our mission

BRENDA POKORNY 

Chair 

Brenda Pokorny is a mosaic artist in Mooresville, NC. She received a BFA from Miami University, with a concentration in textile design, and began her career in the design studio of the largest wallpaper manufacturer in the US. After five years there and ten years managing her textile design business, she started playing around with mosaic and was an instant convert. 

Brenda finds inspiration in gardens and nature, mazes, labyrinths, and mandalas. These interests have taken her around the globe, exploring parks, hedge mazes, labyrinths, gothic and Renaissance cathedrals, and the mosaics of the ancient Greek and Roman worlds. 

Brenda's goal in creating mosaics is to produce art that adds beauty and brings joy. She hopes to have more opportunities to create large-scale public artworks that can involve communities in their creation and beautify spaces everyone enjoys.

DIXON HANDSHAW 

Vice Chair

Dixon Handshaw is a photographic educator based in Mooresville, NC. He spent 35 years of his career as a learning and performance consultant as president of his own company, Handshaw, Inc. Before that he earned his living as a professional photographer. Now he is combining those two experiences to teach fine art photography in both digital and film formats. His favorite aspect of teaching is inspiring students to find personal expression through the lens of a camera.

Dixon currently serves as an adjunct instructor in photography at Catawba Valley Community College. He serves on the Education Committee at Mooresville Arts where he also teaches photography. He has a BFA in photography from Alfred University and a MS in Instructional Systems Technology from Indiana University. He served on the Board of Directors for The Light Factory in Charlotte, NC and chaired their Education Committee where he also served as an instructor and designer of courses. He served on the Board of Directors at the Carolina Raptor Center in Charlotte,

NC, where he designed and taught a course in Bird and Wildlife Photography. He has been passionate about photography since he was 14. 

CATHERINE CRANE

Treasurer, Finance Chair

Catherine Crane received an MBA from St Joseph’s University and completed a post-MBA program in Global Business Leadership at the Wharton School of Business. he is also an RN and holds a BS from Rutgers University. She practiced as a critical care registered nurse and then joined the pharmaceutical industry, leading worldwide clinical drug development programs in multiple therapeutic areas. 

Catherine enjoys the crossroads between art and science. She is an art enthusiast and has taken oil painting and mixed media classes. She has a passion for art and believes art is a fundamental human need that sustains us. She believes art communicates both multi-dimensionally and viscerally and dramatically impacts how we relate to the world around us. Her favorite quote from Albert Einstein is, “The most beautiful thing we can experience is the mysterious. It is the source of all true art and science.”

MATTHEW MICOLUCCI

Board Secretary

Matt found a love for photography when he and his family moved to the Lake Norman area in 2010. After one of his lake photographs won a contest, they found the Mooresville Arts was a unique environment to continue learning and expanding one’s creative talents. Matt’s photography has since been in exhibits at Mooresville Arts and he soon realized he wanted to get involved.

Raised in the Philadelphia suburbs, Matt had a variety of college and work experiences that showed getting involved is a great way to continue learning and growing as a person. Matt and his wife, Chris, relocated from Washington DC to Atlanta where he was an IT consultant for many years. Through the companies he worked for, and with, he was always involved in employee engagement where he could share his enthusiasm for actively engaging in the community. 

Additionally, Matt has a passion for playing soccer, which he shares with his son who is studying at Furman University in Greenville, SC.  Matt and Chris are often seen in their neighborhood walking their two dogs or taking the boat out for sunset cruises (camera in hand)! You may meet Matt in person at an exhibit or taking another class at Mooresville Arts as he learns ways to incorporate his photography in mixed-media pieces.

LARISA KAMP 

Development Chair

Larisa Kamp was born and raised in Maryland. She received a BA in Studio Art and Psychology from University of Maryland, and a MFA in Art Education from New York University. She taught sassy, fabulous Middle Schoolers in both public and independent schools in Baltimore for over a decade. Upon moving to Mooresville in 2016, Larisa was excited to find Mooresville Arts and volunteered on the Education Committee for several years, as well as taught classes and summer camps at MA and other local institutions. As a teacher, Larisa loves being able to share her passion for art with students, helping them find ways to express themselves and grow as creative thinkers.  

After arriving in NC, Larisa began painting acrylic pet portrait commissions. Her energetic, bold and colorful style of painting lends itself to capturing the vibrant personalities and beauty of animal subjects, and it is something that always makes her smile! In 2021, Larisa and her best friend started a small business, LKN Local, designing and selling Lake Norman apparel and gifts to celebrate the beauty of the lake and the community they love. 

Besides art, Larisa loves travel, exercise, cooking and spending time with her family and friends. She lives in Mooresville with her husband, Ryan, and their two children, Maija (12) and Bennett (10), and their English Bulldog, Cocoa. 

CHRISTOPHER MCINTOSH

Chris was born and raised in Michigan. He studied commercial art and has been an artist since he can remember. For the last 25 years, Chris has worked in home remodeling, construction and maintenance. He moved to North Carolina in 2008 and became a Mooresville resident in 2010. 

Chris made his way to Mooresville Arts by another artist who invited him to join an exhibition. Since that time he has volunteered on numerous projects, served as vice president in 2012 and then as president shortly thereafter. Chris is the chair of the Building & Grounds Committee and was the construction leader on the Warehouse to Center Gallery Renovation Project in 2018-19. 

His artwork is inspired by boldly colored landscape images. He mentally processes those images and transforms them into abstract versions using mixed media. Chris uses oil as the prominent medium as well as some silver, copper and gold leaf, drywall compound, resin and acrylics. 

DIANE SULG

The Shop Coordinator

Diane Sulg has enjoyed an active role in the arts for more than forty years. Her involvement began as a volunteer for the Visiting Artist Series in the Quad Cities of eastern Iowa and western Illinois along the Mississippi River. In 1985, when the organization was challenged financially, she organized one of the first Festival of Trees in the country. That event has raised millions of dollars for the arts over the past thirty-eight years.

Within three years, Diane was selected to lead a new arts organization, Quad City Arts, which combined the Visiting Artist Series, the Arts Council and two festivals. As Executive Director Diane managed a staff of seven who presented more than 300 annual performances by nationally known artists. She led the

reconstruction of a vacant department store in Rock Island, Illinois to be the Quad City ArtsCenter, which contained two galleries as well as office and meeting space. She was an avid grants writer to the Iowa and Illinois Arts Councils as well as the NEA. One of the grants resulted in a public arts program, Face the River, and several large public art installations.

When she and her husband moved to North Carolina, they opened Maddi’s Gallery in Charlotte, and then a second gallery in Huntersville. The galleries specialized in fine craft as well as her personal passion, Southern Folk Art. In 2009, Maddi’s Gallery was honored by Niche Magazine as the Top Retailer

of American Craft in the country.

Today, Diane is Executive Director of CRAFT, a non-profit trade association of galleries and artists specializing in handmade American craft. She is a speaker and trainer developing artists for the wholesale trade. She also a writes two columns in Sunshine Artist magazine.

Diane and her husband Madis love to travel and collect art. Diane regularly spends her free time painting with acrylics and watercolors. She applauds Mooresville Arts saying “local arts organizations are a vital force for creating a dynamic community, and I am thrilled to be part of it.”

CELESTE BADR 

Executive Director

Originally from Southcentral Michigan, Celeste moved to North Carolina in 2006 and joined Mooresville Arts in September 2020. 

Celeste worked in higher education advancement for nearly 30 years. Her experience includes strategic planning, fundraising, educational and alumni program management, marketing, and public relations. She holds a MPA in Nonprofit Leadership & Management and a BA in Public Relations.

Celeste enjoys quilting, photography, and other "artsy" adventures. She lives in Davidson with her two little dogs and Larry the Cat. 

MIRANDA HATCH

Executive Assistant

Miranda was born and raised in Greensboro, NC. She is working on a certificate in UX Design and continuing her studies in Graphic Design. Eventually, Miranda plans to obtain her Master's in Wildlife Conservation. 

Miranda worked as a flight attendant at American Airlines not long ago, allowing her to live in Indianapolis, Boston, and DC. She moved back to North Carolina to be closer to her family and live in Charlotte. Miranda has a beautiful puppy named Cleo; she and her partner, Kyle, found a home in Mooresville. 

"I am new to the Mooresville area and so excited to work at Mooresville Arts. I have been involved in visual and performing arts since I was 3. It is a real treat to work with artists and people who enjoy the arts as much as I do. I am excited to meet and work with you all!" -Miranda

BRENDA KADLECIK

Education Director

Brenda is an artist in the LKN area; she enjoys painting flowers, nature scenes and abstract. Her preferred medium is watercolor and acrylic. 

Brenda's artwork is a unique play of color, texture and depth- a fresh, fun, modern take on the classic subjects that she enjoys. She plans a little, plays a lot, and lets her instincts lead the way - it is all about the joy of creating! She is excited to lead the Paint & Sips and Paint Parties at Mooresville Arts where she can encourage and inspire others to explore their own artistic talents! 

She was born in New Jersey and raised in Winston Salem, NC. She attended UNC Greensboro where she earned a BS in Interior Architecture and a BS in Human Development and Family Studies. Her background includes teaching preschool classes and working with children of all ages. 

JESSICA DEHART 

Gallery Director/Social Media Manager

Jessica DeHart grew up in southwestern Virginia. She attended Roanoke College and graduated with a B.A. in Art, with a concentration in painting and drawing, and a Minor in Art History. After college, Jessica relocated to North Carolina where she worked full-time while still studying and pursuing her art. In 2009, she moved to Mooresville where she soon became a Member of Mooresville Arts and focused full-time on her art. 

Throughout the years, Jessica became more involved with Mooresville Arts, from coordinating life drawing sessions to chairing exhibits and serving on the Board of Directors.

Jessica’s art focuses on painting and drawing, and her preferred subject matter is portraiture; her work has been featured in many exhibits and she has also received national recognition for her work.  She lives with her partner, Billy and their animals - Toby, Elon & Grayson. 

CLAIRE ALLEN

Gallery and Events Assistant

Claire is an artist who grew up in North Carolina. She earned a BA in art therapy from Mars Hill University and a BFA in filmmaking with a concentration in animation from UNC School of the Arts. 

Claire uses a wide range of mediums, both traditional and digital, though she enjoys sketching with pencil and ink most often. She creates her artwork for the joy of creating.

Claire's background includes retail experience, community outreach, and teaching assistant for animation.