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The Team
Melina Selimbegovic
Artsy Beast Owner and Operator
Art is one of my earliest memories. At just 2 years old I recall creating sculptures with yarn at my mom's feet while she was sitting on a sofa, chatting with grandma over coffee. Great times, family, art, coffee. Well, as life would have it, such natural passion for creativity did not come forward for me until many decades later.
My two degrees from UNC Chapel Hill in International Politics and Psychology, helped me establish a successful career in: Finance! Go figure, I can hear my parents' eyes rolling as I write this. I spent fifteen years in the financial sector. Built a beautiful family and home life. Supported my husband with his endeavors in restaurant business. All the while I was painting when I could. Taking refuge in creativity and bringing balance to hardships and challenges via art. Long before I knew what Art Therapy was, I had been leaning into art as my remedy. I paint mostly in oil but love watercolor and charcoal as well.
Covid-19 disruption, which set off big changes and challenges for many of us, thrust me into a crossroad. It was here that I decided to take a huge leap of faith, leave my established career in finance and truly lean into my natural self and step onto the stage in the art world. Artsy Beast was conceptualized in summer of 2021, and created in 2022.
As Pablo Picasso so eloquently said, “Art washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life.” It is my wish and goal to make this studio a place where our community comes together to enjoy the beauty and color in life, and rise above the challenges of today’s unbalanced work and life environment. I hope it is a welcoming and warm place for all, and I look forward to seeing you there.
Art is one of my earliest memories. At just 2 years old I recall creating sculptures with yarn at my mom's feet while she was sitting on a sofa, chatting with grandma over coffee. Great times, family, art, coffee. Well, as life would have it, such natural passion for creativity did not come forward for me until many decades later.
My two degrees from UNC Chapel Hill in International Politics and Psychology, helped me establish a successful career in: Finance! Go figure, I can hear my parents' eyes rolling as I write this. I spent fifteen years in the financial sector. Built a beautiful family and home life. Supported my husband with his endeavors in restaurant business. All the while I was painting when I could. Taking refuge in creativity and bringing balance to hardships and challenges via art. Long before I knew what Art Therapy was, I had been leaning into art as my remedy. I paint mostly in oil but love watercolor and charcoal as well.
Covid-19 disruption, which set off big changes and challenges for many of us, thrust me into a crossroad. It was here that I decided to take a huge leap of faith, leave my established career in finance and truly lean into my natural self and step onto the stage in the art world. Artsy Beast was conceptualized in summer of 2021, and created in 2022.
As Pablo Picasso so eloquently said, “Art washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life.” It is my wish and goal to make this studio a place where our community comes together to enjoy the beauty and color in life, and rise above the challenges of today’s unbalanced work and life environment. I hope it is a welcoming and warm place for all, and I look forward to seeing you there.
Jill Ross Meltzer
Ceramics Instructor
Jill is nothing short of passionate about clay. She has been a professional clay artist for over 20 years and has taught beginning to advanced wheel throwing and hand-building for over twelve years.
Before moving to DC, she was an Associate at The Clay Studio in Philadelphia and a professional member of the Potters Guild in Wallingford, PA. Jill graduated with a degree in Ceramics from a cooperative program at The George Washington University and Corcoran School of Art and, over the years, has attended many clay workshops around the country. In her previous life, Jill was a practicing attorney in DC.
Jill’s primary interest is in making functional one-of-a-kind serving pieces with a bent towards the decorative. She finds it an inspiring challenge to harmonize the demands of utility with those of imparting a measure of magic to everyday things.
Jill is nothing short of passionate about clay. She has been a professional clay artist for over 20 years and has taught beginning to advanced wheel throwing and hand-building for over twelve years.
Before moving to DC, she was an Associate at The Clay Studio in Philadelphia and a professional member of the Potters Guild in Wallingford, PA. Jill graduated with a degree in Ceramics from a cooperative program at The George Washington University and Corcoran School of Art and, over the years, has attended many clay workshops around the country. In her previous life, Jill was a practicing attorney in DC.
Jill’s primary interest is in making functional one-of-a-kind serving pieces with a bent towards the decorative. She finds it an inspiring challenge to harmonize the demands of utility with those of imparting a measure of magic to everyday things.
Amy Kruse
Ceramics Instructor
Amy is an Art History graduate student at American University and a ceramics instructor in DC. She grew up in the Chicago suburbs where she learned ceramics from her father and her local studio, making her a second generation ceramics artist. She graduated from Truman State University in 2020 with a minor in Ceramics. Amy specializes in wheel throwing and functional stoneware. She welcomes all beginners and everyone of all abilities and backgrounds to try ceramics.
Amy is an Art History graduate student at American University and a ceramics instructor in DC. She grew up in the Chicago suburbs where she learned ceramics from her father and her local studio, making her a second generation ceramics artist. She graduated from Truman State University in 2020 with a minor in Ceramics. Amy specializes in wheel throwing and functional stoneware. She welcomes all beginners and everyone of all abilities and backgrounds to try ceramics.
Tucker Mandigo
Ceramics Instructor
Tucker Mandigo was born in 1999 in Washington D.C into a family that likes to
make things and lived a childhood of creativity and experimentation. The yearly cardboard boat race held by my moms' side of the family is a classic and a great
example of this, in which we all try to build boats out of duct tape and old cardboard
found in people's recycling and at dumps, and race them across a channel and back to
see whose boat can make it the furthest:) He began working with clay on the wheel in
2012 at Glen Echo Park in Bethesda, MD. He continued classes there through high
school and attended Snow Farm Craft School during the summers where he expanded
his knowledge of other 3-dimensional art forms like glass and metal. He graduated from
Alfred University Cum Laude with a BFA in 2022. While he works in many mediums his
passions have remained with clay for a while now and seem likely to continue to do so.
He is currently living in Bethesda, working from his home studio, and now starting to
teach part-time:) He is available for commission by request with his past works visible
on his Instagram @tuckermandigocraft.
Tucker Mandigo was born in 1999 in Washington D.C into a family that likes to
make things and lived a childhood of creativity and experimentation. The yearly cardboard boat race held by my moms' side of the family is a classic and a great
example of this, in which we all try to build boats out of duct tape and old cardboard
found in people's recycling and at dumps, and race them across a channel and back to
see whose boat can make it the furthest:) He began working with clay on the wheel in
2012 at Glen Echo Park in Bethesda, MD. He continued classes there through high
school and attended Snow Farm Craft School during the summers where he expanded
his knowledge of other 3-dimensional art forms like glass and metal. He graduated from
Alfred University Cum Laude with a BFA in 2022. While he works in many mediums his
passions have remained with clay for a while now and seem likely to continue to do so.
He is currently living in Bethesda, working from his home studio, and now starting to
teach part-time:) He is available for commission by request with his past works visible
on his Instagram @tuckermandigocraft.
Hendi Crosby Kowal
Ceramics Instructor
Hendi has been making pots for nearly 20 years. She relishes every aspect of making and the different parts of her creativity each one allows her to tap into. Hendi takes every chance she can to participate in workshops - in 2023 she had the chance to spend a week working with a master potter in France, and in 2024, revisited her love of raku at a rainy all-day workshop in MD. She particularly loves making closed forms, exploring new ways to alter wheel-thrown pieces, and experimenting with slips and oxides.
Hendi is a technical writer in the public health field. She studied English, French, and Art as an undergrad. After college, she spent two years teaching. She is very happy to be combining her love of teaching with her love of clay, and supporting students in finding that magical balance between beautiful forms and practical function.
Hendi has been making pots for nearly 20 years. She relishes every aspect of making and the different parts of her creativity each one allows her to tap into. Hendi takes every chance she can to participate in workshops - in 2023 she had the chance to spend a week working with a master potter in France, and in 2024, revisited her love of raku at a rainy all-day workshop in MD. She particularly loves making closed forms, exploring new ways to alter wheel-thrown pieces, and experimenting with slips and oxides.
Hendi is a technical writer in the public health field. She studied English, French, and Art as an undergrad. After college, she spent two years teaching. She is very happy to be combining her love of teaching with her love of clay, and supporting students in finding that magical balance between beautiful forms and practical function.
Arielle Gottlieb
Kids Ceramics Instructor
Arielle Gottlieb is a highly skilled potter with a deep passion for the craft. Since 2023, she has been sharing her expertise with children and teens in the Washington D.C. area, helping them discover the joy of working with clay. Arielle's exceptional pottery skills are complemented by her extensive experience in teaching diverse art classes and workshops for all ages. Her ability to guide students through the intricacies of pottery, from hand-building to wheel throwing, has made her a beloved instructor. Arielle is dedicated to fostering creativity and artistic growth in her students, and she finds immense fulfillment in watching their skills and confidence develop under her guidance.
Arielle Gottlieb is a highly skilled potter with a deep passion for the craft. Since 2023, she has been sharing her expertise with children and teens in the Washington D.C. area, helping them discover the joy of working with clay. Arielle's exceptional pottery skills are complemented by her extensive experience in teaching diverse art classes and workshops for all ages. Her ability to guide students through the intricacies of pottery, from hand-building to wheel throwing, has made her a beloved instructor. Arielle is dedicated to fostering creativity and artistic growth in her students, and she finds immense fulfillment in watching their skills and confidence develop under her guidance.
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