Fine Art

List of 5 members.

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  Julie  Piotti 

  Teacher/Art Dept. Chair

  Bio

  Julie Piotti began her art studies at an early age. She acknowledges and thanks her late parents for their support in her artistic journey by making sure she had lessons in oil painting, watercolor and music in primary school.
  
  

  She began sewing, and by the time she was in high school she was designing and wearing her own fashions. She has been an independent costume designer for forty years making anything from theater and reenactment costumes to one-of-a-kind designer gowns. Her specialty is historical costume but she also enjoys the avant-garde.  Her creations have graced many local stages for over thirty years and this still continues every year.
  
  

  Julie graduated from Penn State University with a B.A. in Integrative Arts and a minor in History. While at Penn State, she received two Certificates of Merit from the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival (KCACTF) for costume design. She was also invited to join Phi Alpha Theta, a national history honors society which requires stringent rules for entry.  She recently attended studies at Northwest University in Chicago to advance her knowledge in Art History, one of the classes that she enjoys teaching at Grier school.
  
  

  The nurturing environment at Grier School is ideal for her way of teaching, she loves to encourage her students to do their best and the results that they produce far outweigh her expectations. She enjoys that fact that she is able to share her experiences and intellectual explorations with her young art students which help them realize their dreams.
• 

  Bryan Beckel 

  Audio Video Department Head & AV Teacher
• 

  Christine Fernandes 

  Teacher

  Bio

  Christine Fernandes retired from teaching 25 years of science to pursue another interest of hers, photography, and joined the art department in 2021.   She became interested in astrophotography several years ago and took classes to learn the trade.  Since then, she expanded to taking photos of family events, senior pictures, and even a few weddings.  Over the years, she’s expanded her craft to do photography for the school’s marketing team as well. 

   

  Her specialties are astrophotography, capturing moments that often go unnoticed, nature photography, and portrait photography.  When the beloved Mr. Pingry retired, she saw the need to bring back the popular black and white photography class and asked to take over the photo lab as an after school sport.  Under Mr. Pingry’s tutelage, she learned how to develop film and prints and had once again found a new passion so she said a bittersweet goodbye to the science department and hello to the arties!

   

  Christine graduated from Penn State University with a BS in education and a minor in Horticulture.  She continued to take post graduate classes in geology and astronomy.  She advises the school’s Garden Club, Astronomy Club, and Photo Club.  She can be found in the school’s pollinator garden or observatory if not in the photo lab or snapping photos somewhere. 
  
  

  There’s something about developing your own photographs that brings about a peacefulness and a disconnect from the digital world.  Darkroom photography teaches us that life isn’t perfect and to embrace imperfection.  It teaches us patience, perseverance, and to look more closely at the world around us.  Christine teaches the students to give and receive artistic criticism with grace, to experiment without fear of failure, and to problem solve.  All of these skills help our students beyond the darkroom and she feels privileged to walk with them on their photo journeys.    
• 

  Ashleigh Stangel 

  Teacher

  Bio

  Ashleigh Stangel teaches Ceramics and AP Art and Design at Grier School. She received her formal training and PA teaching certificate from Tyler School of Art in Philadelphia, and graduated with the Jane D. Bonelli Art Education department award for excellence in teaching and academics. She earned her AP Art and Design Certificate over a summer institute at Columbia College Chicago, and has returned to higher education as a MFA Illustration candidate through Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD).

   

  Art has surrounded Ashleigh her entire life. She grew up in a household of ceramics and pottery, both parents as working professionals and artists. This cultivation and love for fine art has inspired her to provide the same experience for her students. Her AP Art and Design alumni have received admissions offers at top art and design schools (RISD, Ringling, SAIC, Pratt, Parsons, SVA, SCAD) and she hopes to continue that trend onward and upward. Grier Art Department goals are emulated in Ashleigh's everyday pedagogy: to learn, to grow, and to develop a unique artist voice.
• 

  Jeannette Lang 

  Teacher