The Art Lab Mission
Saugerties Art Lab is a not-for-profit organization working to provide free and low-cost art education
and programs to the youth of Saugerties and the surrounding areas. Art Lab offers programs with an
emphasis on hands-on learning techniques and creative expression. At Art Lab, we believe embracing
the Arts builds stronger communities. Our stated goals are as follows:
To provide artistic and academic opportunities for children and adults of all income levels and
cultural backgrounds;
To encourage community growth by providing equal access to high-quality art, music and
interdisciplinary learning experiences;
To offer independent teachers, artisans, parents and homeschoolers support, resources and
classroom space;
To provide an art education resource for special needs students and at risk youth in a supportive
learning environment;
Board of Directors
Katie Emerson-Hoss, President: Katie has worked for over 15 years as a teacher, trainer, consultant,
and therapist with young children, their families and the professionals that support them. She holds a
Master’s degree from UNC-Chapel Hill in early intervention and family support and is a NYS certified
special education teacher. Additionally, she holds certification in infant/parent and early childhood
mental health from the Institute for Infants, Children, and Families of the Jewish Board of Family and
Children Services in NYC. Currently, she is teaching at SUNY New Paltz and pursuing her doctorate in
Educational Psychology at the University at Albany.
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Adjunct Professor, SUNY New Paltz.
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Doctoral student, University at Albany, Educational Psychology, Special Education Leadership
Fellow.
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Member: Council for Exceptional Children, Zero to Three, National Art Education Association
Katie Cokinos, Vice President: Katie Cokinos is a filmmaker and mother of Lula and Niko. Since her
graduation from Texas A&M University in History/Philosophy in 1986, Katie has been involved in nearly
every aspect of films; she has taught, produced, programmed and written articles, as well as wrote and
directed four short experimental films prior to her first feature length movie, PORTRAIT OF A GIRL AS
A YOUNG CAT, 2000. Katie was also the Managing Director of the Austin Film Society, 1990 – 1995. In
2003 she co-founded the Fort Green/Clinton Hill Cooperative, a daycare in Brooklyn, New York. Now
living in Saugerties, she is currently on the PTA of Lula’s school and co - chairperson of the Cahill
Elementary REFLECTIONS Program, an annual arts contest administered through the National PTA
and writing a script during Niko’s naptime.
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Homemaker and filmmaker.
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Vice President of the PTA - Cahill Reflections Chairman, PTA Development Committee
Elizabeth Stegmeyer, Secretary: dba/ Barefoot Storyland an Independent Children's Bookseller
845/247-3176 www.barefootstoryland.com
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Woodstock Artist Association Museum, Woodstock, NY -Curatorial team member and independent
educational
consultant for "Peter Sis: Tibet through the red box" Exhibition and Educational
Workshops, May-June 2009.
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Ulster County Beekeepers Association, Rosendale, NY – Librarian.
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Zena Recreational Park, Woodstock, NY - Committee Chair, including program development
and storytelling for Friday Storytime, for children ages 3 - 10 years.
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Saugerties Friends of the Library, Saugerties, NY
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Committee Chair for Children's Activities at the 2008 Library Fair
ϑ Website Moderator http://friendsofthespl.wordpress.com/
ϑ Member of Eric Carle Picture Book Museum, Amherst, MA; OPUS 40 Saugerties, NY; Saugerties
Lighthouse
Conservancy, Saugerties, NY
Diane Congello-Brandes, Treasurer: Diane is a bookkeeper with payroll being her specialty. She
received her Associates Degree in Business Administration with honors from Ulster County Community
College. Diane served on the executive board of the Mt. Marion PTA for four years; the first two as
treasurer and the last two as co-president. She chaired several committees such as Fall Fundraiser,
Spring Fundraiser, PTA Socials, School Tshirts; organized Donations for Dignity at the school, and
volunteered for several other committees as well.
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CPA, Ulster Publishing and Arthur Mulligan
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Co-president Mt. Marion Elementary School 2003-2004,2004-2005
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Treasurer, Mt. Marion Elementary School 2001-2002, 2002-2003
Krista Munger, Administrative Assistant and Class Coordinator: Krista Munger is a naturalist and
wildlife biologist who has worked in the field of conservation for 12 years. She specializes in turtle
research and enjoys sharing her knowledge with people of all ages. Krista is also manager of the
Gazen Gallery in Rhinebeck, a new venue which features artists of the Hudson River Valley. She is
currently coordinating our free drop-in art sessions and occasionally leads natural history explorations
for young people. Contact her via email or phone for questions and concerns about Art Lab, course
offerings, and schedule.
Saugerties Art Lab History and Partnerships
As an organization, our strength is the commitment of our Board to bringing high-quality arts to the
children of Saugerties, where they are. We have parent representation in the schools at all ages. We
have enjoyed financial support from the Village and Kiwanis each year of our operation. We have
received grants from the Dutchess County Arts Council in 2006 and 2008 and the Puffin Foundation in
2008 for the support of local artist productions. Since our inception in August 2004, we have
established collaborative working relationships with the following entities:
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Saugerties Kiwanis Club: The Kiwanis club has been instrumental in supporting us every year of
operation. The Kiwanis Club has sponsored many Art Lab projects such as Art Farm, the Fourth of July
Float, Artist-in Residence for Head Start and Cahilll Kindergarten. With great success, for the past 2
years we have provided the arts activities in the children’s tent at the Garlic Festival (2007, 950
children in 2 days)
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The Saugerties Farmers’ Market: Art Lab conducted two free t-shirt stamping workshops for
children in 2004. In 2005 Art Lab created Art Farm to offer children a free art or farm related activity
every Saturday from June to October. This is now our 3rd year providing free weekly activities.
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Saugerties Boys and Girls Club: In the summer of 2005, Art Lab worked with the children to
create two murals, one at the Saugerties Beach, and the other to be hung in the new Boys and Girls
Club building. In the summer of 2006 we conducted a 2-week theater workshop and held a community
performance of the story-play Abiyoyo. In the winter of 2007, we are provided an artist-in residence,
Diana Bryan, to develop with them the first Saugerties Kid’s Gazette.
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Saugerties Library: Collaborated with to provide art show of Head Start children 2006+2008.
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Saugerties Public Schools
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2005: Family Art Night at Riccardi Elementary
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2008, Spring: After-school 2nd grade painting class at Cahill Elementary 1x/week.
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2007-8: Artist in Residence for Cahill Kindergarten classes
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HITS on the Hudson: Art Lab served over 100 children at a free art table during Kids Day in the
summer of 2004 and 2005.
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Dutchess County Arts Council
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2006, received a decentralization grant in early 2006 to create an “Art Lab Summer Celebration”
held on August 19, 2006 (now entering its 3rd summer!)
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2008, received a decentralization grant for the November 2008 production of Shadows of the
Catskills, a shadow puppet show by Gnomon Shadow Theatre
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Art Society of Kingston (ASK): ASK agreed to serve as our fiscal sponsor to accept tax deductible
donations for Art Lab from August 2004 until we received our 501(c)(3) status in May of 2005.
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Saugerties Jazz Festival: Art Lab hosted a free mask-making table in 2004. In 2005, Art Lab
offered an art tent and music tent for kids to create in.
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Village of Saugerties: Art Lab coordinated a Christmas decoration painting project with Cub Scout
Troop #37. The scouts earned their community service badge while giving a face-lift to the decorations
at Seamon’s Park for the holidays. Holiday in the Village 2005, 2007 we hosted arts and crafts activities
in the village.
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Esopus Creek Conservancy: In 2004-5 Art Lab offered two 6-week sessions of Life Science
classes for kids 7-12 at the newly established Esopus Bend Nature Preserve.
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Reformed Church of Saugerties: The home of Art Lab for its first year and half. The reformed
church rented Art Lab space at a reduced cost and was very accommodating to a community arts
program for kids.
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Saugerties Head Start: Provide an annual artist-in-residence.
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2006: Jessica Galkin worked on self-portraits (acrylic painting) with the children that hung in a two-
week show at the Saugerties Library.
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2008: Chaldea Emerson did wool felting with the children and produced a ‘nest’ of colorful ‘eggs’
that was on display at the Saugerties Library for a week.
