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Meet the Yardies

The Founders

Nick Bauta

Nick Bauta is an artist and designer who crafts leather jewelry and clothes, urban furniture, and metal sculpture. He f... read more →

Clay Rockefeller

Clay Rockefeller is an artist/entrepreneur who values volunteerism and community. His personal experiences and his wor... read more →

The Staff

Helen Lang Executive Director

Helen Lang has an MFA in Film Production from New York University and an MBA from Columbia University. After a brief s... read more →

Brian Dowling Associate Director

Brian Dowling has a BFA in sculpture from the Maryland Institute, College of Art and has worked on large-scale public sc... read more →

Tim Ferland Art Production Manager

Howie Sneider Public Projects Director

Howie Sneider was born in Syracuse, NY. His childhood exploration of the forests and abandoned quarries of central New ... read more →

Islay Taylor Program Director

Islay Taylor is a contemporary art jeweler, who uses the body as a pedestal to showcase wearable sculptures. She receive... read more →

The Board

Peter Gill Case Chair

David Karoff Secretary

Frank F. Previti Treasurer

Thomas Brendler

Lisa Carnevale

Nat Harris

Wendy Lawton

Kate Lyons

Anna Shapiro

Monica Shinn

The Instructors

Blacksmithing

April Franklin

April Franklin is a professional blacksmith specializing in architectural and interior metal design, fabrication, and in... read more →

Lu Heintz

Lu Heintz has been producing sculpture and architectural metalwork since graduating from Rhode Island School of Design i... read more →

Will Reeves

Will Reeves is an artist, designer and maker. Working in a range of materials-steel, bronze, wood, and concrete-as well ... read more →

Ceramics

Patti Barnatt

Patti Barnatt believes that making things is essential to one’s life and that sharing one’s expertise with o... read more →

Peter Lutz

Peter Lutz was born and raised in Kansas City, Kansas where he spent much of his youth climbing trees; yes there are tre... read more →

Claire Wicks

Claire is originally from the Philippines, grew up on Long Island, NY, and is now calling Rhode Island her home. She gr... read more →

Jewelry

Amie Plante

Amie Louise Plante is a native Rhode Island artist, jeweler, designer and teacher extraordinaire. She earned her BFA in... read more →

Islay Taylor Program Director

Islay Taylor is a contemporary art jeweler, who uses the body as a pedestal to showcase wearable sculptures. She receive... read more →

Metalworking Foundry Blacksmithing

Will Reeves

Will Reeves is an artist, designer and maker. Working in a range of materials-steel, bronze, wood, and concrete-as well ... read more →

Metalworking

Will Reeves

Will Reeves is an artist, designer and maker. Working in a range of materials-steel, bronze, wood, and concrete-as well ... read more →

Anna Shapiro

Anna Shapiro is a sculptor, welding instructor and the Master of Ceremonies for the Steel Yard’s 2010, 2011, and 2... read more →

Welding

Christopher Gent

Topher Gent is a Rhode Island based artist and designer. As a native Rhode Islander, he earned his BFA at the Rhode Isla... read more →

Paul Orzech

Paul Orzech is a working sculptor, metal fabricator, and welding instructor. Paul has a Bachelors Fine Art degree from t... read more →

M Quinn

M Quinn received her BFA in Furniture Studies from Rhode Island School of Design, and went on to work as a metal fabrica... read more →

Nora Rabins

Nora Rabins has been teaching at the Steel Yard for three years. She makes furniture and sculpture, working with wood, ... read more →

Monica Shinn

Monica Shinn is a painter and a welder. After graduating in 1994 from the Oregon College of Arts and Crafts, Monica move... read more →