Maria Alejandra Schneider
Born in Buenos Aires, Argentina and migrating to LA in 2014, Maria Alejandra Schneider is an international artist with her works hanging in several private and public collections around the world.
Educated in Argentia, Alejandra has a BA in Fine Arts from the National School of Fine in Buenos Aires. Currently, she is the art curator and Co-Owner of Menduina Schneider Art Gallery, in San Pedro, CA
As an Artist & Art Curator, she has had more than 300 collective shows and 10 individual shows. Four of he works are part of the permanent collection of the following museums:
Museum “Mitad del Mundo”, Quito, Ecuador; Casa de la Cultura, Chimobrazo, Ecuador National Museum of Kosovo; National Museum of Macedonia.
She is the Member of the Official Jury of the World Art Academy – Mondial Art Academy of France.
For the past four years, she has lent her creativity and talent to help raise money for foster children and families by collaborating in the annual Wine + Art House Auction of Los Angeles.
Alejandra and her husband Jorge Schneider own and operate The Menduiña Schneider Art Gallery in San Pedro, CA. Visit their gallery website to discover new and extraordinary artist, https://www.msartgallery.com/
Don Hughes
Don earned his BFA Degree in Ceramics from California State University, Long Beach and has exhibited his ceramics work at CSULB; South West Los Angeles Community College, and the Faculty and Student Art Show at San Pedro High School.
As a retired art teacher with 30 years with Los Angeles Unified School District. He has enjoyed 27 years teaching Advanced Placement Studio Art at San Pedro high School.
As an artist himself, Don loved teaching because he was able to help his students find their artistic voice!
Patrick David Bradley
Patrick has been teaching and producing art in Los Angeles for more than fifty years. He holds a BA in Studio Art with an emphasis in printmaking and painting, a MA
in Intra-Media Art and Performance with an emphasis in printmaking, painting, sculpture, choreography, set and stage design from California State University at Dominguez Hills, and a California Single Subject Teaching Credential in Art.
Patrick taught art for the Los Angeles Unified School District for thirty years including painting, printmaking, sculpture, ceramics, drawing, design, and AP Art History. His works have been featured in a number of exhibitions throughout the Greater Los Angeles area and many of his works are in private collections in Los Angeles and Palm Springs.
Along with his wife Cynthia, they are the founding Artistic Directors of the San Pedro City Ballet and Partrick is the Company’s resident choreographer. His choreographic works have been featured on many dance programs throughout Los Angeles, Palm Springs, and Orange County. Currently retired from teaching, Patrick continues producing art in his home studio, directing the San Pedro City Ballet, and choreographing new dance works.
Photography Judges
Diane Cockerill
A fourth generation Angelino, Diane Cockerill studied Fine Art at UCLA. She has shown work at several local and national galleries as well as in Tokyo, Paris, Hungary, and South Korea.
After receiving her first point-and-shoot at the age ten, Diane later transitioned to a 35mm camera with a more serious interest in photography. New technology introduced the digital world and the immediacy it provided suited her street shooting style. Diane is now fully immersed in photographing her native city.
You can view some of Diane’s work on her facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/diane.cockerill
Mark Comon, CPC, CPI
Mark Comon is President of PAUL’S PHOTO and founder of Creative Photo Academy. He is an award-winning photographer, world renown educator, and industry leading retail professional. At PAUL’S PHOTO he has led the charge of a single-location family-owned camera store from the days of film to digital and into the online era.
Since 1988, Mark has taught more than two hundred-fifty students per month in his popular classes in PAUL’S PHOTO’S Creative Photo Academy. As a dynamic lecturer, Comon has entertained and educated audiences from first-time snap-shooters and hobbyists to industry professionals. In addition to teaching his inspirational programs popular in and out of the photo industry as motivational programs. Mark has taken student groups on photographic tours through Europe, Africa and the American Southwest. Mark’s popular Photo Adventures to California’s natural wonders (Death Valley, Monterey, Eastern Sierra and Yosemite) are always sold out!
Comon has taught alongside many of today’s photographic greats at his workshops in Carmel, Monument Valley and Canyon de Chelly. He is the originator of the Los Angeles Zoo Photo Day, now in its 29th year. As a photographic artist, Mark’s images have been featured in many local and regional photographic and artistic exhibitions. His award winning landscape, insightful travel and stirring documentary images capture the light, drama and full range of the human experience. Mark earned his BS Business Administration, California State University, Long BeachAA Business Management, El Camino College, Torrance, CA
At 62, Mark is a lifelong resident of Torrance, with his wife Sheryl and children Stephanie, Zachary & Wyatt.
Visit Paul’s Photo website to learn more about the different programs and resources they offer: https://paulsphoto.com/
Paul Kartsonis
Paul Kartsonis owns Bakers Man Productions in Torrance, CA. Shooting for clients including Amazon, AT&T, Honda, SCE, Johns Hopkins University, Providence, Informa, and the US Department of Veterans Affairs.
Paul’s keen eye has won him 4 Telly Awards, as well as Horizon awards, and Digital Health Awards.
