SAM BASS (she/her) is an artist, educator and organizer. Her interest in the arts and education developed while teaching in the New Orleans school system. She began her career teaching Kindergarten at Mildred Osborne Charter School for three years, gaining professional development and training within the field of education. Sam worked Art Department in the New Orleans Film Industry from 2015-2023, and is a member of the Local IATSE 478 union. She also creates art installations for events and parties, and has received grants to bring her work to festivals in Louisiana and Miami. Sam founded Art Camp 504 to combine both her love of education and art, recognizing the need for more artistic opportunities for young people in New Orleans.

JANE TALTON’s (she/her) imagery reflects much of what it means to live in the Bywater: a place where tongue and cheek humor, theatrics, fine art, rich patterns and fanciful creatures fit right in to the parades, unexpected pairings and imaginations of those who live here. Jane graduated from the Maryland Institute, College of Art in 1999 with a degree in Illustration. Jane has worked in many creative niches including; caricature art, illustration, murals, portraiture and she has been a featured artist on the Travel Channel and ABC. Her work has shown in several New Orleans galleries as well as the CAC and Jazz and Heritage Museum. Although still a dedicated painter, she has fallen in love with teaching as it has allowed her to share a passion for art with young artists. Check out Jane’s work!

FINLEY JANES (he/they) has been teaching with Art Camp 504 since 2023 and now serves as Curriculum Director. A filmmaker and musician, Finley has spent the past decade teaching creative filmmaking. Originally from Gloucester, MA, he previously worked as Education Director for See-Hear-Feel-Film, a program that partnered with public schools to teach media literacy and filmmaking to elementary students. Finley is passionate about social justice and local politics and is actively involved in prison justice initiatives in New Orleans. He lives in the Upper 9th Ward, where he enjoys gardening with his two dogs, Zorro and Mama, and his two cats, Merlin and Ballerina.

LEESAW AUDRE ANDALORO (she/they) has worked for the last 25 years as a promoter and producer of cultural events aimed at exposing a wider audience to emerging artists and hidden gems. She is presently the Creative Director at The Tigermen Den and Assistant Creative Director for Art Camp 504. She uses her experience as a music and event producer, as well as her expertise in fundraising campaigns, to plan a wide range of family friendly fundraising events that support our Rising Artists Scholarship program. She is also a dog mom to Freddie, a lover of New Orleans history, cheerleader for the 9th Ward Marching Band and maker of killer road trip playlists.

BLAIR PRICE (she/her) is an interior designer, freelance artist and NOCCA culinary alum. She earned her BA in Graphic Design from Loyola University New Orleans, before moving on to an AA in Interior Design, and Kitchen & Bath Design at Delgado. Blair has spent the last decade cultivating her decorative arts skills, working under several notable creatives, before opening her own residential design firm in 2020. Blair has also traveled twice to Italy to attend the Reggio Children's Conference, where she observed how children best learn and discover holistically through art. Visit Blair’s website!

HARLEY HOLIDAY (they/them) is a multimedia artist who grew up in Bolinas, CA, and has lived in New Orleans for the past five years. Their artistic practice is primarily rooted in ceramics and illustration. They were a studio member at the London Clayworks from 2021 to 2024. Holiday’s paintings, drawings and sculptures have been exhibited locally in two different shows, Tandem at the Front Gallery in 2023 and Queer Comfort at Staple Goods in 2024. They have led several workshops in wheel throwing and handbuilding for youth and adults throughout the city. Garnering inspiration from their work as a farmer and environmental educator, Holiday’s work explores the human/land interface; the interconnections between people, place, and the more-than-human beings they coexist with.

SARI JORDAN (they/them) is an independent artist and musician based in New Orleans. As the Winter Artist in Residence at the Louisiana Children’s Museum (2024), Sari facilitated hands on, experiential programming with children of all ages and their caregivers. Sari’s artistic process and vision is one of whimsy, flexibility, play, and introspection. Sari has always felt at home making art with children, drawn to their natural curiosity and emotional expression. Sari brings 7 years of experience in early childhood arts education and a lifelong love of visual art and the creative process. In the visual arts world, they are especially inspired by drawing, painting, and collage. Sari is also a full time working artist performing original music in New Orleans and beyond.

RAY FONTAINE (she/her) is a visual artist and designer who helps young creatives build confidence and curiosity through drawing, illustration, and mixed media art. With a background in storytelling and design, her teaching approach encourages playful experimentation and personal expression. Ray’s classes introduce foundational techniques while making space for each student’s imagination to lead the way—blending creative skill-building with opportunities to connect art to their everyday world. Through engaging projects and accessible materials, she helps kids develop a strong visual voice and a lasting love for making. Ray runs a local branding agency called Bywater Branding Services, studied Industrial Design at Pratt Institute, and previously taught Visual Communications as an adjunct professor at the Tulane School of Design.

KATIE ABOUDOU (she/her) is a Maryland-based teaching artist who's worked with for over 10 years, specializing in visual art workshops for highly creative kids. Before moving to Maryland, she taught at Bricolage Academy and Be Loud. She now visits New Orleans each summer to teach at Art Camp 504! She has experience building props, devising LARPing scenes for kids alongside other performing artists, and developing workshops for all ages. She received a BFA in Media & Performing Arts with a minor in Illustration from Savannah College of Art & Design. Visit Katie’swebsite

LEAH DOOLING (she/her) is a local sculptor, painter and digital artist. Leah completed formal training under Pixar animators in 3d design and modeling, and has worked as a full-time artist for the past five years. Insects, amphibians and gastropods are her main interests and points of study, and can be seen expressed in her artwork, which can be found in various galleries and coffee shops around New Orleans. Leah now teaches elementary and middle school visual art through Community Works. 

MARK T. WILLIAMS (he/him) is an educator and entrepreneur, currently serving as a career and technical educator at Young Audiences Charter High School. Mark is the visionary behind NoNameCafe and Gallery, along with Decaf Publixations, Llc which spotlight minority excellence in design and entrepreneurship. In addition, he has self-published three books offering perspective on the systematic challenges faced by minorities in creative and entrepreneurial fields. Mark has a BA in Art History and a MS in Industrial Design. He is currently pursuing a Master's degree in Museum Studies at Southern University.

MARY JACOBS (she/her) is a local comedian and improv educator working with Big Couch Nola - a creative incubator that produces standup & sketch comedy, thater, drag, film, music and more! She’s trained and taught across America, including Second City in Chicago. Her passion for educating youth in the comedic arts is no joke and believes comedy can connect us to our humanity and community in a deep (and silly) way. In addition to teaching, Mary can be found across stages in New Orleans as a comedian, host and emcee. 

ANDERSON FUNK (he/him) is an interdisciplinary creator who makes art films using experimental camera techniques and poetic notions, he strives to reveal the power of the human spirit within each of us, to find new ways forward in trying times, fostering tenderness, clear eyes, and the bravery to keep asking impossible questions. Anderson graduated undergrad with an engineering degree, and worked for many years before going back to school for an MFA. He lets his understandings of these realms inform each other, giving him a unique perspective, a distinctive art practice, and welcoming attitude. Anderson is a member-artist at The Front, hosts a radio show on WTUL, and organizes with Nola to Angola. He grew up in Metairie, then lived all over the U.S. for many years, before returning to New Orleans in 2017. This is Anderson's third year teaching film with Art Camp 504, and he is excited to see new and returning students! Check out his website andersonfunk.com

STEFAN SICLAIT BYRD (he/him) grew up in Miami and graduated from the University of North Carolina with a BFA in Filmmaking. After working as a welder and metal fabricator building pieces for television sets in Los Angeles, he made his way into art direction and set decoration for commercials, music videos and TV throughout the U.S. and Europe before finally landing in New Orleans. When he’s not working in the art department he shoots documentaries and non-fiction work. He is currently in post production for a documentary feature on cremation workers in India. 

DR. VIVIAN RAY (she/her) is a highly trained chef and educator with over 30 years of experience. Dr. Ray has held leadership roles at the Miami Dade Culinary Institute, University of Central Florida,  Livingstone College and Purdue University. She has also worked internationally – studying French at La Varenne Cooking School in Paris and opening the New Orleans Jazz Café in London. She holds four degrees, including her Ed.D. in Educational Leadership. Additionally, Dr. Ray completed a three-year ACF apprenticeship program in New Orleans where she learned Creole and Cajun cooking at Commander’s Palace and many more.  

CHRISTOPHER “MR. CHRIS” SHEARD (he/him) is a music teacher and teaching artist with over 15 years in the field of early childhood music. He has been certified in Music Together, Wolf Trap Early Learning Through the Arts and the Young Audiences National Teaching Artist Credential. He is the founder of Blue House Music, a direct-to-family early learning music program that serves children under five and their caregivers. A Bywater resident and father of two, Mr. Chris currently works as the lower school music teacher at The McGehee School for Girls and Little Gate. 

ADAM LEDET (he/him) is a graduate of Rochester Institute of Technology's Interactive Media and Game Design program with a bachelor's degree in Game Design and Development. He has professional experience in the video gaming industry as a game designer for companies including Second Avenue Learning, Blizzard Entertainment Noxcrew. Adam is also a pianist, singer and thespian who loves to evoke emotions in others through his crafts. Adam's love for Dungeons & Dragons has colored his life, and he is excited to guide new players through the TableTop Role Playing experience! Visit Adam’s Linkedin and website.

MICHAEL BADGER (he/him) has been a fan of fantasy and role playing games since time immemorial. He learned to run Dungeons & Dragons games by listening to actual-play podcasts and DMed his first campaigns for his sister and friends during COVID lockdown. He never really stopped after that, turning him into what is known as a forever DM. He practices improv locally and has a Master's Degree in Creative Writing - using both to write and run home-brew settings for friends and family. He strongly believes that communal story-telling is an incredible way to grow, learn to think creatively, and build strong community.

SASHA RIVERA KRUGER (she/ her) is a graduate of Northern Arizona University with a Bachelors in Spanish Language & Literature and a dual minor in Chinese and Asian Studies. Her teaching journey began in 2008 when she volunteered to teach English in China. This shaped her understanding of the importance of inclusive communication. Her love for storytelling brought her to the world of TableTop Role Playing games. When not DM’ing her own D&D campaigns, she is running games and assisting vending artists at conventions, most recently New York Comicon, Jordancon, Cyphacon, Pax Unplugged and Fanexpo New Orleans. 

AKSHITA MONGA (she/her) is a realist and figurative artist, currently living and teaching in Barcelona, Spain. She’s previously trained as a digital artist and gone on to work as head illustrator for a youth magazine - arre.co.in creating relevant illustrations for write-ups and news stories. She’s also worked with writers and film-makers to create Children’s Story Books and Graphic Short Stories & Commissioned paintings. Akshita is currently working as an advanced oil painter and graduated from the renowned Barcelona Academy of Art, which is a traditional atelier school, training artists in 19th Century European Classical Art. Her works have been displayed at Nippon Gallery, Mumbai, India, Mrs. Toolips Gallery, Barcelona/Vienna, Guinizzelli Space, Barcelona and many more. We met Akshita through our graphic designer Maya Jevans, they were studying together at the Academy of Art in Barcelona. Akshita has been teaching virtual classes with Art Camp 504 the past three years, sharing her international expertise with our young artists! Check out her work here

Ziggy Stardust’s favorite activity is playing fetch with five or more kids at once. He loves to prance around, showing off how wonderful he is. Ziggy is a Japanese Chin, born in September of 2022 and has been coming to camp with his mom Sam since he was 12 weeks old. Sometimes he’s the sweetest thing in the whole world, and sometimes he’s in gremlin mode…

Princess Supernova is elegant, dainty, and makes the craziest sounds of all of them. She was born in January of 2023 and spent most of her puppy months at Art Camp with her mom Sam. She likes to be carried around and doted on. She also like to team up with her sister Sookie to attack her big brother Ziggy!

Freddie (Frederica) is Leesaw’s dog, the owner of the Tigermen Den. She is a trained service dog and has been visiting our students the past few years. Freddie is super chill, likes to sleep most of the day, and loves when the kids use her as a pillow. Sometimes she pretends to be a puppy and gets the Zoomies with the chins! Ziggy has a little bit of a crush on Freddie…

Mama is the wise old grandmother of Art Camp 504. She started coming to camp last year with Mr. Fin and has been teaching the puppies manners ever since! Mama likes to nap and observe the children from a fluffy bed most of the day. Her favorite thing is to run around in Clouet Gardens with all of her friends!

Pop Tart is the Queen of the Chins. She is a real sophisticated lady and is 100% sweet all of the time. She enjoys wearing handmade clothes, sleeping in custom designed cardboard boxes, and resting on top of piles of fabric. Pop Tart is married to Fozzy and they renewed their vows at Winter Camp 2022. Thank you to Pop Tart’s mom Irene for sharing your perfect angel with us!

This little guy joined our family in Dec 2023. He is a happy, cheerful pup and likes to wag his tail and follow the big dogs around. His mom STILL has not committed to a name. Top contenders are Remi (Gremlin), Mishima, and Go Potty.

Sookie is Princess Supernova’s crazy sister! They are best friends and love to do everything together - especially attack Ziggy. Her tail sticks straight up, her hair is a little frazzled, and sometimes she looks like she drank too much coffee. We love when her mom Sydney drops her off to play!