Artist Roster | Arts YES

East Side Arts Council is honored to work with the following literary, visual, and performing teaching artists, who provide quality arts programming for our after school programs. Throughout the year, we place teaching artists in contract teaching positions in after school programs at schools and rec centers, as well as in our summer programming. The artists in this roster have been chosen through an interview process based on both their artistic skills, their ability to teach students and their experience and passion for working with inner city youth on the East Side.

Mica Lee Anders
Visual Art, Theater, Dance
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www.micaleeanders.com
Mica is an artist and arts educator based in the Twin Cities. She received her BA in both studio arts and Spanish from The University of Iowa. In 2009, Mica received her Masters of Fine Arts degree from the University of Minnesota. She has shown her artwork locally at the Katherine E. Nash Gallery at the University of Minnesota, The Minneapolis Foundation, and Art-a-Whirl. She has also presented her work in various venues across the Midwest, participating on a panel discussion at the Loving Decision Conference in Chicago. Mica has also exhibited internationally in Anji, China.

Starri Hedges
Multimedia: Visual Art, Sculpture, Theater, Art for Healing
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For over 20 years, Starri has taught at such places as the Edina Art Center, Rivers Edge Childrens House, District 202, and Lucky Palm Healing Arts. In addition to her work with ESAC, currently Starri can be found working as CoDirector of Second Foundation School, EXCO free school, and as a guest artist with Yo Mama at Juxtaposition Arts. She holds a MA in Educational Psychology & Human Development from St. Mary's University, a BA in Holistic Education with a minor in Intermedia Arts from Metropolitan State University, and has trained in youth work and art therapies.

Obed Alvarez
Aztec drumming
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Obed Alvarez has been with Aztec Dance group Kalpulli Yaocenoxtli for over 5 years and has been trained in Aztec drumming. He is one of the lead drummers for the local dance group. ALong with Mary Anne Quiroz, the leader of the dance group, he has put on numerous workshops on Aztec Drumming, Dance and Culture at several schools int he Twin Cities. Obed currently teaches Aztec drumming for Battle Creek Middle school, for the after school program.

Emily Isenberg
Visual arts, drawing, painting
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Emily Isenberg graduated in 2008 from Cornell College in Iowa, receiving a BA in Art and certification in K-12 Art Education. She works with Minneapolis Public Schools Arts for Academic Achievement Program as a teaching artist integrating observational drawing strategies into traditional science, language arts and mathematics K-12 curriculum. She also teaches for the Public Youth Programs at the Minneapolis Institute of Arts.

Gita Ghei
Metal Arts
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www.gitapatina.com
Sculptor artist and educator Gita Ghei has a degree in classics from Reed College in Oregon. She learned her trade in a bronze art foundry in Berkeley. She works primarily in metal and incorporates found natural materials, drawing and photography into her artwork. She also works as an artisan, doing patina work and sculpture maintenance. Her work as a teaching artist bridges different subjects through art, with a particular focus on natural sciences. She has shared a studio at the Anderson Center in Red Wing since 1995.

Daniel Zimmerschied
Dance
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Daniel Zimmerschied teaches basic steps in hip-hop, break dancing, and popping in numerous community programs. He teaches foundational moves in a teamwork environment to help young people discover their potential. His main focus is to inspire youth to dance in a way where they can express free movement and channel their energy in a positive way.

Herbert Johnson
Hip-Hop Dance
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Herbert graduated from Perpich Center for Arts Education and has performed throughout the metro area in such places as the Guthrie Theater, Excel Energy and for the Ivey Awards. He has taught at Lundstrum Center For the Arts, Turning Point Studio, and the YMCA. He focuses primarily on hip hop but also teaches ballet, tap, and jazz.