Artist Mentors | Staff | Board of Directors | Press | Directions
Staff
Jason Yoon, Executive Director
jason@newurbanarts.org
Jason Yoon was born and raised in New York City (Brooklyn and Queens) where his parents have lived since they moved to the United States from Korea. His father’s frequent doodling and the free typing paper his mother brought from home from her job as a nurse helped spark his love of drawing as a child. While attending college at the Rhode Island School of Design, Jason learned about New Urban Arts and became an Artist Mentor.
Jason has a BFA in painting from The Rhode Island School of Design and a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from NYU’s Wagner School of Public Service specializing in public and non-profit management and policy. While at Wagner, Jason was named a Carl Long Dean’s Fellow for academic excellence and commitment to public service.
Jason loves running (he ran the NYC Marathon last year). He loves to dance, especially salsa (he was on a salsa dance troupe for many years). He is also a suffering Mets fan, a striking Knicks fan and a very proud Giants fan. To read an interview by the Providence Journal Click Here!
Sarah Meyer, Program Director
sarah@newurbanarts.org
Sarah Meyer is a creative non-fiction writer, but her passion for the arts and her impulse for creative living extend beyond the written word. She holds a B.A. in English from Portland State University with a focus on grantwriting and gender studies. As a recipient of the Arts in Youth and Community Development Fellowship, she completed coursework for her Masters in Arts Management from Columbia College Chicago in 2005. Her thesis explores organizational transition, growth and rebirth in community-based youth arts organizations, identifying best practices for creating an environment capable of change. As an educator and youth advocate, Sarah has taught creative writing, theater, collage, and leadership training to youth ages 8-21 since 1997. She works to develop supportive environments that engage youth in creative inquiry and personal development. Sarah spent the past two years dedicated to building the emerging youth writing community through Young Chicago Authors, which included Louder Than A Bomb, the Chicago Teen Poetry Festival and Youthology, a summer program that culminated in a multimedia performance exploring societal notions and stereotypes of youth culture.
Tamara Kaplan, Operations Manager
tamara@newurbanarts.org
Tamara received a B.F.A in ceramics from the New York State College of Ceramics at Alfred University in 1994. She then received a M.A. with a specialization in Museum Education and M.A.T. certification in K-12 arts education from The Rhode Island School of Design in 2000. During the years between schooling, Tamara worked as a production supervisor at a tile factory in New Jersey and a studio assistant at two production pottery studios in New Hampshire. She was subcontracted by Miotto Mosaics to create 6’ x 3’ mosaic panels for Canal Street Station, NYC. Tamara also spent time working in her studio and teaching adults and kids how to throw pots.
Nine years ago, Tamara started working with various Providence communities as a graduate candidate at RISD. Her graduate thesis was an in-depth look into how art museums can access new audiences by engaging teaching artists to develop work in communities not usually engaged in museum visits. This work led her to the position of Program Director at New Urban Arts, then a three-year-old grassroots arts organization. For the past seven years, Tamara has worked to provide Providence high school students with a safe and non-judgmental space in the out-of-school time to make art while developing caring relationships with adults and a creative practice they can sustain throughout their lives. After spending seven months as the Interim Executive Director, Tamara now serves as the Operations Manager.
When not at New Urban Arts, Tamara spends her time in her creative practice. Her letterpress sits on her dining room and her two-year-old twin daughters are currently using her typewriter. These days, she works in letterpress, paper, sewing, prints, words, and is developing plans to build a clay/wood studio in her backyard, to be built someday.Jesse Banks, Studio Manager
jesse@newurbanarts.org
Jesse Banks III is a freelance photographer who was raised in Liberia and currently resides in Providence. Jesse has had many roles at New Urban Arts, starting as a student over seven years ago, he has spent many years as an Artist Mentor, a board member, and most recently joined the staff as the Studio Manager.
His photography has been published in many Rhode Island newspapers including Providence Monthly. Jesse studied photography as a student at New Urban Arts with Artist Mentors’ Erik Gould, and Kat Ball. Jesse’s work explores personality and spirit through portraiture. Jesse continues to give back to NUA positive experiences that were given to him as a student. He is continuing to explore his creative voice and practice both within and outside of photography.
Tyler Denmead, Founder
Tyler Denmead started New Urban Arts as an undergraduate at BrownRead a detailed biography of Tyler Denmead
By Ashley Paniagua, Student 2001 - 2005
