Chef and Artist Bios

Please read more about the chefs and artists who are contributing their talents to Avant Garden, as well as checking out examples of their beautiful artwork. The images shown are not the works that will be up for auction at Avant Garden, we wouldn’t want to give away the surprise, now would we?

-THE CHEFS-

Robert Dasalla: Little Chef’s Counter

Chef Robert Dasalla puts his life-long passion of the culinary arts into fruition through the creation of Little Chef Counter. With over 10 years of culinary experience, Chef Dasalla has experience in many of San Francisco’s top destinations such as the Waterbar and Ana Mandara.As a Bay Area native and the visionary force behind Little Chef Counter, Chef Dasalla believes fine-dining and high quality cuisines should not be reserved for only the elite, but should be accessible to each and every one of us. Chef Dasalla continues to carry out this mission by bringing the highest level of dining and services at Little Chef Counter

  
Dina Izzo: BluDog Organic Produce

Dina Izzo, owner and founder of BluDog Organic Produce Services, has had a 30 year career in the organic produce industry. Her experience includes management/purchasing in the retail sector with several stores including locally owned chain New Leaf Community Markets headquartered Santa Cruz. Dina’s wholesale experience includes nine years with Veritable Vegetable in San Francisco and six years as creator/general manager of ALBA Organics, a wholesale distribution company focused on family scale organic farms in the SalinasValley. Dina is the founder of Bludog Organic Produce Services, a consulting firm serving small-scale and beginning farmers that works to create and execute marketing plans and strategies for an economically viable busines
Liz Snyder: Little Bee Pops

Little Bee Pops is about creating a healthy, happy, and crap-free childhood. It’s also about supporting local farmers and beekeepers, because a strong localagricultural economy? YUM.We make handmade, honey-sweetened pops from all-local ingredients. Our pops have seasonal fruit, healthy fats, and are certified crap-free. No corn syrup, preservatives, flavor chemicals, or food dyes.
Jessica Rene Krause: Alexander’s Steakhouse

Jessica is a graduate of the CIA in Hyde Park NY. She grew up in the restaurant industry and fell in love with the craft of both the savory and pastry kitchen at an early age. Krause spent time in Apsen Colorado at Cache Cache, as well as the kitchens at the chefs garden in Ohio. She worked as a pastry chef for Big Table Catering. She currently lives and works in the south bay as a pastry chef for Alexander’s Steak House, and is very happy to be working with Veggielution again.
Ryan Summers: Good Karma Vegan Cafe

Ryan Summers is a purveyor of culture in Downtown San Jose. Owner of Good Karma Vegan Cafe, Ryan brings fresh, local, and animal friendly food to the table. Vegan for 15 years, Ryan has learned the art of making dishes that make you feel right at home, and not missing meat in the slightest. Not only does Good Karma serve as a great place to get a bite, it offers the best craft brew selection downtown, and acts as a hub for social interaction.
Mike Borkenhagen: Eulipia Restaurant

Eulipia Restaurant has been a part of the downtown San Jose restaurant community since 1977. Michael Borkenhagen began as a young man helping his parents, learning the restaurant business from the ground up and is currently the General Manager and Chef. Mike and his family have been great supporters of Veggielution since our inception, offering us meeting space, kitchen space, and their restaurant know how.
Las Promotoras: Veggielution

Veggielution launched a new program that entails local members of the Spanish speaking community taking leadership roles at the farm. Las Promotoras help run our Cooking and Nutrition classes at the here at Veggielution. These awesome ladies will be treating us with delicious food harvested straight from Veggielution’s fields.

-THE ARTISTS-

Murphy Adams  I’m a people watcher, a curious observer of life. I keep a small sketchbook with me to quickly capture my observations and ideas. Funny, awkward or beautiful situations catch my eye. I often explore the concepts of our internal voice , the one of self pity, extreme thought & absurd ideas…sometimes that voice is our true essence, and sometimes its just a body snatcher taking temporary possesion. In any case, I merge my sketches and ideas and translate them into small works in acrylic and ink on heavy watercolor paper or sometimes on canvas or wood. I use both hands to draw and paint with; drawing with my left gives my work a loose feeling that’s difficult to achieve with my right hand. Because color and texture are integral to my work I start by under-painting and create by using multiple layers of jewel tone color combined with matte medium and ink. I intentionally work small because I think it captures the intimacy of the moment that I’m presenting with each piece. I also work in clay and mosaic, using a similar process and creating all the tiles and slab work used by hand.I draw on elements of folk & outsider art. My quirky, naive style is intentionally childlike, alphabet blocks spell out heart breaking messages and words packed with emotional heat are scrawled in brightly painted backgrounds. I aim for a cartoon-like innocence all wrapped up with a healthy dose of snarky irony. Our relationships with one another, and with the world around us are put under the microscope and depicted as bare bones vignettes of our brief expereience here on earth. My intention is to spew raw emotion: love, hate, joy, regret, revenge, despair, failure, rejection, but mostly hope. www.murphyadams.net Blog: www.murphymae.blogspot.com Sweet Ride by Murphy Adams Acrylic ~ 3 x 5
Shannon Amidon  I am a mixed media artist and jewelry designer. My subjects often involve objects I have found in nature or collected in my travels such as: seed pods, insects, botanicals, fossils, feathers, vintage books and maps. My artwork primarily consists of alternative process photography including historic printing processes and non-traditional techniques such as: Polaroid transfer, lumen printing, liquid emulsion, and hand painting. In addition I also use encaustic and vintage ephemera to create mixed media pieces.My jewelry is inspired by natural history and a desire to repurpose and reveal the beauty in uncommon objects. I often use bullet shells, fossils, bones, feathers, copper and semi precious gemstones in my designs.I have participated in many gallery, and alternative space exhibitions and my artwork has been exhibited nationwide with emphasis on the West Coast. I was born, raised and currently reside in the California Bay Area. Giant Brown Cricket
Joey Amparan  Joey is a self taught artist always pushing to learn and try new things. Influenced by street art is seen in his work expressed through mediums to traditional art and graphic design. .
 Alexis Augustine  I am originally from Cochiti and Santo Domingo Pueblo tribes in the south west of New Mexico. I was lucky enough to have the best of two worlds in being able to get to run and play in the dirt and help my grandparents with their horses and sheep and see how we are all intertwined togother. Then at a very young age I was able to travel with my family since my Father was in the Air Force. Being able to get to explore other countries has made me appreciate people and their cultures from all over the world and has continued to inspire me to keep on creating. My art has been a mix of my native roots as well as my life experiences and inspirations here in the Bay Area. I Love accessories but I also had a passion for graphic design along with my Love for our Mother Earth. So I combined all three Elements to create my green accessories called “Enspired Visions”. My mother has been one of my most influential teachers and has taught me her skills as an artist. Now a Mother myself I plan on passing on the wisdom and knowledge I have learned for the next Generation of Creative Innovators.
 Lisa Benham  My first degree was in Fine Art, but I’ve been making art all my life. Usually with words, most recently. Creating doesn’t usually feel like an inspired choice, so much as a need to breath deeply, or in a particular, different way. The scrap & thread painting applied in the submitted work is a self-discovered technique, which followed several years of making art quilts. A good approach for smaller spaces. My sewing machine is a fabulous power tool.
Antonio Castro is a local artist in San Jose and does Murals for local schools and community center. The piece is a digital photo of a pastel drawing on burlap. It depicts a farm worker picking strawberries and show a shadow of the Mexican religious icon of the virgin of Guadalupe. Antonio was inspire to express this image by reflecting upon his childhood experience as a farm worker.
Yan Yin K. Choy (蔡欣言) is honored to serve as the Producer of the 10th annual benefit production of SJSU VDAY 2012 “The Vagina Monologues.” In the past she has served as Co-Director (2011) and in the cast (2010). Her additional roles include the Director of Student Rights and Responsibilities with Associated Students at SJSU, Community Intern with the SJSU Women’s Resource Center, organizer with the inaugural South Bay Womyn’s Conference, cofounder of Growing Roots of Wellness (G.R.O.W.) and fourth year student at SJSU studying Environmental Studies and Anthropology. Yan Yin is inspired by the farmworkers, community organizers, and vagina warriors of all genders that advocate for human rights, accessible and healthy food, and the end of rape culture, gender inequality, and gender binary. She is also inspired by her family and partner. Yan Yin owes her crafty skills to all those that have taught her. To stay connected to Yan Yin, her spoken word, poetry, and art, visit www.yanyinchoy.com.
Charlene Chow  My art is inspired by nature, beauty, and animals. I love spending time outdoors and most of my paintings come from places I love, the way colors make me feel, or plants and animals that make me smile. It brings me peace and joy to stop and notice the moment and what’s beautiful in my surroundings. Translating those feelings onto paper brings me back to those moments.Making time for art keeps me going. When I spend time creating art I feel better, no matter what’s happening in my life. After working as a fisheries biologist on an endangered species project in Humboldt County, I decided to go to back to school to get my Art degree. Now I teach art to children and I love seeing the joy in their faces as they create. I also love the outdoors and all of its amazing creatures. I am blessed to live by the ocean and the forest. Aboriginal Anemones, original painting
Insane Craft Posse is a San Jose based Crafting Collective. This is an all-inclusive group based on making a space for people to create together. Insane Craft Posse acts as a venue to share skills, make environmentally conscious crafts, attend workshops to gain new skills, and to sell our work locally. We have crafty meetings once a week. For more details, visit our blog: insanecraftposse.wordpress.com, or email us atwww.insanecraftposse@gmail.com
Mrs. Fabricius Jewelry Class  I have High School students in grades 9 through 12 that are learning how creating jewelry this semester. There will be clay bead jewelry sets as well as copper wire jewelry that they will be working with and submitting for the auction/show.
Rebbeca Feind  I learned to shoot and develop black and white film in college, so I was slow to warm to digital photography. Now that I am on my third digital camera, I am enchanted with the opportunity to focus and refocus and I spend way too much time on flickr looking at pictures of dogs, flowers, and vegetables. The color palette of California and the spectacular fruits, flowers, and vegetables it produces makes every trip to the farmers’ market an opportunity to capture beauty.
Tulio Flores  I am an artist that work with recycle materials and found objects. I am a self taught artist.
April Gee/ Containher  Though mostly a writer of songs, I’m also “drawn” (haha) to various forms of visual art. I especially love bringing life to fantastical beasts that look a bit dangerous but are clearly harmless or even friendly. Sometimes, I simply enjoy playing with rich colors and delving deep into my psyche as if scrying like a witch for dreamlike blossoms. No matter how serious I may seem, I am equally childlike and silly. I think it is important for all of us artists to try the best we can every day, and also to play and have fun while ferociously learning more and more. I share my own visions of the world, and they are mostly hopeful, comedic, encouraging and romantic. I do whatever I feel like..little watercolor, a bit of oil, drawing, printmaking, installation, or occasionally I play with the art of creating a communal experience. For example, the pillow fight portion of the dj dance party at the Women’s Rising Event at the Citadel was my doing, The Garden 404 was my little place for happenings last year, and this year I drop my 2 cents at The Penny Well( a mini galleria run by me and Courtney T) in San Jose’s Japantown. If one is curious about my music, it can be found here: containher.com
Laura Giorgi  I’ve enjoyed art, crafting and creativity for as long as I can remember! As a child, my parents helped foster this by letting me pursue any craft that captured my attention: oil painting, drawing, cooking, sewing, crafting, lamp working, etc. Now as an adult, I simply find it rewarding to fashion things with my own hands.
Jennifer Groft  My name is Jen and I have been working land and reaping from the land some of the most beautiful supplies for art that could ever been given.I am a student at SJSU pursueing my Masters of Fine Art with an emphasis in the spatial area using a number of different media and techniques to convey my concept. My work deals mainly with the essence of the woman as creater, and as such, the emotions involved with the process of the woman’s life as this “creater” . The work intself is visually a cross between the erotic and domestic.I learned everything I know, not just the physical techniques, but also the work ethic and the using my head to think about how to do, from my wonderful family, parents, grandparents and great grandparents. I was always taught that there are no limitations to what one can do if they put their mind to it. Experimenting and trying over and over again, was something I have always done and it what drives me.
Julian Groft  Where to start? Oh yes. I am a 18 years old trying to find out where to go in life. Went to West Valley for a bit, but it wasn’t for me. I need to be surrounded by art when I’m taking art classes. Art is my life; art keeps me going. Art school? Maybe if my clothing line works out and i make some money…. I’ll be at the art school living my dream, just scared if it’s not a dream and it’s a nightmare…Don’t want to be a starving artist!What inspires me to make my art? Pens, paint, anything. It’s there, why not use it and not waste it. Also, the drive for happiness inspires me to make art and love is a big part in my work too. If I don’t have anything that I love I wouldn’t feel like making art.How did I learn my craft? By moving a pencil up and down when I was super little, then got the hang of the rhythm of the pattern and I haven’t stopped since and I’ll keep going until I can’t imagine.
Kay Groft III  I’m a student who focuses more on writing as his art form, but growing up surrounded by artists within the family and friends, I’ve tried many styles of art and still experiment, trying to find what really expresses my ideas. What inspires me is the questions that have gone unanswered and will remain so for the existence of mankind. I’m driven by the feelings of hopelessness and despair and channel it through art work and writing. On the outside, I’m a happy go lucky guy, but inside, I can’t help but feel powerless. I’ve learned my craft through natural art instincts that I believe to come from my mother and family. I’ve taken art classes throughout high school, but haven’t pursued it since. This art show is just a way to try and jump start my love and need for art.
Alan Hackler  I started Bay Maples: Wild California Gardens in 2007 and specialize in using native plants and low impact design concepts. I love to implement artist elements into my designs because of the unique feel they add to the garden and it give me a chance to express myself creatively. I feel no garden is complete without some kind of artist element.
Katie Hoffman  I was born in 1984. I like to paint and hike, and paint about hiking…and other things.
Kitty Hotpants/ Laura Schilling  Hi, I’m kittyhotpants; artist and seamstress Laura Schilling. Most of my art is sewn or collaged, but I love experimenting with all types of crafts. I use vintage and re-purposed materials and packaging whenever possible, as I love the idea of giving something old new life. I am a self-taught seamstress (with a little help from my mom, of course), and find inspiration at craft faires, antique shops, yard sales and thrift stores. I am a San Jose native, and love the growing support that the local and handmade community is receiving!
Trina Hunner  I co-authored and illustrated the book “Molly’s Organic Farm”. I used acrylic ink on illustration board to create the illustrations for the book. I am a teacher- was an art teacher at DCP and studied art and design at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. Mollys Organic Farm
Lindsay Kirk  I have always made environmental art. I feel it is a beautiful way to show the environment as it should be and also the ugly effects humans have had on it. I make all kinds of art from painting to woodwork to printmaking. I have a desire to pull in the viewer with esthetically beautiful art that surprises the viewer when they realize it is depicting the ugly side of human devastation. I love using found objects and once “living” objects, not all my art exposes human nature but it is a theater to express and be a voice for nature. I studied Painting at Portland State University.
Adrian Lopez  I’ve been making stuff since I was a young pup. Back in grade-school, hand-made dioramas and science projects were always my favorite. Since my work at SJSU is centered around graphic design and photography, I really enjoy getting down and dirty with wet mediums like paint and the latest addition: screen printing.
Bryan Lopez  I’m a photographer. I shoot primarily with medium format film. I have been shooting for about 9 years and fell in love with photography when I randomly applied for a job as a photographer for the school newspaper in college. I really enjoyed the challenge of taking an assignment such as an academic conference and trying to create something beautiful and dynamic. I still love attempting to do that today with our everyday surroundings.
Frances Marin  Both man made and natural things inspire me: stacks of records and books, animals and their symbolism, buildings, plants, patterns, structures and history. I went to school, very slowly, to get my degree in fine art with a focus on screenprinting and painting. Steps
Susan Marsland  I love to knit and create wearable items for friends to wear. My mother taught me how to knit when I was five years old. I continued to knit off and on over the years. Finally picked it up again when I was looking for other gift ideas from the heart to friends. Have not stopped knitting since.
Jen Norton  Painfully shy as a child, Jen was unable to communicate with anyone outside her family except through drawing. Visual language was her first language and she never lost her passion for its ability to communicate for her. There was never a day she “decided” to become an artist. For Jen, there was just no other way to be. Jen works mostly in acrylic, using expressive color, texture and pattern to reveal the sublime in the ordinary. She begins each painting with underlying layers of intense hues and expressive brushwork, which gradually become hidden from view as the painting progresses. These underlying layers are important to the depth of the final work, just as years of spiritual growth are to a well-rounded soul. Jen seeks to develop order and beauty from underlying chaos. Jen believes that through art, one can hear the whisper of a mighty Creator. Her intention is that her art may cause you to pause and listen..
Alexandria Perez  I am human, therefore, I like to create. I studied creative arts at SJSU and went on to learn more about education and social justice. I am currently a Reggio Emilia Preschool Teacher, so my children and I dialogue and explore creative processes everyday. Apart from being inspired by the freedom with which my children make art, I am inspired by the earth and the social issues that influence how it is treated.
Linda Ritter  I began my journey into beading and jewelry design with a simple class on making earrings over 16 years ago. Since that initial class, I have continued to explore this medium but have barely touched the bounds of its possibilities. I have taken classes from many different instructors and explored the use of smaller and finer beads, and learned many techniques to manipulate the beads.The color and texture of the glass and natural material beads is what draws me and makes me return to the medium no matter what other paths I explore. The icy cold of sterling against the warmth of the pearl or amber; these are feelings as well as media. My beads can celebrate the glory of woman and bring beauty as decorative items and sculptural art.There is joy in the process as well as in the product. It is a rhythmic and calming process, bead by bead, watching a new creation grow and take on meaning and life. I hope to continue to grow as an artist, designer and craftswoman in this medium.
Donna Ruiz  For the past six years needle felting has caught and steadily holds my interest as a great medium for me in which to work. The action of felting the wool, the bright colors it shows off, the feeling of its softness in my fingers all engage my imagination and ask me to bring out what i see.About the artist in her home city, Donna Ruiz studied fine art at San Jose State with emphasis in drawing and painting. it was only in 2005 that she discovered a more harmonious attaction to working in textiles, specifically, needle felting. Her early childhood and teen years were spent growning up in Evergreen where she experienced the warmth and relaxing freedom of county life. This feeling comes through in her selection of nature-based subject matter showing her love of God’s creation.Recently, Donna spends time volunteering at “veggielution,” a community farm that raises crops for the community. One of her tasks is taking care of the chickens, their coop and preparing eggs for market. Her recent work art work reflects subject matter of life on the farm. Also, Donna is a fiber art project leader, teaching needle felting, basketry, and gourd art to youth who exhibit their work in summertime at the Santa Clara County Youth Fair.
Armine Sargsyan  I am MFA student in pictorial arts. I only began to paint my last semester of undergraduate school. I suppressed my artistic side for a long time, but the day came when it burst out and couldn’t be controlled any longer. The moment in which I create is the most inspiring of all moments, it does not have a plan, and always takes the detour route… it is exciting because I tend to make new discoveries. Armine-garineh
Serina Serjama  Myself:I’m a country-girl. Born in Scandinavia: I’m Finnish, lived in all four countries. Art studies are in Europe and Asia. My father was sculptor, and gardener. My God-father was one of the first organic farmers in sweden, and also had a horse-ranch.My Art: What inspires me: Nature, and Stories. I basically hear, experience or see a story, and I want to bring it to life. I also get inspired by unusual textures in nature
Jeanette Turkus  Turkus’s artwork illustrates the mystery of the human figure and the personality behind its gestures. Painting with thick impasto paint, describing with line or sketches her exploring themes of nostalgia, magic, dreams.
Freddie Vega  As a member of Heart of Chaos art collective, Freddie helps to put on awesome art shows around San Jose. Not only does he help throw amazing events, he contributes his eerie and captivating art. Freddie will be setting up the art at Avant Garden!www.heartofchaos.net/chaosblog/
Alayne Yellum  Utilizing a surreal style typically with oil or mixed media on canvas or wood Yellum’s work is autobiographical and psychological. Yellum uses symbols derived from the animal world and from domestic life to explore ideas of gender, identity and purpose of life. Her work has been featured in solo and group exhibits in the bay area.

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