OUR TEAM
Clayton Evans, Executive Director
Clayton Evans is the new Executive Director of CREATE Arts Center. Prior to this position, Clayton was the Deputy Director at Arts on the Block for 9+ years. He received a BA in Studio Art (Education minor) from Lafayette College in 1989, and an MFA in Painting from Maryland Institute, College of Art in 1994. Clayton has dedicated most of his 34+ professional years towards working with youth, families and older adults in community centers, schools, colleges and universities. He received a PASEsetter Award in 2000 for exceptional youth work in New York City. In addition to teaching visual arts, Clayton has extensive experiences in not-for-profit and arts management. From 2008-2010 he was the founding director of the LeRoy Neiman Art Center in Harlem, NYC. Prior to moving to Silver Spring, MD, he was the Executive Director of Leave Out Violence-U.S. in New York City. Clayton is a studio artist and lives in Silver Spring with his partner (Kristin), son (Alan), daughter (Ruby), and dog (George).
For inquiries or to say “Hello,” contact Clayton Evans at clayton@createartscenter.org.
Gwendolyn Short, Art Therapy Director
Gwendolyn Short, MA, ATR-BC, LCPAT is CREATE’s Art Therapy Director and Director of our Studio Downstairs program. Before joining CREATE in 2015, Gwen served as Founder and CEO of Cradle of Art, a community art center in Capitol Heights, Maryland, and worked for the Prince George’s County Health Department for more than 30 years specializing in addictions, mental health, and rehabilitation services. A member of the American Art Therapy Association’s Board of Directors, Gwen also assisted with the creation of the film Wheels of Diversity: Pioneers of Color in Art Therapy. She is a recipient of AATA’s Clinician Award for Outstanding Contributions to Clinical work with Adults.
Yael Ginossar, Arts Program Director
Yael Ginossar brings with her a diverse career in the field of community arts, positive/creative youth development, and informal education. In her most recent positions, she focused on developing partnerships and collaboration across sectors to bring quality youth-centered programs in the county. As education director at ArtReach Orlando, Yael oversaw several art-based educational programs aimed at marginalized youth in Central Florida, where she developed curricula that support social-emotional growth through the arts. Her combined experience in social work and art education, especially with youth of marginalized communities, had deepened her passion to create accessible, equitable, and exciting opportunities for people of all ages to engage in the arts in a meaningful way.
Lisa Pascal, Art Therapy Program Manager
Lisa Pascal, LGPAT, ATR-P, is a mixed media artist, emerging professional art therapist, and lifelong Montgomery County resident. Lisa began her journey at CREATE Arts Center in 2016 as a volunteer, and quickly transitioned to teaching artist, eventually becoming director of CREATE’s smARTkids™ program before going back to school to obtain her master’s degree in Art Therapy from George Washington University. She has always been fascinated by the healing aspect of art and remembers tapping into its therapeutic value as a young child when she would retreat to her easel and paint to soothe herself. Lisa holds a BA in Cultural Anthropology from the University of Maryland and appreciates the potential of the arts to transcend language barriers and communicate across diverse cultures. She aligns with a person-centered approach and is passionate about using the visual arts to support the development and well-being of all individuals.
Theresa Bean, Communications & Program Assistant
Theresa Bean is an artist, an event planner, and the Program and Communications Assistant at CREATE. She received a BFA from Shepherd University, concentrating on painting and education, Has a Certifaction in Grphic Design from CAL Arts and currently pusuing her MFA. She aims to create community-focused collaborative art projects through vibrant abstraction and exploration. As a result, she has spread this mission in the United States and abroad. Her work has been featured in juried art shows, community projects, and collaborative exhibitions. She is eager to spread her goal of making art accessible to everyone.