Genuine Art 2026
colorful connections
Artwork Inspired by ecuador
APRIL 17, 2026
colorful connections
At Madison Montessori, Genuine Art is more than a cherished tradition—it’s an essential part of our mission. Each year, it reminds us of the profound impact a Montessori education has on our children, our families, and our community. Through its support of our scholarship program, Genuine Art has opened the door for many students to experience this unique learning environment. It also provides a truly special platform for artistic expression within our school community.
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We invite you to join us on Friday, April 17, 2026, at 6:30 PM in Fellowship Hall at the Presbyterian Church of Madison to explore this year’s gallery. Inspired by the theme Colorful Connections and our country of study, Ecuador, the collection features extraordinary works created through collaboration between our talented students and renowned artists. We look forward to sharing this special evening with you.
About the Artists
Laura Baker
Sarah Blank
A mixed-media artist based in Madison, Sarah Blank is a graduate of the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City and earned a master’s degree in art education from Montclair State University. She enjoys painting and creating
3D pieces from recycled materials inspired by objects from the past. Her work
is influenced by antiques and found objects, nature, and gardening. Sarah has
lent her talents to Genuine Art many times over and is the proud parent of
MMS alumni.
David Lavin
David is a New Jersey-born folk artist working across painting, illustration, storytelling, and music. His work draws inspiration from Renaissance ideals in which art, science, philosophy, and storytelling inform one another. David works in oils, watercolor, acrylic, and mixed media, and is currently developing a long-form illustrated narrative project. He approaches art as the opportunity to explore imagination, curiosity, and the connections unifying all things. He has greatly enjoyed collaborating with the youngest students of MMS and hopes to illustrate the huge potential bursting the smallest seeds with this project.
Gretchen Radzik
Artist, MMS Enrichment aide, and parent of former MMS students, Gretchen Radzik has a background in textile design and printmaking. She earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Textiles from the Rhode Island School of Design and then went on to design textiles in San Francisco. In 2012 she earned her Masters in Art Education from Pratt Institute before becoming an art teacher in New York City.
Kimberly Ross
A nursing graduate of Georgetown University, Kimberly Ross has found outlets for her artistic talents in multiple mediums. An accomplished sewer, she creates clothing, blankets, and other textiles in innovative ways. She can often be found in her home workshop exploring familiar as well as new artistic forms. Parent to MMS alumni, Addy and Wesley, she contributes to Genuine Art and the MMS community via many avenues.
Afsi Shokoufi
Afsi is a Chatham, New Jersey-based artist who has loved painting for as long as she can remember and started oil painting in high school with Iranian realist artist Mehrnoosh Kalani. Over the years, her work naturally moved toward abstract styles, and continued exploring that direction through abstract art classes with Aala Albo.
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Alongside art, Afsi studied technology, which shaped how she thinks about structure, balance, and problem-solving, ideas that often influence her creative process. Through her artwork, she aims to create a sense of joy and calm, inviting people to slow down, reflect, and simply enjoy the moment. She is excited to be launching her art journey more officially and sharing her work, along with creative sessions, with those who connect with it.
Rossana Stevenson
Rossana and Bill Stevenson are parents of Matias and Joaquin, former MMS students. This is their fifteenth year participating with Genuine Art as a family and loving it. Genuine Art is a special part of the MMS experience. The creativity of the children and the wonderful work that is produced inspires them to participate. As they work with the children, it does not cease to amaze them how artistic curiosity and creativity can be harnessed to create art at a very young age.
Marianne McCrea Tuttle
Marianne McCrea Tuttle lives and works in Madison, NJ. As a fine artist, Marianne works in various mediums and has shown her work locally and in NYC. She creates art in her studio while enjoying the company of her Portuguese water dog, Baxter, 2 children, and husband.
Inspired by life, literature, and music. Her original artwork includes (but is not limited to) mixed media, oil and acrylic painting, wearable art, and furniture design and construction. She also works on commission pieces for art collectors and community projects. She produces new artwork yearly. Marianne partners with The Support Network in Madison, providing community engagement in art making and creative thinking. She will host free art-making events at the Madison Farmer’s Market beginning in late May. Currently Marianne is leading linocut and art journaling classes weekly and student and family art making opportunities at The Joyful Shoppe in Madison.
Marianne received her bachelor’s degree from the New York Institute of Technology, and her current postgraduate studies include programs at the Fashion Institute of Technology.
Rob Ventura
Robert C. Ventura is a mixed-media artist based in Jersey City, whose work centers on botanical subjects—florals rendered with gestural energy and layered mark making. His pieces are held in gallery and institutional collections.
2026 Gallery
Select an image below to see more information about the piece.
Opening bids for all pieces will be $300.
Behind the Scenes
Take a look through the gallery
and see if you can find your artist hard at work!
A Message From the Head of School
Genuine Art holds a special and meaningful place at Madison Montessori School. What began 28 years ago with modest expectations has grown into a vibrant and integral part of our community. Over the years, it has blossomed into a celebration of artistic growth, bringing together talented artists, dedicated supporters, and an ever-growing circle of collaborators. The partnership with our wonderful volunteers—who generously share their time, talent, and services—continues to inspire us year after year.
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The commitment of our parent volunteers is truly remarkable and reflects the core purpose of Genuine Art: to provide our children with an authentic artistic experience while supporting our scholarship program. Through this shared effort, volunteers, teachers, and artists witness our students engage wholeheartedly in each project—using their hands, minds, and creativity to bring their ideas to life. Seeing these works displayed in the gallery fills both the children and their families with pride and joy, creating memories that last well beyond the event itself.
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The success of Genuine Art is deeply rooted in the active involvement of our parent community. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to all parents and families for their many forms of support—whether through financial contributions, creative ideas, volunteering during art sessions, assisting behind the scenes, or attending both the adult and student events. Your involvement makes this program possible, and we are sincerely thankful.
Behind every successful event is a dedicated team working tirelessly behind the scenes, and Genuine Art is no exception. We offer our deepest thanks and appreciation to the many individuals whose commitment is reflected in countless texts, emails, meetings, and conversations that help bring this special event to life.
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Co-Chairs of Genuine Art & Silent Auction
Dana Dolisi & Laura Baker​
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Website
Sara Post​
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Art Advisor
Bob MacDonald
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Invitation Design
Dana Dolisi
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Photography & Manager
Jen Jardim
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I express boundless gratitude on behalf of MMS and the children we serve for the unwavering support bestowed upon us by our school and the broader community. Thank you!
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Laura Arzeno
Head of School
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Our scholarship awards are made possible not only through the proceeds of this silent auction, but also voluntary donations from our families, our extended community, and the generous support from additional funds, specifically the Benjamin Robert Wieler Scholarship Fund and the LaVerne Kleinheider Memorial Fund. We also partner with Preschool Advantage, a non-profit organization that offers scholarships to families of 3 and 4 year olds with limited funds in Morris and Somerset counties.
The MMS Scholarship Fund plays a crucial role in offering tuition assistance to qualifying families, enabling children to access the enriching experience of a Madison Montessori education. Genuine Art not only contributes to funding our scholarship program, which has afforded numerous children the opportunity for a Montessori education, but it also delivers a distinctive artistic experience for all the children involved.
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Susan and Stephen Wieler established a fund in memory of their son, Ben, who was one of our students. The proceeds from the sale of the piece created by David Lavin and the Pre-3 classes, Mothering Matter and Motion, will be added to Ben’s fund.
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The Kleinheider family established a scholarship fund in memory of LaVerne Kleinheider, one of the first parents to enroll a child in our school when we opened our doors in 1981. Justin Kleinheider shared, “What my father and I would like to do is to provide the opportunity of MMS to someone who would otherwise not be able to attend. I know in my heart that my mother believed in education and that MMS was the crucial first step to my success.”