POP ART - Artist Bios

“Eldridge Park”

College Avenue & West Clinton Street (2)

Amy Dewing: Amy Dewing currently lives in the area and is inspired by the natural beauty of the Southern Tier and Finger Lake region. Amy studied Studio Art and Art History at the College of Charleston in South Carolina. She also earned a degree in Horticulture. She currently works from her home studio, painting in oils and she teaches painting classes at Wine & Design in Corning, as well. She was excited to be a part of the POPART Elmira project and enjoyed the enthusiasm, and conversation, of the local Elmira residents while working on her piece; Eldridge Park Fish Tank.

“Flowers of Elmira”

South Main & Henry Streets (12)

Sam Somostrada: Sam grew up in Elmira and graduated from SUNY Buffalo, returning to Elmira to concentrate on his art. Here is what Sam thought about his experience painting his utility box. “The time it took to work on this allowed me to engage with locals in a way that I normally wouldn't have. In my days on Henry St, I met Ms. Kay, Donald, Phil, and countless others who drove by and beeped, and even stopped by to give me grape sodas(Robin!) The red flower is a Dahlia, which is Elmira's flower. The idea of community can easily get lost in the vastness of our inner worlds, but it is community, exactly, that helps us feel like we belong HERE, and takes us away from this ridiculous feeling of alienation. Let us love, and understand one another.”

“City of Elmira Postcard”

West 5th Street & Park Place (1)

Christina Nurczynski: Christina Nurczynski is from Owego, New York and is a graduate of Elmira College. At commencement she was awarded the Elizabeth Anne Graham'42 Prize for her contributions to the art community and also placed first at Elmira College's student show for her feminist portfolio. Her talents lay in oil painting and illustration. Christina also aims to be a professional artist and to be well-versed in oil paints and realistic detail.

“Fish”

South Main & Hudson Streets (10)

Chris Bell: Chris Bell is an illustrator/graphic artist from Horseheads, New York. Ever since he could grasp a crayon, he has been drawing. He received his bachelor's degree in art and master's degree in education from Elmira College. Chris began his professional illustration career working in journalism as a newsroom illustrator. This prepared him to be versatile with projects and to be deadline-oriented. Chris has been recognized by the Associated Press for his artwork in the field of journalism (2001.) He has worked professionally in graphic design, illustration and web/print publications. Chris also runs his own design/illustration service, Bell Graphics (www.bellgfx.com.) Chris is currently an Art Teacher at Horseheads Intermediate School where he helps develop the skills of future artists.

“Bookcase”

North Main & West Second Streets (3)

Kylene Kiah: Kylene Kiah, current resident of Elmira New York, attended Elmira Free Academy and received her Bachelor in Fine Arts from Alfred University. She is involved with the Elmira Street Painting Festival and takes up opportunities for more art in Elmira whenever possible. Kylene is the owner of Wine and Design Corning and Ithaca. She also opened a Private Party Room in the heart of Elmira on Water Street, which has been going great! Kylene’s piece "bookcase" is exactly that. A bookcase as if it were taken right out of the Steele Memorial Library and set on the corner of Main Street and 2nd Street, just a block from the library. The books displayed on the case are of Elmira’s local celebrities such as Ernie Davis, Mark Twain as well as, landmarks like Eldridge Park and the Clemens Center.

“City of Elmira Historic Buildings” & “Sebastian the Lion”

East Church & Lake Streets – East Church & Baldwin Streets (5) & (4)

Korey Page: Korey Page, a native of Elmira Heights and graduate of Thomas Edison High School, has more than a decade of experience teaching art, at all age levels, from elementary to high school. Prior to moving to North Carolina, Korey Taught at Notre Dame and in the Elmira City School District. She facilitated many art programs in the community including the Elmira Street Painting Festival’s "Chalk It Up" kids program. She has also taught at the ARC of Schuyler. She holds art degrees from Corning Community College and Mansfield University, including her master’s degree. She loves teaching art and enjoys sports and spending time with her family and friends.

“Wisner Park” / “The Mark Twain Hotel”

“The Mark Twain Study” / “You are Here”

West Church & Main Streets / West Water & Main Streets / Baldwin & Market Streets (6) (7) (9) (13)

Brandi Smith: Brandi Smith is a local artist, born and raised in Elmira. Brandi holds degrees in Fine Arts from the Fashion Institute of Technology and Art Education from Elmira College. In 2010, Brandi was commissioned as the feature artist for the Chemung County Chamber of Commerce’s year-long Mark Twain anniversary campaign. Several caricatures of Mark Twain were created and displayed throughout the community to commemorate Mark Twain, with one being selected for a signature wine label. In addition, Brandi has been featured in the Elmira Street Painting Festival since its inception and assists in teaching local youth the art of street painting with the Chalk It Up for Our Youth summer workshop. Brandi is an art teacher at Ernie Davis Academy.

“Run Molly Run”

South Main & Mount Zoar Streets (11)

Dawn Heil: Inspiration: Molly Huddle, current US record holder in 5000m (June 2014), NDHS grad, class of 2002; Olympic competitor 2012; the piece includes Elmira's support slogan, "Run Molly Run", and ties in bright colors to parallel her bright personality.

Artists: Dawn Heil, and Nicholas, Matthew, and Laurel Karee. This family has participated in the Street Painting Festival since it began in 2007. Dr. Heil is a local plastic surgeon with Southern Tier Plastic Surgery Associates, and all three of her children were students at Notre Dame High School while working on this project.

“Mark Twain/Trinity Church/Thomas K. Beecher”

West Gray & Main Streets (8)

William Walker: William Walker is a Barber/Entrepreneur that uses his artful hand to create masterpieces, all the way from the thought process to the canvas. William has always been inspired by his dramatic life experiences and always directs his emotion towards his art. Teachers were always fascinated with his drawings and to see their pleasure in his work was honorable! He found an element that made him happy. Once he began painting and drawing, he was relentless to continue and he fell deep in love with colors, art gestures, blending, and the end result of his many brush strokes.

“Hal E. Roach”

Pennsylvania Avenue & South Main Street (15)

Crystal Townsend: This was a true family project. Crystal and her family spent a weekend together creating this homage to one of our local celebrities, Hal Roach. Crystal is a teacher in the Elmira City School District and has been a part of the Elmira Street Painting Festival and Chalk It Up of our Youth for years bring her kids along and sharing their love for art with Elmira. Her daughters also painted their own boxes. You can find them later in these artist summaries.

“Harris Hill”

West Gray Street & College Avenue (14)

Delainey Townsend: Delainey has been worked with her mother on several art projects with EDD, this time she has put her own make on the City of Elmira. Delainey has been part of the Elmira Street Painting Festival for years and is known as a gifted artist at school. Only in 10th grade when she painted this utility box depicting her ideas of Harris Hill and the “Soaring Capital” right in our back yard.

“The Train, The Train”

West Gray Street & Railroad Avenue (16)

Ayden Knoll: Ayden was 14 years old when he painted this box. He comes from a family that likes art and does art, his grandmother and aunt are local artists that attend art shows on a monthly basis.

“Eldridge Park Rides”

West Water and Lake Streets (17)

Dan Kniffen: Dan studied art education at VCU. He is a Local artist that draws with chalk pastels and paints with acrylics and oils on canvas. He has been a participant in The Elmira Street Painting Festival for ten years.

“Eileen Collins”

Madison & Maple Avenues (18)

Emily Solometo: Emily is a local painter, muralist, and teaching artist. For several years she has helped teach and mentor area youth through the “Chalk It Up for Our Youth” Program. When you drive by New York Sport and Fitness – Emily’s work with her students can be witnessed by the Murals on the side of the building.

“Swimming with the Fishes”

West Water & Walnut Streets (19)

Courtney Byfield Jr.: Courtney is a local artist that has worked with EDD many times in the past to make our city more art-centric. Our favorite piece of his street art can also be found on the outside, west wall of Kingsbury Cyclery.

“People are the Life of the Park”

West Water Street & College Avenue (20)

Paul Townsend: Boy the Townsend family is talented! This box was painted by the patriarch of the family and reminds us of beautiful Riverside Park in the 80’s and 90’s. It is a pleasure to have a family so dedicated to making Elmira more beautiful.

“Four Seasons of the Chemung”

East Water & Baldwin Streets (21)

Jennifer Thomas: Jennifer is certified in K-12th grade art education and library studies, and currently is the librarian at Cohen Elementary & Middle Schools in Elmira Heights. She just completed her 9th consecutive year in the Elmira Street Painting Festival. Jennifer and her husband both grew up here in Elmira where they continued to live and support the city they love.

“Gaspara The Eldridge Park Sea Serpent”

Madison Avenue & Market Street (22)

Kerstan Townsend: The eldest child of the Townsend family, Kerstan is a graduate of Elmira Free Academy, a founding student of Chalk-It- Up for Kids and is currently studying Fine Arts at Corning Community College. We hope to see more of the world colored through her eyes in the future.