MADDY BERGER has a BA in Fine Arts, Queens College and a MFA, Queens College and graduated from FIT as a fashion major. Since graduating Fashion Institute of Technology, Ms. Berger has been working as middle school art instructor in Queens as well as working at the Gold Coast Arts Center teaching Fashion and Drawing & Painting. She enjoys drawing portraits in her free time.
RAE DASH has lived and breathed the arts from her very first dance lesson at age three. Music followed at ten, visual arts at thirteen — and a lifelong creative identity was born. Rae earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of Cincinnati, concentrating in painting and photography. She went on to build a dynamic career in special effects and beauty makeup, lending her talents to films, music videos, commercials, and live performances. Her eye for detail and artistic instinct made her a natural in an industry where creativity meets precision. For over 15 years, Rae has shared her passion as a painting instructor, guiding students of all ages to discover and express their own artistic voices. She channeled that same energy into her role as a teacher at a private daycare over the past several years, nurturing creativity in its earliest and most formative stage. Rae believes that passion, paired with hard work, can take anyone anywhere — and she makes it her mission to inspire others to find out just how far their own can take them.
AMIR DIOP started his teaching career in 2017 as a program coordinator at a summer camp, Camp Integrity. By 2019, he was promoted to senior program director. In the wake of the pandemic, Amir worked with Church Street School of Music from 2020 to 2021. He also worked with Art on the Ave as an education coordinator from 2021 to 2023. Amir has worked directly with the NYC public schools through School Materials for the Arts from 2021 to the present. His murals on plywood covering the windows of high end retailers in SoHo doused colorful acrylic spray-painted images, and poignant phrases with the realities of disparity amongst humankind in America. A unity of significance developed between a collective of artists who would become, SoHo Renaissance Factory or familiarly known as SRF which Amir Diop is cofounder. The work of SRF was recognized by Sotheby’s and selected for exhibition at the National Arts Club in New York City in late Fall of 2020. Formulated from Amir Diop’s neo-savage painting style, visual storytelling, vivid childhood memories and AR components, Lionel the Lying Lion©, rooted in moral lessons, has emerged as Diop’s first children’s book, released in July 2023. Amir Diop lives in the New York metropolitan area and operates out of his Diop Studios LLC.
DANI GAROFALO has a passion for sharing her talent and teaching art to children ages 6-16. She has also taught paint night classes to adults who have various levels of experience. Her art exhibits include participation the Mercer Gallery in Soho, the High School of Fashion Industries Gallery and the Gallery at the Gold Coast Arts Center. Dani was fortunate to study art in Florence the summer of 2018. As a sculpture major at SUNY Purchase College, she continues to pursue her education in art and art education.
DARYA GAUTHIER has been working as an art and theatre teacher with Gold Coast Art Center since 2015. Prior to that, she was an art teacher at Montessori School of Manhattan for ten years. In addition to this, she has been working as a freelance artist since high school – creating paintings, graphic design projects, and murals for commission. Darya loves working with children and unlocking their creative potential through the arts!
KAREN HUBELA has her Permanent Certification in Art Education. She has extensive experience teaching art to nursery through high school students, portfolio development to Adult Ed watercolor painting. She has also developed art programs for disabled adults and seniors. Her students have won NYS Scholastic Art Scholarships. She is a John Lidstone Award recipient and a Brooklyn Museum Summer Teaching Fellow. Karen loves connecting students to art and nature. Her own artwork ranges from drawing, painting, illustration, mixed-media collage, murals to woodworking.
JESUS MODESTO has a B.F.A., Long Island University and his Certification in Art Education. He has taught and presented in the state of New York and Atlixco Puebla, Mexico. During his travels to Mexico, Jesus taught in elementary and secondary schools such as Heroes del 4 de Mayo and Melchor Ocampo. He has experience working at the Nassau County Museum of Art, teaching at the elementary level. Jesus also taught at the Hillwood Art Museum located in Brookville New York serving as an art educator and working with curators as well as other artists. He is currently working with children with special needs for the Great Neck Public School District. Among his many artistic talents, Jesus is proficient in Photoshop CS6, Maya 3D animation software, & digital photography.
ELLEN SCHIFF has a BA in Fine Arts, Queens College and a MFA, School of Visual Arts, Hunter College. She was the Creative Director and Artist for ES DESIGNS, specializing in branding. As Associate Creative Director for BrandEdge, she developed corporate campaigns, logos and product branding. She teaches multimedia classes in GCAC’s Outreach Programs; Children’s Art Studio Whitestone; YMHA ‘Children’s Art’; and painting at YMHA, ‘Adult Ed’. She has exhibited her artwork at the 9th New Century Gallery, NYC; PS 122 Contemporary Art; Fordham Art Gallery, Texas; Lincoln Center Art Gallery, NYC; and numerous other NYC venues. She has received several awards including Art Directors Club Video and Print awards and is a member of Art Initiatives, NYC. Currently she teaches Intermediate Art and Advanced level II Art Portfolio class at the Gold Coast Arts Center and is the acting director of the School for the Arts.
JOAN KIM SUZUKI is a Long Island–based artist and educator dedicated to celebrating cultural heritage through modern art practices. She has exhibited widely, including solo and group shows at the Heckscher Museum, Syosset Library, and Jericho Public Library, and has curated community-focused exhibitions such as the AAPI Art Exhibition. Joan’s artwork has been featured in Newsday, The Long Island Press, and aired on NBC New York, bringing her work to a broader audience. She has also taught Modern Korean Folk Art workshops at libraries, schools, and arts organizations, engaging audiences of all ages in exploring tradition through a contemporary lens. As both an artist and teacher, she is passionate about fostering creativity, cultural appreciation, and community connection through the arts.
VICTORIA THOMPSON has a strong passion for teaching both children of all ages as well as adults, and fosters creativity in an inclusive and supportive environment. Her current artwork focuses on fiber arts including crocheting, which is an integral part of her creative practice. She continues to combine her academic background with hands-on experience to support learning, creativity, and growth. Victoria has been an invaluable asset at Gold Coast Arts Center since 2020.
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