Janet Barry

Janet Barry is a musician, poet, photographer, and artist, holding degrees in Organ Performance and Writing. She has had her poems and photos frequently published, and has sung with and directed many music ensembles. She is currently the Director of Music and Arts at Christ Church United, Lowell.

Janet's passion is to bring opportunities for creativity to everyone through shared music making, writing, and artistic expression. Whether it's a church choir, a poetry reading, a rhythm and play group in the park, or a crazy critters art class, she finds joy is in seeing people joining in and getting involved.

Laurie Simko

Laurie Simko is an oil painter and collage artist who explores many subjects: still lifes, portraits and the natural world. Her award-winning work is exhibited in galleries and organizations throughout New England and NYC including the affiliations listed below. She is the recipient of two Mass Cultural Council Grants for two solo exhibitions featuring twenty portraits of nurses and their stories during the 2020 pandemic.

Simko grew up in the Greater Boston area in Massachusetts. She graduated from California Institute of the Arts in Valencia, CA with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree. 

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Mel Emerick (left)

​Mel Emerick is a music educator in the Lowell Schools and the creative force behind Melissma Music. With a master's degree in Music Education and another in Curriculum & Instructional Design, she brings a wealth of knowledge to her role as a full-time music educator. A proud mom of two, Mel is passionate about making music accessible and engaging for all learners, especially learners (and teachers) with neurodivergent brains!  When she's not crafting innovative educational materials, you can find her in a bell choir or spending time with her two kids and two cats.

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Bill Bradbury
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Bill is a graduate of New England School of Art in Boston. His work has been published in newspapers, magazines, and numerous publications. He was employed at the Lowell Sun Newspaper for 25 years as a graphic artist where he got the opportunity to do editorial cartoons and other special artwork. After leaving the Lowell Sun Bill did advertising work for the Manchester Union Leader. He instructed courses in Cartooning and Advertising at UMass Lowell in the Continuing Education Division for about 15 years and taught a course in Graphic Design at Middlesex Community College. Bill is a member of many of the areas Art Associations. He keeps busy working on various art work including portraits, caricatures, drawings and advertising. Bill is currently teaching cartoon and drawing classes at Hammar Studios in Dracut and The Salem, New Hampshire High School, in the continuing Education Department

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Margarita Krylova 

Margarita Krylova sees the world as a magical place. She paints with saturated color and uses surreal, often symbolic, imagery, exploring what lies between the real and the imagined. Krylova paints primarily in oils. She also combines ink painting with encaustic. Krylova has degrees in art from School of the Museum of Fine Arts and in biology from Tufts. She lives in Tewksbury MA. Her studio is at Western Ave Studios, Lowell, MA. Margarita's large murals can be seen around the city.

Katie Blue

Katie Blue says, "Art has always been a part of my life, but it didn't become a passion until I started art school at New England School of Art & Design in Boston - that changed everything for me. My career has evolved and changed through the years, working as an illustrator, graphic designer, art studio owner, painter and teacher. All of these great experiences have led me to Katie Blue Art - and so the next chapter begins!"

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​Opal Goff

Opal is a retired physician currently pursuing her passion for art. She has a studio at Western Ave Studios, Lowell. 

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