Visual Arts Faculty Biographies

Board Director of Visual Arts Development Project


Antia P. Lowe currently lives in Georgetown, Ohio. She invested in a beautiful piece of 30 acres to relocate her studio and gallery. She lived in Placer County for 32 years. While living in Auburn, she held membership with the Sacramento Potters Group, Placer Arts League, Arts Council of Placer County, International Association of Workforce Personnel (IAWP), and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority. Kappa Her works have been seen at the Sacramento Fine Arts Center during the Northern California Art's Inc., "Bold Expressions" exhibition, the Placer Art League's Gallery One in Auburn, Association of University Women's Art 35 Show; the Auburn Arts Center Clay Show; and the Lincoln Arts Center in Lincoln, California. 

Talver Germany-Miller- Co-Founder of the Visual Arts Development Project



A native of Sacramento, California, she was educated like many other artists from grammar to graduate school. Talver received a B.A. degree in Studio Art, a B.A. in Social Science/ Anthropology, and an MS. Degree in Counseling Education, all from the California State University of Sacramento. She is an Associate Professor of Art at Folsom Lake College, a member of the Placerville Arts Association, San Francisco Fine Arts Museum, Sacramento African American Art Collection, Phantom Gallery Chicago Network on LinkedIn, a member of the California Arts Association, and co-founded the Visual Arts Development Project.

Alpha Bruton- Co-Founder of the Visual Arts Development Project


Bruton is an artist and lifelong learner who currently has her studio practice in Chicago, Illinois. She is an alumnus of Fresno City College, where she holds an Associate of Arts Degree in Liberal Arts with an emphasis on African American Studies (1979). BFA in Liberal Studies from the California State University of Fresno with a minor in Dance (1983); BFA in Art Education with an emphasis in Studio Art from California State University of Sacramento (1987) and completed the Teachers Credential Program in 1990. Bruton completed her Masters of Art in Arts Administration at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago in 2001.

Co- curator Andrea Jennifer “YaYa” Porras


  Jennifer Andrea "YAYA" Porras- Holds a B.A. in Theater/Dance Arts from CSU- Sacramento. She was a cultural ambassador, arts educator, and performing artist in China, Mexico, Africa, and Cuba during her studies and the American South West. A multi-talented artist who has received Fellowships from Teatro Campesino, the National Association of Latino Arts and Culture (NALAC), was a youth mentor and video documenter for the Center for African Peace Conflict Resolution.

Caryl Henry Alexander- Founder of Big Bang Banners, Clinton, Maryland



Visual artist, Social Justice activist, educator, and traveler. For 25 years, it has offered visual arts projects in communities focusing on creative literacy, community collaboration, and arts-integrated curriculum. Her projects have been successful in grades 3-12 and with multigenerational, multicultural, and interfaith communities in diverse settings. In addition, she plans Day of the Dead workshops and altar ceremonies. Caryl's Global Art Spot is where more of Caryl's altar installations can be found.
"I, as usual created an alter for my ancestors on November 2 and I made it to accommodate the work of my workshop participants."

2013 Retreat Guest Artists/ and Faculty members :


L A Happy Hyder- San Francisco, CA

Toni Collie Perry-  Education Consultant, Sacramento CA


Dr. Patricia Adelekan- Youth on the Move,

International Educators Hall of Fame,  Orange County/Rancho Cordova, CA


Josephine Talamantez, Sacramento CA, Grass Valley CA

Stan Padilla- Auburn CA

Stan Padilla is a multi-disciplined artist whose mediums include drawing, painting, muralism, and jewelry-making. His work has been exhibited nationally and internationally. While maintaining a private studio, he also focuses on art that includes public participation.
 He facilitated "Path of Quartz," a labyrinth project along the American River; "Blossoming," a complex seed/bead mandala project (containing more than 5,000 beans); "Pride of Sacramento Lion Project," a painted fiberglass lion sculpture; and "Pathways to Peace," a large-scale painted canvas mandala created at the Gateway Music Festival in Auburn.