
CEDARBURG CULTURAL CENTER
Upcoming Artists in Residence
February Taylor McDarison
March Cindy Sarkady
April Mary Pesch
May Judy Grochowski
June Debra Zarne
July TBD
August Paula Hare
September Victoria Berdichevsky
October Slobodan (Bob) Markovic
November Kathryn Woods
December Vic Valdez
(See below for full details)
January Artist in Residence
Deni Storm

Deni Storm is a portrait and fine art photographer who focuses on storytelling and connection. In her latest project, Favorite Things, Deni uses portraiture and still life photography to delve into the relationships we have with our belongings, the stories they tell and what they mean to us. In a time of constant consumerism, buying and letting go, she explores why we hold on to the things we have, and we move on from others.
Favorite Things is an ongoing project, and Deni is inviting anyone to be a part of it. Just bring your favorite things in to the Cultural Center during her hours of residency and be ready to share your story.
Deni’s art has been featured by Instagram, Land’s End, The Columbus Art Museum, as well as numerous magazines. She holds a BFA in Photography and BA in Studio Art from Arizona State University. She lives in Cedarburg, WI.
The artist will be at CCC on Tuesdays and Thursdays in January, 10 am-2 pm.
Tips and Tricks in Tabletop Photography
ith Deni Storm
Saturday, February 7: 1-3 pm
Bring your camera (a phone works, too) and a few of your favorite things and learn how to photograph them using natural and easy lighting, simple backgrounds and interesting textures. Basic knowledge of your camera or phone is required. Class will be held at her studio in the Cedar Creek Settlement
$32 CCC Members / $38 Non-Members

February Artist in Residence
Taylor McDarrison

Taylor McDarrison was raised on a modest three-acre hobby farm in the small township of Richmond, Wisconsin. It was here at her childhood home that she discovered her love for animals, nature and, more importantly, art. “From the moment I picked up a crayon as a three year old, it became very apparent where my passion lied. Taylor went on to graduate from University of Wisconsin-Whitewater with a BFA with emphases in Sculpture/Ceramics. She has presented art related research in Iowa (2016 Upper Midwest Honors Conference), Minnesota (2016 National Council of Undergraduate Research), Washington (2015 National Council of Undergraduate Research) and Wisconsin (2017 Global Intergenerational conference). She has also served on executive boards for over 10 student and community organizations. Her work has been displayed in galleries across Wisconsin, Illinois, Ohio and Washington. She founded Arttaysia, LLC, a creative entrepreneurship from which she sells her works, disseminates progress photography/footage and cultivates a community of art enthusiasts.
My work has always yearned to twist the viewpoint of reality through a window into the fantastical. Having grown up on a small farm, my upbringing gave me a passion for nature and the organic aesthetic with which it is infused. Long, delicate lines speak to a temperament of whimsy. Clay in of itself is a medium containing a sort of playful energy. That is the fuel from which I create. Alongside this idea of fantasy or oddity, my inspirations are found in lore around the world. I use this folklore to advocate ideologies to my audience that would otherwise be harder to digest. My work oftentimes reads rather surreal and dark.”
-Taylor
The artist will be demonstrating at the CCC on:
Tuesdays, February 3, 10, 17, 24: 11am-5 pm
Stained Glass Lotus
with Taylor McDarison
Saturday, February 28: 9 am-5 pm
Learn to work with the delicate but alluring medium of stained glass. Participants will learn glass cutting techniques, use of grinder, foiling and soldering processes and finally, how to assemble a 3-D piece. This class is designed for folks of varying skill sets. Even if you have never touched glass in your life, you are more than welcome in this class. A bit more experienced? We have a selection of patterns to choose from that suits your creativity and skill level. All supplies and tools are provided. Students may purchase their choice color of stained glass from instructor at $15/sheet. Class will break one hour for lunch.
$120 CCC Members / $144 Non-Members

March Artist in Residence
Cindy Sarkady
Though watercolors remain at the heart of her work, Cindy also considers herself a mixed-media artist. She frequently incorporates pen and ink, as well as acrylics, to add depth and texture to her pieces. She admits she is particularly drawn to the movement of waves on water and the beauty of sunsets, but her subjects are wide-ranging—from nature to nudes. Each painting is an exploration of light, color, and form.
In recent years, she has ventured into the world of children’s book illustration. This new direction has challenged her to adapt her techniques, transitioning from wet-on-wet watercolor methods to painting over dry paper. Pen and ink accents help bring the characters to life, and she is constantly learning how to infuse emotion and expression into each illustration to match the stories she helps to tell.
Collage work has also recently become a new passion of hers. This medium has pushed her to slow down and think carefully about each element added to the piece, as the process involves layering and arranging different materials to create texture, depth, and meaning. The tactile nature of collage has been both challenging and rewarding for her, as it demands precision, patience, and an openness to experimentation. She remains excited to continue exploring this new artistic territory and to see where it takes her.
The artist will be demonstrating at the CCC on:
March 3: 1-5 pm
March 13, 14, 20, 25, 29: 10 am-2 pm
Layers of Creativity: Cut, Paste, Create with Cindy Sarkady
Thursday, March 19: 5:30-8:30 pm
Gather your favorite papers, magazines, and a dash of imagination! In this fun, hands-on workshop, you’ll experiment with design, color and layering to create meaningful collages. A welcoming space for beginners and experienced makers alike to unwind, connect, and create. All supplies will be provided and are included in the class fee. Paper will also be included but if you have something you want to use bring it along.
$60 CCC Members / $72 Non-Members

“For over four decades, I have been captivated by the magic of watercolor—watching as colors and light flow together in an organic dance, each stroke revealing something new and beautiful. My journey as an artist began in high school when my father encouraged me to take a formal art class instead of spending my time in study hall. It was there that I discovered my passion for detailed watercolor painting, a medium that has since become my favorite.”-Sarkady

June Artist in Residence
Debra Zarne

Stop in at the CCC to see Debra at work. She will be writing, outlining, storyboarding and video editing via laptop and looks forward to answering film-related questions. The dates of her residency are yet TBD. Stay tuned!
Film-making with your Smartphone or DSLR
with Debra Zarne
3 hours Date TBD (Registration not available yet)
Join Debra and learn tips and tricks for using your smartphone (or DSLR) to make your own videos even more captivating! Topics will include choice of resolution, composition, lighting, use of a tripod or gymbal, outlining and use of storyboards and editing. Via screening and discussion of several of Debra’s short films, learn how she achieved various effects (like getting a butterfly to land on an actress’s shoulder), what inspired her (including her award-winning 1-minute short about cannabalism), and her foray into experimental filmmaking (such as creating films around music rather than vice versa, and finding unusual stock footage to tell stories). Students should bring their smartphone and notepad/pen.
$46 CCC Members / $56 Non-Members
A Milwaukee native, Debra discovered her love for film the first time she went to the movies, seeing “Lady and the Tramp.” In her youth, she treasured attending Shorewood Players performances and going to see movies such as “The Wizard of Oz” and other classics with her family. Her love of theater and film has only deepened over the years. Primarily a writer/director/editor, Debra has made 7 feature-length films and over 30 short films, some screening at film festivals and winning awards and she has written award-winning screenplays. She especially enjoys making short films (comedies, documentaries, music videos and experimental films). She initially followed a traditional career path, earning degrees at Stanford and Harvard Law, and practiced real estate law. She continued the creative writing and photography she has done since childhood. Ultimately she left a large law firm and attended film school at the University of Southern California, earning an MFA in Film Production. She has been making films for 20 years and plans to keep creating indefinitely.

