Christopher Barclay
Executive Director
Chris Barclay is an education advocate, management professional, and working artist-photographer, with a notable public service record in Montgomery County. He served as the District 4 representative on the Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) Board of Education, twice as president in 2010 and 2013, and twice as vice president in 2009 and 2012. Barclay’s community leadership roles have included the Montgomery County Council of PTAs, the NAACP Parents’ Council, the Takoma Foundation Board of Directors, and the Takoma Park Department of Recreation Advisory Committee. He is a member of Leadership Montgomery’s Core Class of 2014, a graduate of Columbia College of Chicago and worked in telecommunications prior to public service.
Jadyn Covington
Studio Manager and TAP Assistant
Jadyn is a jack of all trades artist based in the Washington, DC area. Though her main mediums are writing and illustration, she has dabbled in jewelry making, embroidery, toy modifications, and many other experimental art phases. Jadyn takes a lot of inspiration from her own life and culture, as well as from the supernatural/fantastical and nostalgia. She is also heavily influenced by other cultures around the world like Japan, Italy, and South Korea, be it their art, cuisine, fashion, lifestyle, etc. She loves color and variety and enjoys not being stuck in a box creatively when it comes to her art, Jadyn thrives personally in that spontaneity. A lot of her visual art is straightforward for the purposes of storytelling and sending well thought out messages to those who view it.
Angela Faye Cruz
Digital Studio Manager & Studio Crew Program Assistant
Angela Faye Cruz is an emerging illustrator that works both traditionally and digitally and has dabbled in other media throughout her creative career. With a fine arts focus throughout high school, Angela graduated from Quince Orchard High School and became an apprentice for Arts on the Block’s Pour Your Art Out program in 2018. She then became a Studio Crew member from 2019-2021 designing and fabricating client commissioned artwork. Currently, she works as the Digital Studio Manager and Program Assistant supporting the professional development of studio crew members while also working on building a co-owned start-up business, Galaxy Garden Crafts as an alternative creative outlet to design and sell fandom-inspired merchandise as a display of admiration for her other hobbies and interests.
Clayton Evans
Deputy Director
Clayton B. Evans has dedicated most of his 25 professional years towards working with youth and families in the out-of-school-time field and is the recipient of a PASEsetter Award for exceptional youth work in New York City. Evans has taught art to students of virtually every age, from kindergarteners to retired adults. In addition to teaching the visual arts, Evans has extensive experience in not-for-profit and arts management. He was the founding director of the LeRoy Neiman Art Center in Harlem, NYC and Executive Director of Leave Out Violence-U.S. Evans received his Bachelor of Arts in Studio Art (Education minor) from Lafayette College, and a Masters of Fine Arts in Painting from Maryland Institute, College of Art (MICA). Learn more about Clayton and his art!
Kelsey Joyce
Manager & Lead Teaching Artist, The Apprentice Program (TAP)
Kelsey Joyce has spent the past 4 years as a professional teaching artist, fundraiser, and arts event planner, working with a variety of organizations and student populations. She earned her B.A. in Studio Art from St. Mary’s College of Maryland. In addition, she has held positions of art instruction at Port Discovery Children’s Museum, CREATE Arts Center, Latin American Youth Center, VisArts Center, and the Zenith Arts Foundation. Since 2019, she has been a practicing studio artist and focused on creating sculptures that take inspiration from daydreams, storytelling, and the world around her. Joyce’s work plays with the idea of traveling in the mind, physical world, and finding an intersection to both with fantasy storytelling. The goal of Joyce’s work is to temporarily transport the viewer into Joyce’s immersive fantasy by using bright expressive colors, affectionate smiles, and a peaceful and fun environment. When she is not creating works of art she is expressing herself through dance, fashion, music, and baking. Check out Kelsey’s work at kelseyjoyce.com and on instagram @joyful.imji.creations
Kern Lee
Studio Crew Manager
Kern Lee is an arts educator and freelance illustrator with multiple years of experience in arts education, working with both Montgomery County Public Schools and local arts nonprofits. Their artwork references and twists popular design tropes to craft fresh, yet vaguely familiar narratives. You can check out some of their work here!
Kelly PalmerCollege and Career Readiness VISTA As an ever growing creative, Kelly Palmer has allowed her strong passion for the arts to continually inspire her life. As a graduate from Coppin State University, she attained her bachelor’s degree in Urban Arts and a minor in Nonprofit Leadership. During that time, her studies in the arts and nonprofit sector has developed her understanding of present day business tools, marketing strategies, and how to make herself knowledgeable in other industries, including technology. Working with people, whether in a classroom or administrative setting has sharpened her communication skills and ability to build a rapport with people from all walks of life.
Alexandra Rivera Rivera
GWU Graduate Art Therapy Intern
Alexandra Rivera Rivera, is a 26-year-old Puerto Rican Art Therapy intern here at AOB and is acquiring an Art Therapy Master 2024 with The George Washington University. From the mountains of Cañaboncito in Caguas, PR; she has created murals around the island with her project “Besito-e-Coco”. In addition to being an artist, she carries a natural science bachelor’s and visual arts minor from The University of Puerto Rico-Cayey. Her dreams of creating safe spaces and bringing communities together have brought her here to the DMV area. She’s also part of other artistic groups like “Brumas de Borikén” a folklore dancing company based in Cayey, Puerto Rico. Representing her culture and sharing it with others is part of her identity. Exploring more of her learnings in art therapy, and bringing them to use in our programs, she’s excited to embark on this journey with us.
Peter Tabri
Artwork Installation Master Craftsman
Peter Tabri is a well-renowned mosaic craftsman in the Washington DC are. With over 30 years experience in tile, marble, and mosaic installation, Peter has decided to carry on the family tradition of mosaic craftsmanship that has been part of the Tabri line for well over a century. He has been recognized for his exceptional work by both the DC Commission on the Arts and the Arts & Humanities Council of Montgomery County.
Arts on the Block
900 Wayne Avenue #1A
Silver Spring, MD 20910
Office: 240-513-3767
Copyright © 2020 Arts on the Block. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy.
