Artists of the Season: Fall 2004
Linda Vonderschmidt LaStella and Nino Pasqual LaStella Linda Vonderschmidt-LaStella and Nino Pasqual LaStella have been proudly chosen by the Edison Arts Society as the Fall 2003 Artists of the Season. Linda and Nino are the owners of Earthsongs Studio, established by the couple in 1993, located in the heart of Metuchen, NJ. The couple's desire was to both create a working studio as well as an oasis of peace in the midst of frenzied Central Jersey life. Linda, a ceramist, specializes in custom ceramic installations, wall works and sculptures, one-of-a-kind tiles and permanent murals. She also offers ceramic classes and workshops. Nino is a full time science teacher who assists with Earthsongs' budgeting and finance, and he helps Linda with the setup of exhibits. Linda has been the Chairperson of the Fine Arts Discipline for the Edison Arts Society ever since its inception five years ago, and she has been the EAS Art Gallery Director since it opened with its first exhibit three years ago. Her work has graced numerous exhibits throughout New Jersey, including the "Gardens of the Gardens State", an EAS sponsored Juried Art and Photo Exhibit presented at Menlo Park Mall each spring. Nino along with Linda spends time designing their house and studio, creating a pond with gardens, painting the house and garage, and acutally sometimes has been known to "get his hands in clay." He has assisted the Edison Arts Society with the setup of many exhibits, such as the Art Gallery for our Gala Celebration Fundraiser at the Pines Manor, and the "Gardens of the Garden State" at Menlo Park Mall. His expertise on many topics relating to the Edison Arts Society has and continues to be invaluable. Kudos to a wonderful couple who we salute as the Edison Arts Society Fall 2003 Artists of the Season. Our organization and community flourishes thanks to dedication of artists like you. |
 
Caitlin Nichols J.P. Stevens High School Student Caitlin Nichols has been chosen by the Edison Arts Society as a Fall 2003 Artist of the Season. She is a sophomore honors student at J.P. Stevens High School, and currently holds the position of the Edison Symphony Orchestra Music Librarian for the Edison Arts Society. As our Music Librarian, Caitlin spends numerous hours after school or on her weekends copying and collating music for our seventy-piece professional Symphony Orchestra, which presents three full length concerts each year. She also posed as the Secretary in last year's Edison Symphony Orchestra POPS concert during the piece, The Typewriter. Caitlin is also a very accomplished musician. She began playing the trumpet in the fifth grade at the age of ten. By the eighth grade, she was accepted into the New Jersey Region II Band and the New Jersey All State Junior Honor Choir. She was also a featured soloist at John Adams Middle School and received the Best Instrumental Soloist Award at the 2002 Six Flags Festival of Music Competition. As a freshman, she became the first trumpet and featured soloist in both the J.P. Stevens High School Freshman and Lab Jazz bands and participated in the Marching Band. She sat first chair in both the New Jersey Region II High School Symphonic Band and in the New Jersey High School All State Symphonic Band. She is curently a member of the New Jersey High School All State Orchestra. This year, she is a soloist in the J.P. Stevens Marching Band and is a member of the J.P. Stevens Wind Ensemble. Caitlin recently performed a solo on her trumpet for the Edison Arts Society "Night of Appreciation" held at the Pines Manor restaurant this past September. |