Susan Brubaker Knapp is a fiber artist, author, photographer, teacher, and host of “Quilting Arts TV,” which airs on many public TV stations across the U.S. Her work celebrates and documents the deep mysteries of the world that are to be experienced only by close inspection of the miraculous details of nature. Most of her art is realistic/representational in style, and starts with original photographs of the subjects, or her ink drawings based on them. She uses two primary techniques – wholecloth painting, and fused appliqué – and often heavily free-motion thread sketches the surface before quilting. Please visit her website to learn more: www.susanbrubakerknapp.com.

Karen Stevens Fisher is a teaching artist living in Chapel Hill, North Carolina working primarily with clay. She has had her hands in clay since her earliest days at Greenwich House Pottery’s afterschool program in New York City. In 2015 she turned her avocation toward composing a life as a full-time ceramic artist and educator. While working with clay she feels grounded and meditative. 

A daughter and granddaughter of artists, she also has an abiding interest in the study of ancient cultures and art history. Her work on several archaeological digs informs her awe for the timelessness of art crafted by hand. It is in handling archaeological shards of pottery that she has felt the throwing rings laid in by artists from ancient times BCE.

Natalia Favorsky is a local artist who lives and works in Chapel Hill. She was born in Saint Petersburg, Russia and moved to the USA in 2009. She graduated from Saint Petersburg State University of Culture and Art in 2005. Since her youth, she loved Art, loved to try different techniques, and draw illustrations. Before moving to North Carolina, she lived in Houston, Texas. There she studied at Glassell School of Art and participated in various exhibitions. Natalia’s favorite artists are Claude Monet, Salvador Dali and Van Gogh. She was especially interested in Van Gogh’s ink sketches, and from copying these drawings, her passion for Ink as an art media began. She also likes a combination of Ink and Watercolor, and enjoys creating painting using Acrylic.

Charlotte Hord Smith is a Carrboro-based artist who creates one-of-a-kind fabric designs she sews onto handmade paper or onto small teabags.

Each creation is unique and a little quirky. In order to share them with more people, she turns her favorite images into notecards and large format 5”x7” postcards.

As African American twin sisters growing up in the 1950’s South, our lifelong love affair with baubles and beads began in childhood. We loved to play in our grandmother’s jewelry box. While life presented a detour with our careers as wives, mothers, and physicians, we never lost the passion for beautiful jewelry. Our hobby has now become our post-retirement career. “Deenie’s” focus is on artisan, handmade sterling silver and 18k gold and semi-precious stone jewelry design. In addition to her artisan, sterling silver work, “Flip” continues her love of baubles and beads in her use of genuine semi-precious stones, pearls and sterling silver or gold accents in her design. Each design is made with love. We hope you enjoy our jewelry as much as we enjoy making the pieces for you.

Theresa Arico is a mosaic artist and sculptor who creates large-scale, interactive works that invite play, exploration, and imaginative engagement in public spaces. Designed specifically for outdoor environments, her sculptures are built with durable materials and thoughtful forms that encourage touch, movement, and discovery for visitors of all ages. Drawing inspiration from nature, myth and elemental forces, her work seamlessly blends art with play, transforming recreational spaces into immersive, story-rich experiences.

​JIM BAIRD majored in Trombone performance in college. He arranges music, and has made several customized arrangements for Artemis Brass! He is also a professional performer on Acoustic Bass, Electric Bass, and Guitar. He is a retired Director of the Guitar Program and Durham School of the Arts. Jim was focusing on bass and teaching for most of his career, but after retiring and during the pandemic, his trombone started coming out of its case more and more. And we are so glad!!!

SARAH MANSORI played french horn from ages 12-21 years old, took a 25 year break, and is a “come-back” player. She’s having the best time playing with the members of Artemis Brass and Brass Odyssey! She plays in the Durham Medical Orchestra, with Ed and Jim in The Rusty Pipes of Croasdaile Village, Aurora Woodwind Quintet, and with Ed, Jim, Wendy, and Carl in the Chapel Hill Philharmonia.

WENDY RICHARDSON was the first member to join Artemis Brass! She plays Trumpet in Chapel Hill Philharmonia and loves playing all types of music, from classical to jazz. Wendy is a “come-back” player, and got back into playing trumpet after retiring from her full-time job. She is known as the “human metronome” of Artemis Brass!

itchener Howell, a native of Durham, NC and a product of Durham Public Schools. graduated from Yale University, where he founded the Yale College Opera Company. He served many roles with this company, organizing and directing its well-received inaugural production, Handel's Giulio Cesare.

Howell then focused on performing, and had several notable successes during his tenure at Yale including the role of Astolf in Schubert's rarely performed opera Die Verschworenen, featured soloist on the Yale Glee Club's European tour, and the role of the Duke of Dunstable in Gilbert and Sullivan's farcical opera Patience. He participated in master classes with guest artists, including renowned baritone William Warfield, soprano Virginia Zeani, tenor Jerry Hadley, and opera and musical theater composer Adam Guettel.

In 2004 Howell had the honor of soloing for Richard Brodhead’s inauguration as president of Duke University. He went on to earn his master's degree from the Lamont School of Music at the University of Denver in 2006, garnering praise for his interpretation of Fenton in Nicolai’s The Merry Wives of Windsor.

After graduation, Mitchener began performing roles with opera companies in the Triangle area. He has sung Bastian in Mozart’s Bastian and Bastianne, and a concert of Mozart operas for Capitol Opera Raleigh. Mr. Howell has also worked with Long Leaf Opera as Jazz in Blitzstein’s masterpiece, Regina, and covered the role of Ed in the premiere of Carter Chandler’s brooding, blues-infused opera, Strange Fruit.

Recent performances include the Vicar in Meredith College's (Raleigh) production of Britten’s sole comedic opera, Albert Herring (starring Metropolitan Opera soprano Claudia Waite), Alexis in The Sorcerer, Captain Fitzbattleaxe in Utopia, Ltd, and Ralph Rackstraw in the HMS Pinafore with the Durham Savoyards'. Mr. Howell has previously sung a co-recital with Jay Pierson for the Strobilus Chamber Music Series, and was excited to recently make an international debut as Don Ottavio in Mozart’s Don Giovanni with the Young Artist Project in Italy. Mr. Howell’s performed his most recent recital entitled, “A Spring Awakening” (featuring music of Ravel, Grieg, Verdi and William Grant Still) with the St. Luke’s Artist Series.