The Art Effect

Morgan Suter

Morgan Suter, a former student of The Art Effect, earned her BFA in Painting from the Maryland Institute College of Art. She started teaching Figure Drawing and Painting in 2021 at The Art Effect and hopes to earn her MFA eventually and continue teaching. Morgan primarily works in oil paint and largely focuses on self portraiture, though she occasionally dabbles in soft pastels while using acrylic, gouache, and pencil regularly, and encourages the use and practice of multiple mediums.

Zach Reid

Zach Reid is an arts/media teacher coming out of Poughkeepsie New York. He has been a part of the Art Effect team for 4 years and enjoys working with the students and helping them take their creative thoughts and forming them into a reality. Zach is also a musician, recording artist and athlete. He is a graduate of Poughkeepsie High School, and furthered his music and education at Herkimer College where he graduated with his Associates Degree in Music Industry. Zach also played soccer while in college winning the Regional championship 3 seasons in a row to qualify for Nationals.

David Wong

Paul Thompson

Paul Thompson, Associate Director of Media Workforce Programs, is the director of Spark Studios and lead teacher. He has actively worked in the film industry since graduating from The College of Saint Rose with a BA in broadcast media and film. Paul has produced web commercials, creative shorts, and short documentaries for Hudson Valley businesses and organizations, including the Westchester Library System. Paul also has experience as an employment specialist for Ability Beyond, where he was responsible for providing individuals with disabilities the necessary skills to obtain and maintain employment. Paul has used his degree, as well as his experience in human services and video production since 2015, to help create a growing, creative and expressive environment through Spark Studios working closely mentoring youth in our community. In Paul’s spare time, he enjoys going to food and film festivals.

Mary Ellen Iatropoulos

Since 2007, Mary Ellen Iatropoulos has been one of The Art Effect’s lead teaching artists in radio production, film, photography and zine-making/writing, teaching classes for schools, libraries, and partner organizations across the Hudson Valley. She was the media arts instructor at Poughkeepsie Day School’s middle school from 2011-2017, teaching courses in film, photography, digital media, and YouTube for middle school students. She loves helping students produce meaningful and often award-winning content, including the award-winning student film Santa Woman which was selected by the Tribeca Film Festival’s “The America I Am” competition.

Brad Shur

Puppeteer, puppet builder and arts educator Brad Shur is the founder and lead artist of Paper Heart Puppets. Brad began performing as a student at the Rhode Island School of Design. While earning a degree in film, he was a regular performer at late night puppet slams and with Big Nazo Puppets. From there, Brad went on to tour nationally with Wood and String Puppet Theatre and Vermont Puppetree. As a freelance puppet builder he created puppets for American Idol, Dolly Parton’s Dollywood amusement park and many theaters and other performers. In 2009, he became the Resident Artist at Puppet Showplace Theater in Brookline, Massachusetts where he served as the lead teaching artist and touring puppeteer for eight years. During that time, Brad developed six original shows and revived several classic shows created by Paul Vincent Davis.

Brad Shur

Puppeteer, puppet builder and arts educator Brad Shur is the founder and lead artist of Paper Heart Puppets. Brad began performing as a student at the Rhode Island School of Design. While earning a degree in film, he was a regular performer at late night puppet slams and with Big Nazo Puppets. From there, Brad went on to tour nationally with Wood and String Puppet Theatre and Vermont Puppetree. As a freelance puppet builder he created puppets for American Idol, Dolly Parton’s Dollywood amusement park and many theaters and other performers. In 2009, he became the Resident Artist at Puppet Showplace Theater in Brookline, Massachusetts where he served as the lead teaching artist and touring puppeteer for eight years. During that time, Brad developed six original shows and revived several classic shows created by Paul Vincent Davis.

Brad Shur

Puppeteer, puppet builder and arts educator Brad Shur is the founder and lead artist of Paper Heart Puppets. Brad began performing as a student at the Rhode Island School of Design. While earning a degree in film, he was a regular performer at late night puppet slams and with Big Nazo Puppets. From there, Brad went on to tour nationally with Wood and String Puppet Theatre and Vermont Puppetree. As a freelance puppet builder he created puppets for American Idol, Dolly Parton’s Dollywood amusement park and many theaters and other performers. In 2009, he became the Resident Artist at Puppet Showplace Theater in Brookline, Massachusetts where he served as the lead teaching artist and touring puppeteer for eight years. During that time, Brad developed six original shows and revived several classic shows created by Paul Vincent Davis.

David Wong

Lauren Hollick

Lauren Hollick is a dedicated program director, educator, and alumna of The Art Effect who strives to create a flawless Art Institute pathway where students can gain the techniques, experience, and confidence needed to artistically thrive and impact the world around them. Lauren has an Associates in Art Studies at Dutchess Community College and a Bachelors in Art Education from SUNY New Paltz. She has taught art in public & private schools, various non-profit art organizations, and at the SUNY New Paltz Saturday Arts Lab program. She has been actively involved in The Art Effect programs for over 8 years, including the Art Institute, Junior Art Institute, Empire After School Program, Arts for Healing, National Art Honor Society Chapter #2242, Dutchess/Ulster Arts Camps, and more. Her current mediums of choice for her personal work include oils, ink, charcoal, ceramics, gouache, animation and has been featured in many art exhibitions across the Hudson Valley and beyond.