Ceramic Artist and Teacher

Amy Dooley is a multidisciplinary creator who works in photography, graphic design, clay, and fiber, among other mediums. Her most recent body of work centers around ceramics, incorporating her photography skills and love for nature into her clay creations.

Amy is a founder of the Highland Open Studio Tour which showcases artists and makers through the Highland Community.

Instagram: @studio89hv

Ceramic Artist and Teacher

Sarah Bloom is the creator and founder of Blooming Pottery, a ceramics company focusing on creating unique functional pottery that brings joy by combining textures and colors for the user's visual and tactile experience. Her pottery is thrown on the wheel, altered, hand-carved, and glazed with various colors. She has had her hands in clay for over half her life and has a bachelor's in fine arts from SUNY New Paltz. She has been professionally selling her work for over 10 years. Her ceramics have brought joy to thousands of customers in NY, NJ, and CT, as well as internationally through her online shop. Pottery is her passion and she loves to share her passion and knowledge with others. In addition, she is the treasurer and one of the founders of a local artist community called HOST. Together they have created Highland’s first open studio tour which she participated in and continues to use this tour as a way to reach out to her local community. Be sure to check out Sarah’s Instagram page @bloomingpottery for entertaining videos on how she makes her work as well as her website where she sells her beautiful work.

Artist & Educator

Aliza Driller is a dedicated artist and educator with a rich and diverse background in the visual arts. She began her artistic journey as a glass artist in the 1980s, working in both Seattle and France, where she honed her craft in a dynamic and inspiring creative landscape.

For over 25 years, Aliza shared her passion for the arts as a beloved art teacher in the Highland School District, fostering creativity and artistic expression in countless students. She continues to mentor aspiring educators as a collaborator with the Visual Arts Education program at SUNY New Paltz.

Aliza is deeply engaged in the Hudson Valley arts community. She serves on the board of Roost Arts Hudson Valley, is an active member of MaArCo (Marlboro Ridge Artist Coalition), and plays a key role in maintaining Studio 89 and its gallery in Highland, NY. She also participates in HOST (Highland Open Studio Tour), showcasing her work and connecting with fellow artists.

Recent Exhibitions & Shows:

HOST (Highland Open Studio Tour) 2023, 2024

Mohonk Preserve & Roost Plein Air: 2024

Solo Show – The Bakery, New Paltz (March–June 2024)

Exposures Show – Ceres Gallery, Chelsea NYC (December 2023)

Gift Show – Studio 89 (November 2023–January 2024)

MaArCo Members Show – Frieda’s Cafe, Milton, NY (April 2024)

Rail Station Exhibit – Milton Landing (May 2023 & May 2024)

MOST Studio Tour – Seed Boutique, Milton, NY (May 2024)

Mohonk Preserve & Roost Arts Plein Air Art Walk 2024

With an enduring passion for artistic exploration and community engagement, Aliza continues to inspire both students and fellow artists through her work, exhibitions, and dedication to the arts.

Ceramic Artist and Teacher

Nicholas LaRocca is a ceramic sculpture artist and teacher, with dreams of sharing his knowledge of ceramics. After just graduating from SUNY New Paltz with a bachelor's in Visual Arts, Nicholas is now studying his masters in Visual Arts Education. He has an extensive background in ceramics, but also does oil painting, drawing, and digital media. 

His work focuses mostly on ceramic sculpture, specifically ceramic masks, and the impact wearable sculptures have had on human cultures throughout history. In his most recent exhibition, Visual Symphony, Nicholas stated, “Through ceramics and oil painting, my work conveys the repeating events of our lives…. Every life on this planet may experience these recurring instances. Using the importance of facial expression, my works capture the masks of life”.

Nick’s classes prioritize the foundational skills and techniques needed to get past the hurdles of ceramics. Many things can go wrong in ceramics. However, by building his students' understanding of the processes behind the craft, he hopes to teach them how to avoid those issues. Nick loves to work alongside his students, helping them capture and create their crazy ideas. His projects create guidelines for his students, yet he encourages his students to break those guidelines and express creative freedom that speaks to them.

Ceramic Artist and Teacher

Samantha is an interdisciplinary artist based in the Hudson Valley with a strong foundation in ceramics, specializing in hand-building techniques and an interest for wheel throwing. 

Her sculptural ceramic work leans away from function and toward the fantastical, playful and strange. Her ceramic pieces often blur the line between object and character, embodying the same absurdity and surrealism that defines her broader practice.

Sammi holds a BFA from Bard.

Ceramic Artist and Teacher

I have been working with clay and teaching for about 4 years. I took my first wheel throwing class at Suny New Paltz and ever since ceramics has been my favorite medium to work with. I studied art education at Suny New Paltz, during that time I have had the opportunity to work in various mediums but ceramics was and still is my absolute favorite. What I love most about ceramics is the endless possibilities it provides. From wheel throwing, sculpture and hand building you can truly create anything you can think of. Ceramics is an extremely meditative process for me and I hope that everyone who gives it a try feels that way too. 

Studio Assistant

Jocelyn is a Mexican-American multi-media artist who resides in Marlboro New York with her cat, Ollie. She went to University at Hunter College in Manhattan and graduated from SUNY New Paltz during the Pandemic. She has always had a love for art throughout her life. Her favorite mediums are digital, acrylic paint, and ceramics. She is currently an assistant at Studio 89 while running her own online business.

Through her minimalistic art style, Jocelyn explores and celebrates many forms of intimacy. Her designs aim to inspire a sense of support and belonging among women. Passionate about creativity, she enjoys experimenting with new media, styles, and muses.

Follow her journey and latest adventures on Instagram: @joce_cova!

Studio Assistant

Kate is a graphic designer and ceramic artist whose whimsical creations highlight her passion for pottery and clay. She holds a bachelor's degree in graphic design and also maintains a cosmetology license, reflecting her broad love of creative expression. Kate frequently incorporates laser printing techniques into her handmade pieces, blending traditional craftsmanship with modern innovation. A Polish-American artist, she enjoys exploring creativity in all its forms, from ceramics and design to beauty and beyond. Discover more of Kate’s diverse work at katebdesign.net.