The Banner Hill School of

Lois Binetsky (Ceramics)

Lois began working in ceramics at the Potters’ Guild in Ann Arbor, Michigan. After studies at Manhattan’s Greenwich House, she received scholarships at the Haystack Mountain School of Crafts in Maine and at the Brooklyn Museum of Art School. Lois opened her own studio in Manhattan, teaching adult classes there, while she also taught children’s classes in pottery and sculpture at the Brooklyn Museum School for many years. Lois’s works have been featured in American Home and other magazines and her work has been exhibited in numerous shows such as that at the Museum of Natural History where her endangered animal jars have been displayed and sold. Since moving to upstate New York and opening her new studio in 2004 Lois conducts yearly ceramic workshops where her goal is “for students to enjoy working with clay and creating works from their own imagination.”

Dina Bursztyn (Ceramics)

Dina has been working in ceramics for more than 30 years, in her native Argentina, in New York City and most recently in upstate NY. She has been awarded several public art commissions, among others by the New York City MTA Arts for Transit Program, the Public Art Fund, NYC Department of Cultural Affairs, Percent for Arts Program and NYC Board of Education. Her work has been represented extensively in galleries, museums and public spaces throughout the country as well as abroad, such as Maxweel Fine Arts, Hostos Center for Arts and Culture, Neuberger Museum of Art, Artists Space, and the Bronx Museum of the Arts. She has been awarded grants by Art Matters, New York State Council for the Arts and New York Foundation for the Arts and has been Artist in Residence at Greenwich House, NYC, Altos de Chavron, Dominican Republic and in several other venues. Her work has been featured in The New York Times, Double Take Magazine, Daily News Magazine, Ceramics Monthly, National Public Radio and in numerous journals, books and catalogues.

Candace Christiansen (Weaving/Basketry, Ceramics)

Candace was raised in Albany, NY and attended the College of St. Rose and Cornell University for graduate study in Biochemistry. For 23 years Candace was a teacher of chemistry, math, weaving and spinning at the Hawthorne Valley School and served as Faculty Chair for 4 of those years as well as a teacher of weaving at Sugar Maples Arts Foundation in the Northern Catskills of upstate New York.

Kip Christie (Woodworking)

Kip, studied at the prestigious Chippendale School of Woodworking in Edinburgh Scotland. He has taught at Anderson Ranch in Aspen, CO, and also attended the Center for Furniture Craftsmanship in Rockport, ME. His love of woodworking started over 20 years ago when he built his first timber frame home which he still lives in today. Kip is dedicated to using only the finest materials and employing the best techniques.

Issachar Durkin (Woodworking)

Issachar comes from a family steeped in the traditions of time honored craftsmanship in woodworking. His skills and experience as a master craftsman are as diverse as restoration of timber frames to rowing sculls, as well as crafting furniture and wood pieces that range in style from Shaker to Contemporary. His experience as part of the Homestead Heritage and his ability to clearly communicate to students straight forward answers to their complicated woodworking situations makes him a unique instructor. We are proud to have Izzy on our Banner Hill staff.

Maureen Donovan Garcia (Ceramics)

Maureen received a BFA in Ceramics as well as an Art Education degree from Tyler School of Art in Pennsylvania. She taught art and environmental education through Americorps in Colorado. Maureen has been a studio assistant, ceramic studio manager and faculty member since 2004 at the Sugar Maples Center for the Arts in upstate NY. She has displayed her work in shops and galleries in and around the region and is excited to be a new member of the faculty at the Banner Hill School.

Mary LaCafe (Woodworking)

Mary is a self taught wood worker who was raised in the Pacific Northwest. In 1970 she traded the coniferous forest of the Cascade Mountains for the hardwoods of the Catskills of New York. Homesteading led to an appreciation of Shaker philosophy and furniture design. Her work is a synthesis of the unbridled forms of the West tempered by the tradition of discipline and simplicity of Shaker practicality.

Ruth Sachs (Ceramics)

Ruth received her BS degree from Hartwick College and studied at Alfred University. Ruth has taught at the Usdan Center for the Creative and Performing Arts and at Twilight Park in upstate New York. She is an instructor of ceramics, wheel, hand building, tile making. Ruth is also a master glazer and Raku firing expert. She has held special workshops with    international ceramists Jeff Oestreich. Aumi Horie, Malcome Davis, Peter King, Serge Isipov and many others. Exhibits include: Functional Pottery - Hofstra University, Out of Hand – Art League of Long Island, and Journeys in Clay – Council on the Arts. Ruth is also a member of the National Council on Education in Ceramic Arts, Council on the Arts Board, Art League of Long Island, Potters Guild, Clay Art Guild and Windham Art Alliance.