Welcome to Cotuit Center for the Arts

Melanie Gillis is an artist and art teacher. She earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Graphic Design from Boston University and a Master of Arts in Teaching Visual Art from Bridgewater State University. She enjoys teaching a variety of mediums that include drawing, painting, printmaking, mixed media, and clay. She has taught at The Danforth Art Museum at Framingham State University and currently teaches in public school and at the Cape Cod Museum of Art. Melanie loves to teach students of all ages and to encourage them to explore, take chances and develop their creative voice. When Melanie is not teaching art she is engaged in making artworks in a variety of mediums; photography, printmaking, clay, and fiber art.

After decades of teaching drawing and painting to children and adults it is her conviction that thinking you have no ability or so-called “talent” can be a self-fulfilling prophecy. Creativity can be learned and this is one of the premises of her classes, to dispel all the misconceptions about art. Her focus is to relax, inspire confidence, encourage and minimize inhibitions while enjoying the journey of creating.

Before moving to Cape Cod she taught painting in her home studio in Millis, Ma. Conducted workshops and classes at Boston Public Library, Copley Society of Boston, art guilds, schools and libraries on Cape Cod, in Rhode Island, the North Shore and New Hampshire.

She was the founder/director of the Stoney Brook Arts Guild at the Stoney Brook Nature Center in Norfolk, Ma. Since moving to the Cape she has taught at Falmouth Arts Guild, Sandwich Arts Alliance, Cape Cod Arts Assoc. Upper Cape Tech. H.S. and Cotuit Center for the Arts where she loves being a part of for the past several years.

Steve has a Bachelors in Music / classical guitar from Rhode Island College and attended Berklee College of Music in Boston to study jazz composition. He was in management and purchasing for several years with Tower Records and HMV Records - amassing an enormous recording collection. He has taught at the Cape Cod Conservatory, CCFTA, Sandwich Arts Alliance and Falmouth Academy. He is the founder of the Cotuit Center for the Arts Ukulele Orchestra series of classes and is the Saturday Service Music Director at West Parish Church in West Barnstable. Steve currently plays guitar and sings with the Cape Cod duet, Side Hustle and performs as a sideman and fill-in musician for Kim Moberg, Out Late, Funktapuss, Jim Nosler's Twister and others.

Steve teaches Guitar, Ukulele, Bass Guitar, Drums, EnsemblesHe founded the Cotuit Center for the Arts Ukulele Orchestra series of classes in 2011, has taught music, ukulele and guitar at the Cape Cod Conservatory and Rock Band classes Falmouth Academy.

Steve is currently the Saturday Service Music Director at West Parish Church in West Barnstable. He's also performed for 45 years as a guitarist and vocalist for his own groups as well as a sideman for several Cape Cod based acts.

Steve has a Bachelors in Music / classical guitar from Rhode Island College and attended Berklee College of Music in Boston to study jazz composition. He was in management and purchasing for several years with Tower Records and HMV Records - amassing an enormous recording collection. He has taught at the Cape Cod Conservatory, CCFTA, Sandwich Arts Alliance and Falmouth Academy. He is the founder of the Cotuit Center for the Arts Ukulele Orchestra series of classes and is the Saturday Service Music Director at West Parish Church in West Barnstable. Steve currently plays guitar and sings with the Cape Cod duet, Side Hustle and performs as a sideman and fill-in musician for Kim Moberg, Out Late, Funktapuss, Jim Nosler's Twister and others.

Steve teaches Guitar, Ukulele, Bass Guitar, Drums, EnsemblesHe founded the Cotuit Center for the Arts Ukulele Orchestra series of classes in 2011, has taught music, ukulele and guitar at the Cape Cod Conservatory and Rock Band classes Falmouth Academy.

Steve is currently the Saturday Service Music Director at West Parish Church in West Barnstable. He's also performed for 45 years as a guitarist and vocalist for his own groups as well as a sideman for several Cape Cod based acts.

I’m a retired educator and business owner and have been painting Fantastic Furniture for 20 years. It all started with a class given by my mentor, Ginny Boylan, at the Marblehead Arts Association. Prior to moving to the Cape, I was the co-owner of Yellow Dog Designs. We created custom work for clients on the Northshore of Boston including painted furniture and floorcloths. Currently I paint for pleasure and for a wonderful non-profit called Painting for a Purpose. They hold an annual auction to benefit the Portland Public Schools. One of my chairs was featured on poster promoting the event. Each year I paint dozens of pieces for the auction.

Neil Grant is an English representational sculptor who makes fine art through a slightly different lens. The winner of the 2018 Newby Patrons Award at the National Sculpture Society’s Annual Awards Exhibition, he combines technical skill with storytelling and humor.

Neil lives on Cape Cod, Massachusetts where he sculpts out of his studio, and is part of the teaching faculty at Cotuit Center for the Arts.

“Sculpture is how I put my thoughts out into the world, and so I try to make sure that they are ideas worth sharing,” says Neil. “All sculptures have an origin story, and mine normally begin with questions such as, ‘I wonder if anyone has ever attempted that in clay before?’ or ‘It’s probably not what you’d call classical sculpture, but I wonder if people would like it?’ I love sculpture and any other form of art that fuses skill, emotion, and—if it can—a bit of humor. That’s what I aim for in my work."

More details about Neil and his work can be found at www.granty-art.com.

Chelsey is a licensed independent clinical social worker in private practice who loves using holistic and expressive techniques like art in her healing work. As a talk therapist, Chelsey has learned the value of nonverbal healing techniques (art, movement, play, and energy work) so SoulCollage® has been the perfect fit for her both in her professional healing work and in her own spiritual growth. After renting office space from a SoulCollage® facilitator and diving into the creation of her own SoulCollage® deck, Chelsey completed her facilitator training in May of 2024. It is her joy to hold space where people can deepen their relationships with their inner selves, their community, and their higher power. Chelsey is trained in trauma and attachment informed techniques and provides individual therapy to adults seeking to heal their inner child. To learn more about her clinical work you can find her at www.primaveralcounseling.com

Lucy Lee is a highly trained dancer with years of experience teaching ballet and movement to students of all ages and skill levels. Her style of instruction is rooted strongly in fundamental technique and a deep passion for the art of dance. As a teacher, her goal is to foster a love of movement and enjoyment of dance in her students. She has been teaching at Cotuit Center for the Arts for many years, the community is grateful to have her.

Lucy Lee is a highly trained dancer with years of experience teaching ballet and movement to students of all ages and skill levels. Her style of instruction is rooted strongly in fundamental technique and a deep passion for the art of dance. As a teacher, her goal is to foster a love of movement and enjoyment of dance in her students. She has been teaching at Cotuit Center for the Arts for many years, the community is grateful to have her.

Mary Shea is an experienced educator and artist with a Bachelor of Science from Murray State University and a Master of Arts in Teaching from Bridgewater State University. She has taught for over 25 years in various studio and classroom environments, including Mansfield Public Schools, Mt. Ida College, Hunakai School of Fine Arts, and the McGraw Ceramic Studio. After retiring from Mansfield Public Schools in June 2021, she moved to Sandwich with her husband in October 2021. When she is not teaching, Mary enjoys hiking and teaching her granddaughters how to paint.Mary Shea is an experienced educator and artist with a BS from Murray State University and a MAT from Bridgewater State University. She has taught for over 25 years in various studio and classroom settings, including Mansfield Public Schools, Mt Ida College, Hunakai School of Fine Arts, and the McGraw Ceramic Studio. Mary retired from Mansfield Public Schools in June 2021 and moved to Sandwich with her husband in October 2021. When not teaching, she enjoys hiking and teaching her granddaughters to paint.