Arts & Nature Center at Tannery Brook
Staff
AMY VALENTINE
Executive Director, Gorham Arts Alliance
gorhamarts@gmail.com
Amy founded Gorham Arts Alliance in 2011. Her passion is to enrich and inspire children and adults through the Arts and Sciences. She has taught as a Reading Specialist in grades K-8 in the Clinton, Skowhegan and Bonny Eagle School Districts. Amy is founder of the Gorham Arts Alliance, (a 501c3 non-profit organization) that has grown and evolved since its creation in 2011. In 2014, she created the Community Arts Center located at 34 School St., Gorham and in 2021 created a second center The Arts and Nature Center at Tannery Brook located at 10 Wentworth Dr., Gorham. She loves working with children, spending time with her family, being outdoors, fishing remote streams, hiking in the western mountains and is an avid birdwatcher.
EDUCATION
University of Maine at Farmington
Bachelor of Science: Special Education K-8
- Minor in Elementary Education and Psychology
CHRISTINA THIBAULT
Assistant Director
gorhamafterschool@gmail.com
Christina joined the Gorham Arts Alliance in 2017. She has worked with children for over 10 years. She is passionate about Art and Science and providing students of all ages with opportunities to grow and develop skills as creative problem solvers, independent thinkers and creators. She is an avid fiber artist and enjoys creating mixed media artwork with alternative fibers and other repurposed materials.
EDUCATION
Maine College of Art
Bachelor of Fine Arts: Sculpture
University of Southern Maine
Bachelor of Fine Arts: Studio Arts and Art Education
MELODY HASBROUCK
K-1 Program Coordinator, Music Teacher
Melody joined the Gorham Arts Alliance in 2018. She is a certified music educator and has been teaching music in schools since 2017. She became lead Music Teacher for the Community Art Preschool and TK in 2018 and is program coordinator for grades K1 in the after school program. She enjoys sneaking new techniques into music games, silly songs, and rhymes, and encouraging children to be musically creative. Her love of creating with her hands also contributes to classes, whether it be braiding rugs or making small decorations for the holidays. Melody also teaches flute lessons and enjoys a broad variety of hobbies.
EDUCATION
University of Southern Maine
Bachelor of Music: Music Education
DAISY HUTT
Ceramic Studio Manager, Art Teacher, Ceramics Instructor for Adult Education
Daisy joined the Gorham Arts Alliance in 2022. She is currently the manager of our ceramic studio. She from rural Vermont and moved to Portland in 2018 to attend Maine College of Art. Since that time, she has been teaching Pre-k through 8th grade art classes in Portland, painting classes at a memory care home in Brunswick, and working in her home pottery studio. In her free time she enjoys playing ultimate frisbee, sitting in the sun, snuggling her dog Libby, and making new friends.
EDUCATION
Maine College of Art and Design
Bachelor of Fine Arts: Ceramics
SOPHIE ROBLIN
Environmental Science, Art Teacher
Sophie joined the Gorham Arts Alliance in 2020. She heads up our outdoor education and environmental science programs. She has worked with children in a variety of settings, including as an environmental educator with at-risk youth in Wisconsin, and Senior Youth Crew Leader with the Montana Conservation Corps in Montana. Prior to joining the Gorham Arts team she was a program coordinator a the 4-H Camp and Learning Center at Bryan Pond. As an artist she adds whimsy for her painting of animals in their natural environment. She lives on a small sheep farm and in her spare time loves to run, paint and hike.
EDUCATION
Maryland Institute College of Art
Bachelor of Fine Arts: Painting
WEBSITE
TheFriendlyEwe.com
LYNN MACDONALD
Art Teacher
Lynn joined the Gorham Arts Alliance in 2018. She has created art with children over 20 years. She helps children explore their artistic skills through mixed media, glass, batik, digital media and plaster arts. She is passionate about empowering children to develop a deeper understanding of the arts and share their artistic abilities with others. Most recently she has helped develop a Special Needs art class at the center.
EDUCATION
Lesley University
Bachelor of Arts: Studio Art
Master of Arts: Art Education