Elaine Clayman

Elaine Clayman is both a commissioned portrait artist and a contemporary narrative figurative painter. Her work captures the imagination of the viewer as the protagonists reflect the tale. Her stories are meant to offer transparency, thereby capturing a glimpse of the soul of the subjects, just as they cross the line, leaving the audience to complete the narrative.

Elaine is a native New Yorker. She has studied at the Salmagundi Art Club and the Art Students League of New York. In her early career, she was mentored by celebrated Harlem Renaissance artist, Charles Alston. Elaine has also studied with renowned painters, Steven Assael and David Grey. She is currently working with key art figures, Eric Michelson and Donelle Estey.

​Elaine has been featured in many exhibitions in New York City, including solo and group shows at the Salmagundi Club, Denise Bibro Gallery of Fine Art NYC, Jewish Art Salon, Superfine NY, Heller Museum NYC, and Ceres Gallery NYC. Elaine has co-authored a book titled “ART SPEAKS POETRY / POETRY SPEAKS ART”. She is a member of Audubon Artists and an Elected Member of Allied Artists of America. Allied Artists invited Elaine to be Historian of their prestigious organization.

Alfredo Cardenas

Alfredo Cardenas of Hispanic and Native American descent, was born in Brooklyn, NY, and holds a BFA degree in Fine Arts from Pratt Institute and an MFA Degree in Fine Arts from Brooklyn College. His training includes study at the School of Visual Arts, the Brooklyn Museum, The Art Students League and with master sculptor Jose de Creeft. Mr. Cardenas is Internationally known for his work, as he has exhibited galleries in New York, New Jersey, Newburgh, Yonkers, Rockport, Italy, and Portugal. He has won numerous awards and scholarships in sculpture and was a guest lecturer at Borough of Manhattan Community College and the School of Visual Arts. Alfredo has judged on panels for the Philadelphia Council for the Arts and Audobon Artists. His work entails a wide range of mediums such as stone, bronze, wood, metal, plastic, plaster, and found objects. In addition Alfredo has created molds and designs for F/X in films and restored monumental sculpture. Alfredo’s piece “Dinnig Room” has a permanent home on the waterfront in the Yonkers Symposium Sculpture Park. He has also been commissioned to do pieces for Oasis, A Haven for Women and Children and the Puffin Foundation. He continuously displays his sculptures at the Unison Arts Sculpture Garden in New Paltz, the Wildflower Sculpture Park in Maplewood and for the Wurtzboro Arts Alliance. Alfredo has taught at the Sculpture Center, Five Towns Music and Art Foundation, the Education Alliance, Brooklyn College, New Jersey School of Visual Arts, JCC Long Beach, Westchester Community College and Montclair State University. He currently teaches at Nassau Community College. His set design has been shown in collaboration with his wife Maxine Steinman at Montclair State University, Joyce SoHo, The 92nd Street Y, Pace Downtown Theater, and in Brazil and Japan. For more information email alfredocstudio@yahoo.com. Some of his work can be seen on Facebook.

Artist Statement
As a direct stone carver, my approach to sculpting is intuitive. I allow the stone to dictate part of its own design, turning raw material into an artistic form, either abstract or figurative. The color, shape and density of the stone play an important role in the outcome of the work. Both the rhythm and cylindrical design elements enable me to find the form hidden beneath the surface of the stone. Much of my work is inspired by nature, either figurative or abstract. I investigate the transformation of stone into natural forms from inorganic to organic, hard to soft, and from raw to supple. Aside from stone, my creations embrace both classical and abstract forms and consist of various mediums and textures including wood, metal, and bronze.

Gloria Pacis

Gloria Pacis (born 1953) is a first generation Filipino American from Seattle, Washington. She graduated from the University of Washington in 1976 with a BFA in Painting. Her credits include Stage Design and Production Art (highlights include Intiman Theater, ACT Theater, PNTA).