the NYFA MARK 10 Program. http://katesparzych.wordpress.com/

Sara McKenna is an artist and educator working in the Buffalo area. Her work ranges from traditional processes such as wet plate collodion, salt printing and 16 mm, to digital photography and video production. She has taught both public school children and adults at various public institutions in New York and Oregon. She currently teaches at the Buffalo Arts Studio and CEPA Gallery.

Once described by legendary Buffalo photographer and imaging pioneer George Campos as “weaned on Dektol”, Charlie Stiffler got his first camera at the age of eight, and built his first darkroom two years later. Over the last 45 years, he has explored countless facets of photographic imaging from pinholes to customized film chemistry. Currently involved in professional restoration of film cameras, his knowledge base looks back through centuries of imaging. For more information: charlesstiffler.net

Aitina Fareed received her BA in English at Buffalo State College and is pursuing her masters in Technology in Education. Aitina has been a part of CEPA Gallery since 2002 when she was a student in an after school program. Since then, she has been a youth mentor for CEPA, a teaching assistant,
and is now an inspirational teacher on our team. She has worked in many youth service positions, with organizations such as the Heart Foundation, Community Action Organization, and the Boys and Girls Clubs of Buffalo.

Alicia Malik grew up in East Aurora and received her BFA in Painting from Daemen College. Her passion for the arts and photography drew her to CEPA Gallery where she has taught at Journey’s End Refugee Services and some after school photography programs. Alicia enjoys studying and collecting insects that she both photographs and paints.

Alison Slein is an artist and educator who has had a wide variety of experience teaching at institutions including, Virginia Tech, the Albright- Knox Art Gallery and the University of Rochester. She received a MFA from Rochester Institute of Technology in Imaging Arts and a BA and BFA from the University of Missouri in Art History and Photography. Currently, Alison is a Lecturer at SUNY Fredonia in the Department of Visual Arts and New Media. As an artist Alison has been awarded a NYFA Fellowship for photography from the New York Foundation for the Arts, a Mid-Atlantic Arts Foundation Fellowship and an Individual Artist Grant from the Constance Saltonstall Foundation for the Arts.

Joyce Adiges is currently a student at the University at Buffalo in the Visual Studies Department. She will be receiving her Bachelor of Arts degree in photography in the Spring of 2013. Joyce was an intern for CEPA last year and is now part of our team of teachers.

Amanda Dumas specializes in serendipitous street photography, extracting bold, clean elements from chaotic venues. She tends towards simple, geometric cultural subjects filled with color. Her vision extends from her backyard to around the world. She received a BA in Visual Arts from Empire State College and also has an AS in Photography from Villa Maria College. She currently works as an Art and Promotions Director while exhibiting
her fine art photography in galleries. She started at CEPA Gallery as a photography intern and continues to teach workshops throughout the year.
For more information visit amandadumasphotography.com

Joel Brenden’s art practice is multi-disciplinary and conceptual. With drawing forming the foundation, his projects extend into graphic design, typography and bookmaking, sculpture and installation. Joel’s preoccupation with cultural history frequently stands as the starting point for projects that probe questions about the present and suggest alternative ways for configuring the future. He holds an MFA in Visual Studies from the State University of New York at Buffalo, where he was a Dean’s Scholar and Teaching Assistant, and a BFA in Drawing at Central Washington University. In 2010 and 2011 he was a Resident Artist at Just Buffalo Literary Center where he taught book design. Along with exhibiting his conceptually-based projects, Brenden works as a freelance designer and instructor in photography, blogs at Tumblr, and posts his photography at Flickr. He lives and works in Buffalo, NY, on the second floor.

Nikki Gorman is an artist and educator originally from Syracuse, New York. She received her BFA in Photography and M.Ed in Teaching in and Through The Arts from the University at Buffalo. Nikki has previously participated in and conducted research on an arts in education project with MUSE, Inc. at Bennett Park Montessori School. She is the lead teaching artist of the CEPA education team.

Megan Metté is an artist who specializes in photography, video, and sound. She holds an MFA in Imaging Arts from Rochester Institute of Technology and a BFA in Photography from the University of Louisville. Megan has taught at Rochester Institute of Technology, Community Darkrooms, Genesee Community College, and Albright-Knox Art Gallery. She currently teaches Photography at University of Rochester and CEPA Gallery. You can find a portfolio of her work at www.meganmette.com.

Elise Winter is a freelance designer and digital and graphic artist. She received her BS in Interior Design from the Art Institute of Pittsburgh, and has taught at the University at Buffalo. Elise also works in warm glass, furniture design, and antique steam engines.

Danielle Perla has taught with CEPA Gallery’s Summer Camps for the past ten years. “I have been hooked ever since!” Danielle says. “Seeing kids from all walks of life that are really interested in photography...draws me back in every summer.” In addition to teaching at CEPA, Danielle has taught summer classes at Art Park and the Albright-Knox Art Gallery as well as being a ski coach for the Holiday Valley Freestyle Team. Currently, she teaches Art at Orchard Park High School.

My name is Tyler Mariano and I am a photography student at Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City. I was born and raised in Orchard Park, NY and attended Buffalo State College for a year. I love to use things from the everyday and photograph them in a nonsensical or humorous manner. I also love doing portraits and shooting people in different and interesting environments. I came to CEPA Gallery in the summer of 2010 and have been back every summer since. I love hanging out and teaching the kids different forms of photography and art. It’s a rewarding experience to know you have helped someone grow and learn new things that help shape them to be who they are or who they want to be when they are older.

Cathaleen Curtiss is an award winning photojournalist and editor. She has documented events from Super Bowls to Superpower Summits, covering three presidential administrations and handling daily assignments and international news. In 1990 the White House News Photographers Association recognized her as the Photographer of the Year. She recently turned her talents to making compelling images with her iPhone, calling them them “iPhonotos”. Currently, Cathaleen is Director of Entrepreneurship at Daemen College; managing director of JPGmag; board member of the National Press Photographers Foundation (NPPF), National Clip Chair for the National Press Photographers Association (NPPA) and a member of the board for CenterSpace. She also writes a blog “As I See It”.

Kate Ebling is an artist and educator, currently teaching Studio in Art and Digital Photography at John F. Kennedy High School. She received her B.S. in Art Education, minoring in Art Therapy, and her M.S. in Educational Technology with a focus on Digital Media and Arts at Buffalo State College.

Jon Rutzmoser is an artist, writer, and educator. He holds an MFA in Creative
Writing and Integrated Media from California Institute of the Arts. His recent work appears or is forthcoming in Joyland, DrunkenBoat, Prism of Reality, X-TRA, and P-QUEUE. His book shhhh! it’s poetry is forthcoming from Insert Blanc Press. He lives in Buffalo and teaches through UB's Liberty Partnership Program.