Resident Artists

Anu Mahadev

An amalgam of a left-brained ex-engineer and a right-brained creative writer would be the best way to describe a lyrical storyteller like ANU MAHADEV. Originally from India and Bahrain, Anu is now a New Jersey-based poet and a 2016 MFA graduate of Drew University’s low residency poetry program. She is currently Poetry Editor for Platform Review, a literary journal launched by Arts by The People, to encourage emerging writers who are local to New Jersey, Philadelphia and New York City. Anu’s past editorial roles in the literary world have been Poetry Reader for The Adroit Journal, Poetry Editor for The Wild Word, Editor-in-Chief for Jaggery Lit, and Senior Editor for The Woman Inc. Her latest collection of poetry, A Mouthful of Sky was released in April 2022 by Get Fresh Books LLC. Her work has appeared in many literary journals and anthologies, and she is an alumna of the 2023 Kenyon Writers’ Workshop (with Dan Beachy-Quick), the 2024 Juniper Summer Writing Institute (with Diana Khoi Nguyen) and the 2024 Kenyon Writers’ Workshop (with Natalie Shapero).

Additionally, Anu reads a lot of fiction, writes book reviews, sings Carnatic classical and Indian film music, practices mindfulness meditation, takes long walks with her dog and travels with her family. As of last year, as an empty nester, she is a language neophyte and a student of the Bhagavad Gita – the holy Hindu scripture. Anu loves to actively volunteer in causes that resonate with her – mostly in the field of education and cultivates genuine interpersonal relationships with the people she is fortunate to meet. She likes to think of herself as a curious and lifelong learner and is humbled with how much she does not know and has yet to learn.

Dimitri Reyes

Dimitri Reyes is a Boricua multidisciplinary artist, YouTuber, and educator from Newark, New Jersey. Dimitri's book, Every First and Fifteenth (2021) is the winner of the Digging Press 2020 Chapbook Award and his poetry journal, Shadow Work for Poets, is now available on Amazon. His forthcoming book, Papi Pichón, will be published in 2023 by Get Fresh Books. Some of his work has been nominated for a Pushcart Prize and Best of the Net and you can find more of his writing in Poem-a-Day, Vinyl, Kweli, & Acentos. He is the Marketing & Communications Director at CavanKerry Press. Learn more about Dimitri by visiting his website at https://www.dimitrireyespoet.com/

Glenn Paul Simon, Cre8tive MC

Glenn Paul Simon, known as Cre8ive MC, is a hip-hop artist and poet from New Jersey whose artistry reflects a lifelong connection to music, storytelling, and performance. Raised in a creative household, Glenn drew inspiration from his parents—an art teacher and a metal sculptor/guitarist—and developed his passion for hip-hop through influences like Wu-Tang Clan, N.W.A., and KRS-One. A pivotal seventh-grade rap project ignited his journey as a lyricist, leading to recording sessions at The Sweatshop studio in 2007. After a hiatus following college, an open mic night rekindled his love for performing, and he has since shared his work at events like the NYC Poetry Festival, headlined showcases, and built a loyal fan base through live performances and online platforms. With thousands of streams on all streaming services, Cre8ive MC continues to expand his reach while remaining rooted in his local artistic community. Drawing from hip-hop legends and diverse genres, he delivers high-energy performances blending poetic lyricism and dynamic stage presence. With a new project released on his website Cre8iveMC.com, he continues to create and connect with audiences through his passion for music.

Kathy Kremins

Kathy Kremins (she/her) is a retired New Jersey public school teacher, coach, and adjunct professor. Born and raised in Newark, NJ, she has a BA from St. Elizabeth University (College of St. Elizabeth), an MFA from Goddard College, and a D. Litt. from Drew University. She is the author of the chapbook, Undressing the World (Finishing Line Press, 2022), An Ethics of Reading: The Broken Beauties of Toni Morrison, Arundhati Roy, and Nawal el Sadaawi (Lambert Academic Publishing, 2010), and essay contributor to Too Smart to be Sentimental: Contemporary Irish American Women Writers (Notre Dame University Press, 2008). Kathy’s recent work appears in Paterson Literary Review, Limp Wrist Magazine, Digging Through the Fat, Platform Review, Soup Can Magazine, The Night Heron Barks, Stay Salty; Life in the Garden State Anthology, The Stillwater Review, Lavender Review, and Divine Feminist: An Anthology of Poetry & Art By Womxn and Non-Binary Folx. She is an editor for NJ Audubon Magazine and assistant prose editor for The Platform Review.

Michelle Ortega

Michelle Ortega is a poet and writer whose work is published widely online and in print. Her latest chapbook, When you Ask Me,”Why Paris” (Finishing Line Press) was released in July 2025. Tissue Memory (microchap) is available through Porkbelly Press.

Michelle is also a speech-language pathologist. In her private practice, Michelle uses a holistic approach to support patients of all ages develop and recover communication skills. 

She currently serves on the Board of Directors and is a teaching artist for Arts by the People, where she develops and facilitates writing workshops, as well as the annual Ekphrastic Residency. Find her work at www.michelleortegawrites.com (photo credit LAG Photography)

Anna Hershinow

Anna Hershinow (she/her) is a Brooklyn-based multidisciplinary artist originally from Chicago, IL. She is a figurative freelance painter, as well as a self-taught graphic designer. Her professional portfolio traverses across many mediums, but her expertise is in acrylic paint and mixed media on canvas. Anna pulls inspiration from pop culture, social media, vintage fashion, surrealism, and her deep love of color. Her work strides to make fine art a bit more cheeky, messy, loud, relatable, and colorful! Anna graduated from The Ohio State University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance and a Minor in Studio Arts. Anna has been working professionally since 2021, producing and selling her own work, creating commissions for personal and commercial buyers, and working collaboratively on projects to help produce the vision of the designer or group.

For more about Anna, visit her website: www.annahershinow.com

Karen Tighe

Karen Tighe PSA /MC is a New Jersey artist painting primarily in pastels. She has a BA in Early Childhood Education from Catholic University of America as well as a BFA in Design from William Paterson University. Karen achieved Master Circle status with IAPS (International Association of Pastel Societies) as well as Signature Artist stature in the Pastel Society of America. She is also an Inaugural Distinguished member of the Pastel Society of New Jersey. Now a full-time artist, Karen previously had a career as a graphic designer in the toy industry. Karen is a board member for the Catharine Lorillard Wolfe Art Club and a member of the IAPS Education Committee. She currently works out of her studio at Artspace Studio and Gallery in Morristown, NJ. For more information and to view her work please visit www.karentighestudio.com

Dana DeBarros

Dana DeBarros received her BA in Studio Arts from Drew University, double minored in Art Administration and Archaeology. Her passion for the arts started at the age of seven while photographing her mother’s garden. Her attention to detail, color, and composition has developed over the years as she continues to photograph and paint. She has traveled to six of the seven continents and finds inspiration from the places she travels. Dana is a custom framer and also works as a teaching artist with ABTP. Dana was the organizations first intern in 2012 and has helped pave the way for the numerous interns that the organization has had since then. Dana has run fine art classes, writing classes, and jewelry classes for senior citizens at several locations for ABTP. To see her work, please visit her website at www.danadebarros.com or follow her on Instagram @danadebarros.

Elaina Stewart

Elaina is a creator and mover from Northeast FL. She has a passion for movement and believes it is one way in which all humans communicate. She’s a BFA Dance graduate from Rutgers University, where she studied contemporary and compositional forms. Stewart has trained in Israel and Berlin, both of which she has also performed. Stewart has work with choreographers Darrell Grand Moultrie, BennyRoyce Rayon, Fluer Darkin, Greg Dolbashian, Roni Chadash and Noa Zuk. During these creative processes she was given opportunities to perform at the Joyce Theatre NYC, dock11 Berlin, and the Suzanne Dellal Center Tel Aviv. Stewart’s passion for movement is what transcends her to move in a performative way, she enjoys these creative processes and the learning that comes with it. Much of her movement is heavily influenced by improvisational techniques, she loves to play around in the studio and see what new energies she can render up. Aside from her dancing she also is a pilates instructor, traveler, plant and pet lover. She always looking to keep life interesting.

Jenny Campbell

Jenny is a Brooklyn based yoga teacher and modern dancer. She has been teaching yoga and meditation for 15 year. She completed her initial teacher training after receiving her BFA in dance performance from the Ohio State University. She completed her second training at The Shala in New York City. Jenny teaches a wide variety of movement practices including vinyasa, Ashtanga-based vinyasa, restorative yoga, chair yoga, prenatal yoga, mediation, and Pilates. She specializes in custom designing classes, pulling from all of these practices to find the blend that works best for each student.

Kelly Guerrero

Kelly Guerrero is a dancer, choreographer, and arts administrator. She holds a BFA in Dance and Minor in Business from Montclair State University, where she received a Choreographic Excellence award in 2022. She became interested in choreography while studying dance at the Greater Hartford Academy of the Arts in Connecticut. Her works have been presented in various concerts in and around NYC, and she has created works for Nacre Dance Group, Somerset County Vocational & Technical High School, and Unbound Dance Collective. During her studies, Kelly had the privilege of dancing in works by Stefanie Batten Bland, Jessica DiMauro Marks, Martha Graham, Mark Harootian, Larry Keigwin, Fredrick Earl Mosley, Helen Pickett, and Janice Rosario. She has also performed work by Charles Weidman as a guest artist with Nacre Dance Group. Kelly currently dances with The Moving Architects and H.T. Chen & Dancers, and enjoys supporting other dance artists through her role as Managing Director of Dance New Jersey.

Photo by Emily Johnson

Maxine Steinman

Maxine Steinman a performer, choreographer, and teacher, has presented work in numerous festivals and venues such as Joyce Soho, The 92ndStreet Y Harkness Dance Festival, the Westfest Dance Festival, American Dance Guild Festival, DUMBO, the Battery Dance Festival, and others, and traveled to Taiwan, Brazil, Mexico, Spain, France, Japan, Italy, Germany and Cyprus to teach, choreograph, and perform her work. Maxine has choreographed and taught at Hofstra University, Marymount Manhattan College, the Ailey School, Institut del Teatre, Centro Andaluz de Danza, University of Colima. She is an Associate Professor of Dance and Program Coordinator of the BFA and the BA Dance Division at Montclair State University. Maxine choreographic work is focused on communication and expressiveness with a motivation to impart compelling images, thoughts, and impressions through a physicality fused with subtleties and nuances.  With ARTS By The People she is the dance coordinator for Intonation and Jump the Turnstile. She has collaborated with composers, musicians, poets, visual artists and video artists, and have delved into site-specific work, all of which have been a great source of inspiration.

Photo by Klaus Lucka

Marsha Guirlande Pierre

Marsha Guirlande Pierre (Bronx, New York) is a Haitian-American freelance artist who received her BFA  in Dance Performance at Montclair State University. Ms. Pierre has performed works by Camille A. Brown, Bill T. Jones, Daniel Shapiro and Joanie Smith, Frederick Earl Mosley, Christian Von Howard, and Alwin Nikolais. and has performed professional works with Earl Mosley’s Diversity of Dance, The Nathaniel Hunt Project, VOID, Padierna Dance Project and The Lab by S. Galberth. She has also worked with Gaspard & Dancers, Maxine Steinmein & Dancers and joined the apprenticeship program with Limon Dance Company. She is a Resident Artist with Arts by the People and has participated in Jump the Turnstile, Stories in Motion, Bridging Gaps, Intonation and leads music and dance workshops at The Neighborhood Community Center in Morristown.Visit Marsha on Instagram

Oksana Horban

Oksana Horban, originally from Ukraine, graduated Kyiv Academy of Circus and Variety Arts with honors, where she majored in pantomime (artist of mimicry and gesture) and worked with Bingo Circus-Theatre, directors Nikolaj Baranov, Iryna Herman, and Natalya Uzhvenko. In 2017 she was part of the NCA cheerleading team at Palomar College. She graduated Montclair State University in May 2022 with Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance, where she performed works by Alexander Anderson, Ohad Naharin, Paul Taylor, Bradley Shelver, Larry Keigwin, Maxine Steinman, Fredrick Earl Mosley and others. Her work premiered at the United Solo Theater Festival in New York, where she won Best Choreography award.

Dr. Amit Weiner

Israeli composer Dr. Amit Weiner has an international career as a composer, a concert pianist, and a presenter. His music has been performed in festivals and concerts, including New York’s Carnegie Hall, Europe and Asia. His music has won many international competitions and awards, among them recently the 2nd Prize at the 2016 Alfred Schnittke Competition, in Lviv, Ukraine, The Asian Composers League “15- Minutes-of-Fame” competition, The America Israel Cultural Foundation Scholarships, and more. In addition to his position as professor of composition and Head of The Cross- Disciplinary Composition Division, at the at the Jerusalem Academy of Music and Dance, Dr. Weiner serves frequently as a guest composer in universities and conferences. Dr Weiner is a visiting professor at Northeastern University in the Exchange Visitor Program. Amit has worked on ABTP’s Intonation project as well as Bridging Gaps.

Megan Fainsinger 

Megan Fainsinger is a graduate of the New York Botanical Gardens, where she studied Horticultural Therapy. Born and raised on the Indian Ocean, a native to the bounty of botanical diversity in South Africa, Megan grew up in a subtropical world of flowers and temperate African landscapes. With a background in Special Education, Megan draws on her teaching experience, passion for gardening and professional skills in floral design, to create educational, creative and enriching indoor and outdoor horticultural programs for seniors.

“The touch, taste, smell, sound and sight of plant materials serves as a trigger to stimulate our inherent human instinct and attraction to what is beautiful and awe inspiring.” Megan’s goal is to reconnect individuals to our collective sense of wonder in the outdoor world as a vehicle of engagement, connection and purpose, thereby enhancing the participants day to day quality of life.

Gerry Sherman

Gerry Sherman graduated with a B.A. from Skidmore College where she studied International Affairs, Studio Art, and Environmental Studies. She received her Horticultural Therapy Certificate from The New York Botanical Gardens, which included an intensive clinical internship at NYU Langone Health. Through her business endeavors and “backyard farm” she encourages everyone to get their hands dirty and be creative utilizing the amazing medium of plants.