Moore Magazine Winter 2025
Creating the Game Changers
From the President
I often say that one of the best parts of my job is having the opportunity to get to know our alumni community. Whether at an exhibition opening in our Galleries, an Alumni Reunion event, or simply through a phone call, my conversations with our graduates never fail to inspire me. When I think of all I have learned about our alumni community, two themes emerge: first, that their Moore education was transformative. So many of our graduates have shared with me how coming to Moore was life-changing for them: finding a place that nurtured their creativity and talents, offered opportunities to expand their artistry and skill, and developed in them new ways of thinking and imagining.
And second, that our graduates are themselves agents of change and transformation in the world. Whether through high profile careers; carving pathways in fields that were previously male-dominated; or changing the lives of young people through teaching and mentoring- our graduates have an impact. They bring a unique sensibility, imagination, and care for the world, honed through their time at Moore, to all they do, and the world is better for it. This is what we mean when we say that Moore graduates are “changing the game.”
One of the most important ways that Moore provides this transformative education is through donor-funded fellowship experiences and internships that provide students with immersive experiences aligned with their majors and interests. Moore graduates have a stellar record of career success, and fellowships and internships are a key component in creating that success.
As you read our “Game Changers” issue, you will hear from students such as Maddy, Tara, and Lydia about how their experiences at Moore and the funded internships forever changed them, leaving indelible impressions that led to fulfilling careers, experiences, and opportunities.
I am so proud to be part of our students' journeys, and I hope you are too. All of us are part of the Moore fabric that empowers our students with confidence, skills and exceptional experiences to change the game.
With gratitude,
Cathy Young
President
Table of Contents
Moore Innovation, More Impact: How Lydia Moreno ’15 Empowers Visually Impaired Students Through Creative Education
Read more about Lydia.
Unearthing Opportunity: Maddy Maillette ’23 Turns Marian Locks Senior Award into Unforgettable Dinosaur Dig
Check out Maddy’s story.
By Design: Tara Pemba ’22 on Turning Her Moore Fashion Design Degree into a Thriving Career
Learn more about Tara.
Alumni Spotlight: Janie Gross ’74
See details about the exhibit.
MOORE MILESTONES
Learn more.
NEW BOARD, FACULTY & STAFF
Meet them all here.
FACULTY ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Read more.
ALUMNI NOTES
Check out our Alumni Notes.
UPCOMING EVENTS AT MOORE
Jump to this section.
RECENT STUDENT ARTWORK
View the artwork.
DONATE TO MOORE
Click to donate today.
Moore Innovation, More Impact: How Lydia Moreno ’15 Empowers Visually Impaired Students Through Creative Education
Moreno, a Graphic Design and Curatorial Studies alumna, says Moore taught her to be “fearless” in pursuit of her goals.
When Lydia Moreno ’15 arrived at Moore College of Art & Design from Kansas City, Kansas, she had no idea how transformative the next four years would be.
Moreno quickly fell in love with the city of Philadelphia, its rich legacy of support for the arts, and the people she encountered from all walks of life. Although she didn’t initially seek out the women’s college experience, she discovered Moore was the perfect fit for her.
“I really valued having strong, supportive women and leadership modeled to me throughout my time at Moore,” she said. “Being around other really talented women and students was one of the best parts about my time there.”
Moreno, who graduated with a double major in Graphic Design and Curatorial Studies, learned how to combine her passion for community service with new creative skills she discovered in Moore’s Digital Fabrication Lab or “FabLab.” The FabLab provides students with hands-on learning opportunities with industry-specific technology.
“There was such an emphasis on quality and learning the foundations and traditions of art and visual design. Having the freedom to explore and try new things was crucial to the development of my skillset and what I wanted to do with my career,” she said.
When she thinks back to her time at Moore, Moreno says she always felt encouraged by faculty, staff and the broader Moore community. After completing an internship with Mural Arts Philadelphia during her sophomore year, she applied for the Penny Fox Internship Fellowship, Moore’s competitive grant for internships. She was awarded the fellowship and started her journey working with the Social and Public Art Resource Center (SPARC) in Venice, California.
Throughout the experience, Moreno worked alongside SPARC co-founder and artistic director Judy Baca to archive artistic works, create a gallery book, and develop a digital timeline of The Great Wall of Los Angeles, a half-mile-long mural depicting the history of California through historic events and first-person stories from marginalized communities.
“It was my first summer not returning home to Kansas City, and I couldn’t have done it without the support and financial award from Moore,” she said. “I was able to engage both of my majors through this experience.”
After graduating from Moore, Moreno moved back to Kansas City and “signed up for as many things as [she] could” as she decided the next step in her career path. She made a professional connection with Oscar Monterroso, founder of bilingual multimedia production company Tico Productions, and became his first employee. Using her skills in motion animation, photography, graphic design and creative strategy, Moreno advanced her career at Tico and transitioned into the role of creative director.
Moreno says she learned a lot in her seven years at the production company, meeting diverse groups in and around Kansas City. She was first introduced to the Kansas State School for the Blind while producing videos for Tico.
“I fell absolutely in love with the possibility of working with a demographic who doesn’t rely on their vision. Ironically, it was through media production design and murals that I was able to interact with different people in different places,” Moreno said. “Throughout all of the experience I had, I still maintained that path to public service.”
Moreno’s introduction to the Kansas State School for the Blind evolved into her next career move as the school’s makerspace and mobile STEM unit coordinator. In this role, she helps blind and visually impaired students develop creative and entrepreneurial skills using accessible technology. Moreno recalls mentioning her experience with technology at Moore’s FabLab in the interview that landed her the job.
Throughout her time at the school, Moreno has collaborated with students on a tactile Parade of Hearts sculpture, hosted maker fairs for students to sell products for profit, co-sponsored the school’s student-run podcast, and traveled across Kansas with a mobile STEM unit to teach 25 schools about accessibility strategies.
Although Moreno’s career path was not always clear, she always trusted the confidence and critical thinking skills she learned at Moore would set her up for success. Now, she plans to pursue a Certified Assistive Technology Instructional Specialist (CATIS) certificate so she can “help in more integrated ways.”
“Moore gave me the confidence to be fearless and say ‘yes’ to things, even if I didn’t know how I was going to make it happen. It’s incredible that, at the end of the day, I know I have the skills to figure it out,” she said.
Moreno feels a responsibility to offer students the same encouragement she experienced at her alma mater. She’s a member of Moore’s Alumni Council and has participated in virtual classroom conversations with Moore students.
“Moore didn’t just prepare me for a job—it prepared me for life. I think it’s really the people at Moore that make it magic,” she said. “When you’re in an environment that’s supportive and fosters your independence, there’s nowhere to go but up.”
Unearthing Opportunity: Maddy Maillette ’23 Turns Marian Locks Senior Award into Unforgettable Dinosaur Dig
Maillette’s experiences were funded by financial support from Moore.
For Illustration major Maddy Maillette ’23, teaching children about science through art has always been part of the plan. With funding from Moore College of Art & Design, Maillette was able to combine their passions for illustration and the natural world into a one-of-a-kind adventure that informed their work and shaped their creative career.
Growing up in New Hampshire, Maillette was eager to learn about the world around them. Torn between pursuing environmental science or an illustration degree, Maillette ultimately chose Moore’s Illustration program because of its small, supportive environment and personalized education from faculty.
“Having one-on-one time with professors was a major thing for me,” Maillette said. “You can talk through any problems with them. You wouldn’t get that at a larger school.”
Maillette’s time as an art student at Moore was filled with opportunities to forge their unique path. During Maillette’s first year, they worked at Drexel University’s Academy of Natural Sciences through Moore’s work-study program, assisting in the botany department, interacting with scientific organizations, and examining the intersections of science and art. Maillette was grateful for the opportunity to explore their interests—and their identity—at Moore.
“Having the space to figure myself out, be myself and figure out what would motivate me was really important,” Maillette said. “I learned a lot in art school, but it’s been fun seeing how that snowball has continued to roll. Even now, what I learned at Moore will click into place in my life.”
After working with illustrator Matthew Forsythe on a children’s book project for Moore’s Unique Experiential Learning Opportunity, Maillette felt ready to tackle their senior thesis: a full-color, 32-page children’s book titled Prehistoric Animals That You Know Nothing About!
The project not only showcased Maillette’s talents but further ignited their passion for the natural world. They applied for the Marian Locks Senior Award that provides a graduating senior with monetary support to kickstart their career. With the goal of educating young readers through stories about ancient animals, Maillette put funds toward a paleontological dig in Montana and Wyoming, an experience they’d dreamed of since encountering the Elevation Science Institute at the Academy of Natural Sciences. They were inspired by Elevation’s commitment to making scientific exploration accessible to the public.
Maillette was named the 2023 winner of the Marian Locks Senior Award and, after serving as a children’s camp counselor and moving across the country to Washington, set out on the expedition. In July 2024, Maillette traveled to southern Montana to join a team of approximately 30 volunteers and uncover fossils from the Late Jurassic period, including Allosaurus, Diplodocus, and Stegosaurus.
Not only did the trip reaffirm Maillette’s plans for their future, but it also gave them a firsthand look at the bones of the creatures they spent time sketching. They also got the opportunity to connect with Jason Poole, a paleo-artist and educator with more than 40 years of experience who was also participating in the dig.
“I had a lot of great takeaways from this experience, but the most special to me was getting my hands on the bones themselves. Being the first person to uncover these bones after 160 million years is a special experience,” they said. “I’ve seen dinosaurs in museums, and they’re usually massive fossil replicas. Standing five feet away with a fence in between is a lot different from being two inches away. It fully changes your idea of scale and texture when you’re trying to illustrate these creatures.”
Fueled by the excitement of the expedition, Maillette returned home ready to create new works designed to engage youth audiences. From an accordion-style zine about Diplodocus made in traditional ink to a children’s book about a time traveler who meets one of the earliest known human ancestors, Maillette is dedicated to combining science, art, storytelling, and humor in their work. They plan to self-publish their projects to help bring them to a larger audience.
“Having the on-the-ground experience with science communication when I’m writing children’s books about dinosaurs is a really cool thing to add to my portfolio,” they said.
Maillette looks back at their time at Moore with gratitude, noting that the resources provided by the College gave them an opportunity that will “stick with [them] forever."
“Without the Marian Locks Senior Award, I would not have been able to go on this trip, which was an amazing experience,” Maillette said.
By Design: Tara Pemba ’22 on Turning Her Moore Fashion Design Degree into a Thriving Career
Pemba, a fashion designer for brands like U.S. Polo Assn. and Gloria Vanderbilt at PPI Apparel Group, said Moore’s collaborative community gave her the confidence to chase her dreams.
What started as love for corsetry and vintage design at Moore College of Art & Design became a career path that took Fashion Design alumna Tara Pemba ’22 on a journey to find her passion.
After transferring to Moore from Sarah Lawrence College, Pemba was ready for a fresh start. She felt reassured by Moore’s small, welcoming community, allowing her to easily make new friends and pursue her interest in fashion design.
That same passion was part of Pemba’s life as a young student. She began developing her skills with her neighbor, a sewing teacher who taught children in the neighborhood how to construct garments and hosted annual fashion shows to display their work. Pemba took classes with her neighbor for nearly eight years, setting her up to dive headfirst into the Fashion Design program at Moore.
During her time at Moore, Pemba was introduced to new ideas, visual styles, and design philosophies. After taking an apparel drafting class, where she and her classmates designed and constructed corsets, Pemba started to consider a career in intimate apparel design.
“I always knew that I wanted to go into design, but being at Moore exposed me to different aesthetics,” she said. “That really drove me into the intimates category and it became one of my biggest interests.”
While searching for an internship to complete between her junior and senior years, Pemba connected with Marco Morante, an Emmy Award-winning costume designer and founder of clothing brand Marco Marco, through a connection at the College. She spent the summer in Los Angeles, CA, working alongside Morante on custom wear and intimate clothing projects.
Throughout her internship with Marco Marco, Pemba constructed 15 costumes for the eighth season of RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars, worked on costuming in music videos for Drake and Rita Ora, and helped create designs for Jennifer Lopez and Dua Lipa—all while completing a second internship with apparel brand Marmalade Clothing. In 2022, a dress Pemba created for drag queen Eureka O’Hara ended up on the largest billboard on the West Coast in an advertisement for the Hulu reality show We’re Here.
Because the opportunities were unpaid, Pemba used the $1,000 provided to all Moore students for their required internships to help with expenses. She remembers the internship with Marco Marco as a “really positive experience.”
“It was really great to see different parts of the industry and understand what I could do with my degree,” Pemba said.
Pemba’s ambition didn’t stop there. As a Visionary Honors Program scholar, she was selected to appear in the 2021 Visionary Woman Awards video with fashion entrepreneur and honoree Joan Shepp. After connecting with Shepp’s daughter Ellen about job opportunities, Pemba applied for a job at Shepp’s boutique in Philadelphia and received a job offer on the spot. She worked as a luxury retail sales assistant for the entirety of her senior year and completed her third internship with intimates brand AnaOno in Philadelphia.
Just months after graduating from Moore, Pemba was offered a full-time role with AnaOno, where she worked as an intimates and loungewear designer. She designed several lines of “chest inclusive” bras for breast cancer patients, breast reconstruction clients, and mastectomy patients. Her experiences with AnaOno, such as presenting at New York Fashion Week and designing a collection for Victoria’s Secret, helped her see the impact of her work. “Making products that truly felt like they were making a difference in people’s lives was my favorite part about that job,” Pemba said.
After her experiences at AnaOno, Pemba became a freelance assistant designer for Aerie. Now a full-time designer with PPI Apparel Group, Pemba designs women’s intimates for brands at Walmart, Sam’s Club and Costco. As the youngest designer on her team, Pemba is thankful for the collaborative spirit she developed at Moore.
“I really enjoyed the comradery Moore students have for each other,” she said. “It made me a more team-oriented person that’s able to work in group settings.”
Pemba credits Moore with laying the foundation for her career, from strong relationships with faculty members, an engaging senior thesis project, to a focus on career outcomes.
“I was a little nervous coming into school. I was 18 and didn’t know if I was good enough to be a designer,” she said. “The people at Moore saw me as an individual rather than a number, which really helped me develop my personal style as a designer. Moore made me a more independent person and gave me the confidence to grow into myself.”
Alumni Spotlight: Janie Gross ’74
FurtherMoore, Gross’s first solo exhibition, celebrates the College as the foundation of her creative journey.
Since she stepped onto campus more than 50 years ago, Janie Gross ‘74 has remained deeply involved with Moore College of Art & Design. Now, Gross returns to the College not only as a long-time member of Moore’s Board of Managers and Alumni Council, but as a multidisciplinary artist exploring the layered connections between fine arts and her career path.
FurtherMoore portrays Gross’s artistic and career journey as she experiments in a variety of media. The exhibition features her book, Afterlife of Flowers, photographs, and ceramics, as well as an Instagram portfolio documenting the inspiring aesthetics that appear in her daily life (@janie_gross). The centerpiece of the exhibition, titled “Love Knots,” consists of over 140 clay knots Gross made at The Clay Studio, where she’s an associate member.
“The association of knots with love and connections has been present in many cultures since ancient times, including ancient Japanese culture, Greek jewelry, and Celtic knots,” she said. “With this installation, I set out to commemorate Moore and ‘tie together’ my first solo exhibition.”
Through this showcase, Gross aims to encourage young artists, current students and designers by sharing the value of experimentation through her own experiences.
“In the true spirit of Moore’s philosophy of persistence, these selected works help us realize the power of an open mind guided by core design principles,” Gross said.
FurtherMoore is on view in Moore’s Alumni Gallery from March 8 to April 26. You can RSVP for the exhibition’s opening reception on March 7 at The Galleries at Moore here.
MOORE MILESTONES
Mayor Cherelle L. Parker Leads Historic 175th Commencement
Surrounded by family and friends, the Class of 2024 commemorated a landmark anniversary at Moore College of Art & Design’s 175th Commencement in May. Against the backdrop of nearly two centuries of artistic legacy, Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle L. Parker took the stage, delivering a powerful keynote speech that highlighted Moore’s transformative role in art and design education. As the first female mayor of Philadelphia, Parker urged graduates to remember "the strength and resilience that it took to meet this moment.”
“I’m hoping that as you move to the next phase, when you think about everything you have accomplished here at Moore, you feel like you were really able to explore not just art, but your identity in this beautiful city,” Parker said.
The celebration, held at Verizon Hall at the Kimmel Center, showcased Moore’s enduring influence and dedication to empowering the next generation of creative innovators.
New Academic Programs in Entertainment Design, Fashion Merchandising and Art Therapy
Moore launched three new academic programs to prepare students for the needs of new and emerging markets. Students in the Entertainment Design major, an interdisciplinary program that blends coursework from as Animation & Game Arts, Graphic Design, Film & Digital Cinema, and Interior Design, focus on creating immersive experiences through interactive design in spaces like museums, theme parks, concert venues and experiential exhibitions.
Alongside this new major, Moore is also offering two new minors: Art Therapy and Fashion Merchandising. The Art Therapy minor explores the use of creative processes in healing, while the Fashion Merchandising minor provides students with insights into the business of fashion, covering topics such as trend forecasting and omnichannel marketing. Enrollment for the Entertainment Design major and the Art Therapy and Fashion Merchandising minors begins in Fall 2025.
Revamping Campus with Inspiring Art and Inviting New Spaces
As the doors of University of the Arts closed, former student Zivia Brown ’25 searched for a new home for her sculpture, Goat. Brown, an illustration major, joined Moore this fall along with her sculpture. Goat now stands at the College’s front entrance as a symbol of unity and hope between the two campuses. The sculpture has quickly become a beloved part of campus life, reflecting the creative energy and collaborative spirit of Moore.
Another outdoor space on Moore’s campus was brightened by the addition of the Straw Garden Terrace, a renovated courtyard space next to Moore’s Dining Hall. The terrace, made possible by a generous donation from Board of Managers member Keith Straw, was designed to foster relaxation and connection for students and visitors. The outdoor space features fresh greenery, a water feature, new lighting, all-season patio furniture and a peaceful atmosphere for students to unwind, enjoy fresh air and collaborate on projects.
Senior Show and Fashion Show Set the Stage for Success
Six Fashion Design students exhibited their thesis collections at Moore’s annual Fashion Show in May. The event, emceed by NBC10 Philly Live host Aunyea Lachelle, was a celebration of the up-and-coming designers’ diligent work and incredible skills. Trinity Alexander ’24 took home the Adrienne Vittadini ‘66 Award for Excellence in Fashion Design, while Kieu Tieu ’24 was awarded the Helen Petersen Norden Prize for Best Construction.
The show opened with four costumes created by Fashion Design juniors in collaboration with the Philadelphia Ballet. In the second year of this exciting collaboration between Moore and the Ballet, 11 students worked in four teams to design costumes inspired by four characters from George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker®: Hot Chocolate, Coffee, Candy Cane, and Tea. Through this annual project, students acquire hands-on experience and mentorship from industry professionals in costume design.
For the Class of 2024, the Senior Show was the culmination of four years of hard work, determination, and creative exploration. More than 90 seniors from the Animation & Game Arts, Art Education, Fashion Design, Fine Arts, Graphic Design, Illustration, Interior Design, and Photography majors presented their thesis work to 350 employers and other friends of Philadelphia’s creative community.
New Faculty
New Staff
FACULTY ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Moore faculty are working artists, designers and educators in their fields, in addition to the amazing work they do inside the classroom. Read on to see some of their recent achievements.
Andrea Beizer, RA, NCIDQ, adjunct professor of Interior Design, had her cartoon strip "Alice" syndicated with King Features Syndicate, Inc., a content distribution and animation studio company owned by the Hearst Corporation. The strip has been syndicated since February 2023 and appears every Monday, Wednesday and Friday.
Skye Bolluyt ’15, BFA, adjunct professor of Illustration, had an original illustration chosen to be on the official T-shirts for Vice President Kamala Harris's film, titled Kamala. The film was released in October 2024.
Stephanie Barber, program head and assistant professor of Film & Digital Cinema, had two solo screenings this year. RPM Fest Presents Stephanie Barber at Brattle Theater was screened at The Brattle Theatre in Cambridge, MA on March 14, 2024, and 9 Films by Stephanie Barber was screened at the Light Industry gallery in Brooklyn, NY on July 16, 2024.
Bailey Goldenbaum, adjunct professor in Art Education, presented at the Knowbility AccessU conference on May 16, 2024, and the Texas Poverty Law Conference on August 30, 2024, both in Austin, TX. As the lead in implementing the accessibility features and user interface design of A2J Tech's Legal Kiosks, Goldenbaum demonstrated how these kiosks help eliminate technology and transportation barriers to legal services. Their sessions featured live demonstrations of the kiosks' accessibility features, including the integration of assistive technologies. They also discussed design principles that ensure inclusivity and compliance with Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), focusing on maximizing impact in underserved communities.
Shawn McGhee, PhD, adjunct professor of Creative and Critical Studies, recently published No Longer Subjects of the British King: The Political Transformation of Royal Subjects to Republican Citizens, 1774-1776 with Westholme Publishing in Yardley, PA on April 30, 2024. They also published four print articles in the Journal of the American Revolution, Annual Volume in 2024.
Cecilia McKinnon, MFA, adjunct faculty of Foundation, recently exhibited their work in Tidelines, an exhibition in FOFA Gallery in Montreal, Québec, from May through June 2024. Tidelines brings together the work of Kuh Del Rosario, Miri Chekhanovich and Cecilia McKinnon in a collaborative sculptural installation. The project was born from a desire to convene the three artists’ overlapping material vocabularies; to form a new language together in a shared space; and to initiate material processes which leak into one another in the time and space of the exhibition. All three artists enact gestures of repetition in processing their materials: gathering, dehydrating, grinding, cooking, casting and flocking. They perform the generative “natural” processes of erosion and reconstitution in the compressed timescale of the studio. Kitchen compost, mineral remnants, household and studio waste, and ubiquitous ingredients cohere into durational sculptures which desiccate, crystallize, melt, or host new life.
Sara Martin, adjunct professor of Creative & Critical Studies, published Lying About Reading in Literary Hub’s July issue on July 28, 2024. Martin was also awarded a 2024-2025 Fine Arts Work Center Fellowship in Provincetown, MA. She is also working on a non-fiction book that includes stories from Eastern State Penitentiary, the evolution of death rituals in the United States and more.
Antoinette Myers Perry, EdD, 2024-2025 AICAD Post-Graduate Teaching Fellow, was a featured alumnae guest on a panel with Gillian Varney, director of The Lumen Prize, and Dwandalyn Reece, curator of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, D.C., on October 23, 2024.
Addison Namnoum, adjunct professor in Fine Arts and Foundation, presented their work at the exhibition Needle Chasing a Thread at Pink Noise Projects in Philadelphia, PA from September 6–September 28, 2024.
Maya Pindyck, PhD, chair of Creative & Critical Studies, assistant professor, and director of writing, published their work Already in the March/April 2024 Issue of the American Poetry Review on February 26, 2024. Pindyck was also a featured poet for the World Above Reading Series at Noyes Art Garage in Atlantic City, NJ in September 2024. Pindyck’s poem, Meditation on the Question of Self Before Meeting Sarah for Moroccan Stew, will also be published in the Winter 2024/2025 issue of Ploughshares.
Rebecca Spiegel, MFA, adjunct faculty of Creative and Critical Studies, published their creative nonfiction book, Without Her: A Chronicle of Grief and Love, in Milkweed Editions on September 10, 2024.
ALUMNI NOTES
Our talented alumni always stay busy. See what Moore alumni were up to between March and October 2024.
Lynne Horoschak ’66 had art selected for the Cheltenham Center of the Arts’ 2024 Juried Show and the Philadelphia Sketch Club’s 2024 Juried Show, titled Absolutely Abstract.
Mona Brody ’72 hosted a Fall Open Studios event at Manufacturers Village Artists in East Orange, NJ in October 2024.
Robin Dintiman ’72’s Ineffable Touch solo exhibition was on view at A.I.R. Gallery in Brooklyn, NY this past fall. The exhibition opened with a reception on October 12, 2024.
Frances Metzman ’74’s book, The Cha-Cha Babes of Pelican Way, was a 2023 Four Seasons Book Award finalist and featured on a billboard in Times Square in New York City, NY.
Lydia Congiu ’80 won an Award of Excellence for her mosaic, Sunset Over the Beach, at the Medford Arts Center's Member Exhibit. Additionally, her piece entitled My Summer Hydrangeas was chosen for the Embracing Excess Exhibition at the Ann Marie Sculpture Garden in Solomons, MD. Over the summer, Congiu had two photographs selected for the Philadelphia Sketch Club’s PHOTOgraphy Exhibition and four pieces on display at the Riverfront Renaissance Center for the Arts in Millville, NJ. She also won first place in Professional Craft from the State of New Jersey Senior Art Show for her mosaic The Cherry Blossom Trees.
Janet Biggs ’81 participated in the immersive installation Hidden Within, a video and spatial sound installation exploring aspects of quantum communication and steganography by experimenting with the ways sensitive data can be encrypted and sent via light sources, video projections and sound. Hidden Within was on view at The Cube at the Institute for Creativity, Arts and Technology at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, VA from May 7-11, 2024.
Valeria Marcus ’81 received a $10,000 grant from the New Jersey Council on the Arts. She was also the recipient of the Black History Honoree Award for community service from the Asbury United Methodist Church on February 24, 2024.
Diane Grimes ’83 published a textbook on drawing with Kendall Hunt Publishing titled The Joy of Drawing: A Mindfulness Approach.
Patricia Diart ’86 was recently awarded the Kite Prize in Philadelphia and was part of a panel at the 20/20 Festival in September 2024.
Linda Celestian ’87 will have work in Cutting Edge at the Peninsula Gallery in Lewes, DE. The exhibition, which features abstract works fusing the organic and geometric, was on view from August 31–September 29, 2024 and opened with a reception on August 31.
Dana Donaty ’88 showed work in Pareidolia, a solo exhibition of work from a series of large-scale maximalist acrylic paintings. The exhibition was on view from September 5–December 12, 2024 at the MKAC Galleries and featured an opening reception on September 5.
Angie Fernandez ’88 started a new position as Senior Graphic Designer for Enrollment at the University of Houston-Clear Lake, where she is helping with a rebrand for the school
Catherine Minervini ’88 produced the short film Transistor. Directed by Mat Hale, the film captures summer’s ordinary and extraordinary sounds in the lively coastal city of Asbury Park, NJ. The film secured third place in the APin3 Film Challenge and was warmly received at the Garden State Film Festival in March 2024.
Kim Yantis ’89 participated in the 2024 Bermuda Exchange, where she presented an artist talk and conducted three mentorship sessions with emerging artists. Additionally, Yantis attained her Grant Professionals Credential through the Grant Professionals Certification Institute in June 2024.
Constance Cone ’91’s 78° North exhibition ran from November 1–December 1, 2024 at the 3rd Street Gallery in Philadelphia, PA. The show opened with a reception on November 3.
Lisa Kelley ’92 completed a mural for Conwell Middle School in Kensington through Mural Arts. She has been facilitating “art as harm reduction” workshops at Prevention Point in Kensington for the past six years. Kelley is also the artist-in-residence for the second year at The Little Meetinghouse (through Abington Art Center), where she provides free monthly art workshops for the community. She will begin a six-month artist residency at The Bridge Way School, Philadelphia’s first and only recovery high school.
Terri Saulin ’92 had an interview featured through CanvasRebel. She also reopened No. 5 Butchie Alley in September 2024. The first exhibition featured textile-based works made of hand-dyed and recycled denim by Allison Frick ’07.
Ann Williams ’91’s botanical illustration was accepted into the juried 2024 Student Works Show at the Birmingham Bloomfield Art Center in Birmingham, MI. The exhibition ran from February 2–February 29, 2024.
Dee Collins ’93 had three prints in SMALL WORKS (Big imagination), The Printmakers Society of the Lehigh Valley’s exhibition at the Emmaus Public Library Emmaus, PA. Her new eco printed artist book, “Nature Walk,” was on view with the Lehigh Valley Printmakers Society at Nurture Nature Center in Easton, PA from September 21–November 23, 2024.
Jennifer Baus ’94 is working as an Art Teacher at Overhills Elementary School in Spring Lake, NC.
e bond ’96 finished a residency at Hamilton Wood Type & Printing Museum and had work included in the third Richmond Biennial of Art exhibition at the Richmond Art Center in Richmond, CA. The show was on view from September 4–November 21, 2024.
Amber Lia-Kloppel ’99 had two pieces in the Made in New York 2024 exhibition at the Schweinfurth Art Center in Auburn, NY. Amber received an award for the piece Renaissance (Reconstruction). She also had eight paintings in Figuratively Speaking at SUNY Oswego's Tyler Art Gallery on SUNY Oswego’s Main Campus.
Betsy Casañas ’00 had a solo show entitled Call & Response on view at Taller Puertorriqueño. A Philadelphia Inquirer interview with Casañas explored the show's personal significance.
Dot Green ’00 began working with Choose Your Own Adventure (CYOA) in 2007. Since then, she designed one of the company’s first websites, helped develop CYOA “Secret Online Endings,” rebranded the current Classic covers, hosted live book launches from Antarctica and assisted in creating an immersive CYOA exhibition at The Story Museum in Oxford, UK. The exhibition is currently on view through the spring of 2026.
Michelle Angela Ortiz ’00 hosted OUR MARKET, OUR STORIES on October 26. A celebration of community and resilience in the 9th Street Market, the event will feature murals, new lightboxes, and launched the interactive tour app created through her Our Market project. She also presented at the Picturing the Border Series on November 8, 2024 at Taller Puertorriqueño in Philadelphia, PA.
Melissa Clemmer ’01 co-curated Philadelphia Revealed: Unpacking the Attic, an exhibition of the Atwater Kent Collection at Drexel University. The exhibition was on view at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts from July 18–December 1, 2024.
Shawna Marchica ’01 has worked as a Career & Technical Education teacher with the School District of Philadelphia since 2006 and is currently teaching digital media production at the Philadelphia High School for Creative and Performing Arts.
Yoko Takahashi ’02 is working as a Publications Designer for the University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School.
Karyn Jimenez Elliot ’03 designed the Game Day poster for the New England Patriots game against the Los Angeles Chargers this 2024–2025 season.
Naomi Jones ’04 had work included in the Pottstown Area Artists Guild’s Spring Open Juried Fine Arts Show in Pennsburg, PA.
Kate VanVliet ’07 had work on view in New York City at Print Center New York for the New Voices program.
Renee Akins ’08 has worked as a Graphic Designer for over 10 years and in the non-profit sector for eight years. She has recently been taking courses in AI and Accessible Design.
Kristen Ernst-Brown ’08 was nominated for an Emmy for her work as Assistant Costume Designer on the Disney+ show Loki.
Amber Davis ’09 illustrated a children's book called ABC's with the Vejigantes, which won first place in the 2023 Delaware Press Association Communications Contest’s Nonfiction Children’s Books category and the 2023 NFPW Professional Communications Contest for Children’s Nonfiction Books.
Shanna O’Leary Weiss ’11 has worked as an art teacher in Delaware for the past 12 years. In 2023, she was selected to paint a part of a mural for the community to uplift and revitalize neighborhoods in the City of Wilmington. She was also selected as the 2025 Teacher of the Year at Silver Lake Elementary in Middletown, DE.
Laura Petrovich-Cheney ’11 had three pieces on display and for sale at the Brooklyn Waterfront Artists Coalition’s Fine Grit: Art and Ideas in Wood exhibition in spring 2024. She also had work featured in Stitching the Revolution: Quilts as Agents of Change at the Mattatuck Museum in Waterbury, CT; the Women’s Work exhibition at the A.R. Mitchell Museum of Western Art in Trinidad, CO; and the Eclectic Endeavors exhibition at Dickinson College. Her work was also featured in the Boston Globe.
Amy Koran ’13 was featured on the Philadelphia Museum of Art’s YouTube channel as part of the promotion of the Mary Cassatt exhibition.
Yvonne Clark ’14 is working as a portrait photographer specializing in women’s portraits at a studio located in Hamilton, NJ.
Cassandra Love ’14 is working as the Director of Digital Marketing for an advertising agency.
Lydia Moreno ’15 is currently coordinating a makerspace for students who are blind and visually impaired in the state of Kansas.
Holly McCaffrey ’17 started a new job as a freelance designer for Revise Clothing.
Olive Hayes ’20 had work included in Platform’s April selection. Platform offers limited-time releases of artworks selected in partnership with David Zwirner gallery. Olive also had work included at Commonweal Gallery’s booth at Art on Paper during the 2024 New York Armory Week and participated in the Philadelphia Open Studio Tour (POST) in October 2024.
Cara Epstein ’22 started a new job for the School District of Philadelphia at Swenson Arts and Technology High School. She presented her thesis research at the 2024 PAEA Conference in Hersey, PA.
Kylie West ’22 is working as a School-Based Team Lead of Expressive Arts for Roberto Clemente Middle School in Philadelphia, PA.
Kayla Newberry-Pitter ’23 began a position in advertising within Comcast. She is also working on personal projects, including debuting a new comic and improving her skills as a character designer and illustrator.
Haley Pattinson ’23 joined Haldon House in 2023 as an Artist and Interior Designer. One of the highlights of their position is the opportunity to collaborate on high-end residences that push the boundaries of design.
Bella Piagentini ’23 is working as a Junior Designer for DiD Agency in Philadelphia, PA.
Trinity Alexander ’24 and Kieu Tieu ’24 had work on view at the National Liberty Museum from November 15 through January 6, 2025. The exhibition also featured work by current Moore students.
Gabriella Ellis ’24 was hired as a creative assistant for Cartolina after completing a summer internship with the company.
Robin Dintiman, Thin as Our Skin: Azure Button (detail), 2022, Grown bacterial leather, pearl buttons, seed pods of lilies, African mahogany, plexi, 18 x 22 x 1 1/2 inches.
IN MEMORIAM
Honoring members of the Moore community we lost in 2024.
Bonnie Barrett ’93 passed away on April 3, 2024. During her 56 years on this earth, she lived coast to coast and in between, constantly on the hunt for new adventures. She cherished every single person she connected with and loved to bring people together and encourage adventures of our own. Barrett had a heart of gold and endless creativity. Click here to read her full obituary.
UPCOMING EVENTS AT MOORE
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February 27
Opening reception of Philadelphia Ballet collaboration with Moore Fashion Design juniors
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March 7
Opening reception of Janie Gross ’74: FurtherMoore
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March 29
Moore Comics Expo
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April 2–12
2025 BFA Exhibition
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April 2–12
Jakia March ’08: Walentas Fellow Exhibition -
April 24–May 10
2025 Senior Show
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May 2–3
2025 Alumni Reunion
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May 10
176th Commencement at Verizon Hall at the Kimmel Center -
Now – June 7
Susan Sommer ’72: Kimmel Center Exhibition Series in the First Tier Promenade
RECENT STUDENT ARTWORK
Jenn Nguyen ’25, Graphic Design
Shayna Trinidad ’24, Interior Design
Felicity Shafer ’24, Fine Arts
Sophia Buonanno ’24, Illustration
Taylor Anderson ’24, Art Education
Lars Angstadt ’27, Film & Digital Cinema
Claudia Rubio ’24, Photography
Alyssa Lucas ’24, Fashion Design, photographed by Claudia Rubio ’24, Photography
René Rio ’24, Animation & Game Arts
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We hope you enjoyed our Winter 2025 digital issue of Moore Magazine! If you're inspired and excited about what the future holds for Moore, we hope you'll consider giving today, to help us achieve another 175 years (and beyond!) of game-changing education, opportunity and access for talented Moore students.
