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.

Award-winning Cape Cod artist Joe Gallant has been a full-time painter and instructor on Cape Cod for 25 years. He has conducted his popular Big Brush painting workshops for beginners and more advanced students at Cotuit Center for the Arts for a number of years. In 2019 and 2021, Joe also conducted all-day painting workshops sponsored by Cape Cod Collaborative for Cape and Islands public and private school arts teachers. He employs a casual and fun approach to painting instruction that his students enjoy.

Joe has an in-home gallery in Sandwich that is open by appointment. His original art, prints, boxed note cards and boxed Christmas cards are also sold in retail stores and on his website at www.capecodwatercolors.com.

Léonie Little-Lex is a fine artist and illustrator from Cape Cod, MA. She graduated from Massachusetts College of Art and Design with a BFA in Illustration, then went on to complete her Masters of Arts in Teaching. She shows her work in galleries and art shows on Cape Cod and in the greater Boston area, and has also exhibited nationally in Oregon, New York, and North Carolina. She works in a variety of mediums with an emphasis on painting and pen-and-ink drawings. She recently illustrated her first children's book, "A is for Always: An Adoption Alphabet", published in August 2022. In addition to her work as an artist, Léonie has been an instructor in drawing and painting for over 10 years, both in private and community settings.

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.

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.