Lead Artists
Angela Gravino (Castle) - Director
Nate Bogert - Photography
Nate has been heavily involved in both the local Arts scene and the Arts Education field for over 10 years. Nate developed a Hip Hop program and co-developed a Video program with Youth friends. He also worked as a lead artist with Storytellers Inc. in after school programs, and with Sentence of the Arts. Nate is currently active in the local performance and music scene, as a Video Jockey, by creating one of a kind video installations that meld live video with his unique video library. He has had solo Photography Exhibits at the Dirt Gallery, The Late Show, The Brick, Zolas and more.
Jason Needham - Screen Printing
Jason Needham received his BFA in Painting from KU in 1996. Since graduation he has lived in Florida, Minnesota, and Colorado. While living in Denver, Jason exhibited work at Zip 37, the Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities, and the Kansas City Artist's Coalition. In 2005 he completed a community mural project with Downtown Aurora Visual Arts at the intersection of Colfax and Florence Street in Aurora, Colorado. In early 2006 Jason returned to Kansas to reconnect with family and friends and is currently living in Kansas City, KS. While in Kansas City Jason has been awarded a one year Studio Residency with Urban Culture Project in downtown KC-MO, exhibited work at the Kaw Valley Arts and Humanities Gallery, and been included in exhibitions at the Base Gallery and Paragraph’s Project Space.
Jade Osborne - Visual Arts
Jade has been a part of the performing and visual arts community in Kansas City for over ten years. She has developed curriculum for YLDC, Kansas City, KS and MO school districts, Chameleon Theater, Storytellers, Inc., and for the Alvin Ailey Summer Camp. Jade has performed and presented with Big Bang Buffet, Gorilla Theater, Dementia 42, MarKeD, Beribazu Capoeira, Quixotic, and Voler. She has also designed cover and insert artwork for bands including Sky Burial and Des Structures Sonores. Jade has worked for COMBAT through many media in the Sentenced to the Arts Program and continues her work with young people in the MyARTS program as the Visual Arts Studio lead mentor and the Apprenticeship instructor.
Mallory Rapp - Graphic Design
Mallory obtained her B.F.A. in Commercial Art: Graphic Design from the University of Central Missouri in 2008. After graduation, she moved to Kansas City and has done freelance graphic design for a wide array of clients in the Kansas City area and beyond. She is an active member of the Kansas City Ad Club and AIGA, KC chapter. Mallory has also volunteered her design talent to a few Kansas City non-profit organizations. Currently, she is working towards a supplemental degree in Web Design to further her education in design. She is currently the Graphic Design Artist mentor for the MyARTS program.
Elaina Wendt Michalski - Ceramics
Elaina Wendt Michalski, a Kansas City native, received her M.F.A. degree from the University of Florida in 2004 and her B.F.A. degree from the Kansas City Art Institute in 2000. Her recent work includes life-size fired and unfired clay figures, found objects and video projections. She has taught art at Paseo Academy of Fine and Performing Arts, Rockhurst University, Longview Community College, and Kansas City Art Institute. She is the artist mentor for the Ceramics studio and continues to exhibit her artwork nationally. She was recently awarded a one year studio residency with the Urban Culture Project sponsored by the Charlotte Street Foundation.