Dina Thatcher is a member of the Tracy Arts League and has been a local fused glass artist since, 2022. As a crafter, Dina wanted to explore new medias and came upon fused glass. She has a passion for learning about glass and will teach you all she knows about creating beautiful pieces using glass. In addition to fused glass, Dina love to crochet, travel, fish, and see all the latest movies.
Discipline: Visual Arts
Richard Beebe
Richard has been involved with photography in excess of 40 years, including over 25 years of professional experience and skills in a variety of aspects, with 20+ years teaching, throughout in the 1980s in Livermore and at the Grand for 12+ years. Despite this strong background, he still believes he is a “work in progress.”
“I have no desire to simply sit down and rest on my laurels – I now expose more original images with both a digital camera and with smartphones consistently than I ever did with just film, continually exercising and stretching my visual experience. That’s where the fun of this image-making medium is.” – Richard
Photography remains a strong passion for Richard. He loves pushing his own visual creativity and expanding his own expressiveness further. Richard has been instructing others on the art and craft of the photographic medium since 2009 here at the Grand Theatre Center for the Arts.
* Formats – 35mm (30+ years), 6×6 square (25+ years), digital (20 years), 4×5 view camera (infrequent).
* Experience – photographer, assistant (lighting, sets, logistics, camera), instructor (classroom, field, workshops), writer/editor.
* Styles/Genres – portrait (incl fashion, figure, photojournalistic ‘environmental portraits’ – in studio & on location); landscapes, cityscapes; night imagery, b&w infrared; and abstract/expressive interpretations and photo-impressions.
* Please view examples of Richard’s photos here: Richard’s Facebook Profile.
You may contact Richard at rbphoto54@gmail.com for more information about his photography classes!
Maria Carrasco
We all have the ability to tap into our creative side. Maria’s personal belief is that it comes from the Creator. There is power and freedom in creating that brings self-awareness. Maria finds pottery as therapy aiding to mental health, healing, and creative expression that nurtures the spirit and soul.
Maria is a local artist and a member of the Tracy Art League. She is obsessed with clay; focusing on ceramic projects that blend hand-building techniques and wheel throwing to create designs that are functional and eye catching. Drawing inspiration from nature, or personal experiences that invite both contemplation and daily use. She believes each piece of pottery is telling a story, and each project is a step in writing it.
Donna Guzman
Donna Guzman has many years of experience with ceramics with her primary interest in hand building functional and nonfunctional pieces. She believes everyone has a natural creative way to express themselves. Pottery is an art form which allows you to appreciate the beauty of nature and is very satisfying to use your own pieces in your everyday life.
You may contact Donna at dguzie209@gmail.com for information on hand building pottery classes.
Madiha Ahmed Khan
Madiha is a Textile Design graduate who merges tradition with innovation. Her work intertwines colors, textures, mediums, and storytelling to bridge art, craft, research, and design. She brings a rich spectrum of expertise spanning education, project management, research, artistry, textile design, and the preservation of crafts.
She has been curating and exhibiting her work internationally. Additionally, Madiha has taught at various Art and Design institutes and professionally worked for the Textile Industry for the last 20 years. She is an active member of the Tracy Art League. She is constantly striving to enhance her artistic and educational skills to make a positive impact.
You may learn more about Madiha and view her work on her website: https://madihaak82.wixsite.com/mahiha-khan
Sydney Mariscal
Sydney Mariscal is a passionate ceramic artist, who been working with clay since 2014. She teaches others, including individuals with special needs and believes that everyone can find their own voices in art when speech fails. Through her work, Sydney combines creativity with compassion to create a welcoming space where everyone can explore the joy of working with clay.
Sydney is the Ceramic Technician at the Grand Theatre Center for the Arts as well as a member of the Tracy Art League. Sydney can be reached at (209) 831-6273 or sydney.mariscal@cityoftracy.org.
Luis Valverde-Maceo
Luis, a native of Cuba, studied ballet, modern dance, and Latin percussion from an early age. Since he completed his formal education at the National School of Art Instructors in Havana, Cuba, Luis has taught music and dance, performed, and choreographed extensively throughout Cuba for 20 years.
Luis has enjoyed teaching music and dance to people of all ages, but he especially loved the years spent teaching dance and percussion to deaf children in Guantanamo. His teaching experience in Cuba includes being a dance professor at the Casa de Cultura (Cultural Center) and the Escuela de Arte (Art School) in Guantanamo. He also taught dance music at the Universidad de Ciencias Médicas de Guantánamo (Medical University of Guantánamo) and was a choreographer for several dance companies.
Since relocating to California in 2001, Luis has directed and taught Salsa and Afro-Cuban dance workshops throughout the Tri-Valley and Bay Area in various dance studios. He has also taught Salsa and percussion classes in many local schools, such as Amador Valley High School in Pleasanton, Livermore High School, California High School in San Ramon, Acalanes High School in Lafayette, etc.
Since 2007, Luis has been an instructor at Las Positas College, teaching Salsa, Zumba, Hip Hop, and Ballroom dances.
In addition to teaching dance, Luis also plays the congas, bongos, and other Latin percussion instruments and performs in many venues throughout the San Francisco Bay Area.
Carrie Van De Boom
Carrie is a member of the Tracy Art League and an active ceramic and fused glass artist who is excited to offer fused glass workshops at the Grand! Carrie has been creating with both clay and glass for over 10 years. While most of her items are created as personal gifts, she has had pieces featured in art shows and the Grand Gallery.
You may contact Carrie at carrie.vandeboom@gmail.com for more information about her classes!
Vince Walsh
Vince Walsh was born and raised in Oakland, California and resided in Tracy, California for over 30 years. Vince has been painting for over 35 years, mostly outdoors and in the studio. His style of painting is a blend of realism and impressionism with a preference to paint still life and landscapes in oil and acrylic. His goal is to express a realistic and painterly approach that allows the viewer to participate in the painting.
Vince was fortunate to have studied with Van Waldron, who encouraged him to develop his own style. He also studied with Delores DePharr and E John Robinson. Vince is a member of “The Valley Sun Catchers”, “Friday Painters” and “Da Group” a group of Plein Air Painters. He is also a member and past president of the Tracy art League. Vince has been offering painting classes with the Arts Education Program at the Grand since it opened in 2007.
H-ART Therapy
H-ART Therapy was founded by Natasha Blakely.
Natasha always dreamed of being a professional artist, but the harsh realities of life have a way of pushing childhood dreams aside. Leaving her artistic aspirations behind, Natasha found herself working in a corporate profession. Looking for a change, she started teaching art and she loved it. Pushing aside her self-doubts, Natasha spent 15 years helping others discover their creative side. Her confidence in herself and her abilities grew.
Natasha also experienced the therapeutic benefits of art through teaching her students. With her childhood passion rekindled, she was ready to begin a transformative journey. Sketching had been her medium of choice for years. But it became too comfortable, too easy. She wanted to challenge herself. Could she paint? She’d never painted before. Now the paintbrush would express her passion, her vision.
As a self-taught artist, Natasha was determined to find her own way, her own voice. “Mistakes” and “happy accidents” were part of that journey. Now she wants to guide others to help them boost their confidence, take pleasure and heal through painting.
As an art coach and the founder of H-ART Therapy, Natasha believes that “creativity takes courage” and that everyone is an artist and has something to share. Discover the creative passion in you. Whether you’re just starting to paint, been painting for a little while or have been painting for years. We invite you to join the fun in a safe, judgment-free environment.
See you in art class!