About Us

Our Story

Spark started in a New York City apartment with a backyard. Since then it has grown to serve thousands of kids through after school programs, privates, camps and so much more. Adding yoga and meditation just created a more unique element to our program that that no one else has. 
 
Spark is an integrated art program that inspires and educates children using the three pillars of art, yoga and meditation. We are a community driven, child-centered experience aimed at using this creative trifecta to kids as analog tools in an ever increasingly digital world. Our classes place an emphasis on fun, exploration and creativity to bring forth the fire that lies within each child. We believe this is needed now more than ever. 
 
Spark is a healthy and safe space for children both in person and virtually for kids to just breathe and be. We believe that children of all abilities and backgrounds can be inspired to create a better future .  Through intuitive exploration and individualized attention, our team of Teaching Artists share their gifts to ensure children can learn, grow, and express themselves in every imaginable way.
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Artist and Founder

Sebastian Alappat
As early as age 4, I was drawing. I channeled this love of art to a career in graphic design. After graduating with degrees in Fine Arts and Computer Science, I spent over 14 years as an Art Director & Designer for companies like Tommy Hilfiger & Armitron. I also pursued creative direction with Silicon Valley startups as well time in the advertising world.
 
After executing multitudes of digital projects ranging from branding, logos to websites, the call to make art was too strong to ignore. In 2013, I left my corporate career to follow my heart. 

I devoted myself to art, something I have loved since I was a child. In 2015, I used my newfound freedom, passion for life and talents as an entrepreneur to create SPARK. I discovered a connection with children that I hadn’t known and it has allowed me to speak their language and create a life doing what I love.


Today as an entrepreneur, father and Artist, from New York to Pennsylvania, I am committed to taking Spark to the next level. Using a mix of online and offline strategies, it is my intention, along with my amazing team of Teaching Artists, to create a healthier and happier world by connecting children to self-expression, community and purpose.

Our Team

Jonathan Mendez

Jonathan Mendez

Teaching Artist

Jonathan is an NYC artist that specializes in pyrography/ woodburning. He has a bachelor’s degree in Studio Art.

He has over 10 years of experience working with and mentoring children from ages 5-16. Back in 2015 he found out he had a generic condition called Neurofibromatosis Type 1 which he had to get multiple surgeries to remove tumors from his spine. During recovery he used art as his form of therapy to pass time, this is where he came across the art of pyrography which is his main study of art. Jonathan hopes to one day be an advocate in the Neurofibromatosis community, especially to show children they’re not alone.

Francia Valbuena

Francia Valbuena

Teaching Artist

Friendly and creative tattoo and fine artist. Francia has strong interpersonal skills proven through different art activities for kids and adults.

She graduated from LaGuardia CC, Associates degree in Fine Arts and coordinates creative activities at “The Kids Art Gallery” for a Brooklyn based art collective. Francia, is an accomplished tattoo artist with extensive experience looking to expand her career by instructing and enhancing the imagination of future generations.

Carolina Parra

Carolina Parra

Teaching Artist

I’m an emerging actress living in New York since 2015. I’m originally from Colombia, where I was born and raised.

I hold a Bachelor’s degree in Architecture and a Master’s specialized in Management and Event Communication.

After graduating from college, I left home and went to live and study in Paris. While living there, I studied acting for film and theater and, at the same time, had the opportunity to participate in many projects in front and behind the camera –  as an actor, casting director, producer, co-producer, PA, and AD. After six years of living in France, I decided to come to New York to study Filmmaking.
While living in chaotic New York I’ve also developed my creative side through the practice of yoga, mindfulness and meditation and most recently, photography.

However, rather than a photographer, I consider myself a soul catcher. I won’t claim to be the best and most expert photographer, I am an expert at making people feel comfortable in their own skin and that shows in the images I capture.

Joel Polanco Teaching Artist

Joel Polanco

Teaching Artist

My name is Joel Antonio Polanco. I own my own independent Animation company. I graduated from Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School and then received a BFA from Cooper Union, one of the best art universities in NY state. 

Alongside my art practice, I had the privilege at an early age to teach art to teens. I started at 17 years old as an assistant art instructor for Queens Council On Art (QCA). That quickly transformed into being a mentor to specific students at QCA. Fast forward to college, I had the amazing opportunity to teach teens at the Saturday Program, a high intensity portfolio prep program for kids who are serious about getting into art college. I love working with children of all ethnic backgrounds from all walks of life. One of my best moments in life is when I became the instructor at Saturday program after being a student for 1 year!

Madeline Enlow

Madeline Enlow

Teaching Artist

Hi my name is Maddy! I am the proud and creative owner of Green Tree Face & Body Painting. I grew up in Brooklyn, New York.
I am the daughter of two lovely, artistic parents, who always encouraged me to follow my dreams. My mother has been a professional face painter for the past twenty years and my father has been a caricature artist for over thirty years. They both were kind enough to share their skills with me from a young age. I am thirty years old and I began face painting when I was just a teenager. I attended New York City public schools, where I was fortunate enough to receive an an amazing education in the performing arts. In my opinion, it is extremely important for young people to have access to the arts, that is why I am so happy to get to be a face painter. I see how much joy face painting brings the little ones and I’m always excited to encourage the ones who express their own creative aspirations.
Michelle Paer

Michelle Paer

Teaching Artist

“Michelle is a New York City born and based professional visual artist with a BFA in Illustration from the School of Visual Arts.

As a lover of art and psychology, she believes that art is our first and most fundamental tool that we have for self expression. She strives to harness an environment where technical skill meets creativity to find one’s inner voice. Her favorite mediums are oil paint, watercolor, and mixed media. Her favorite subject is people and figure drawing.  
Aside from art, Michelle is extremely passionate about social issues. She is the Co-Founder of her Tenant Association and volunteers at Pride. She loves cooking and baking, yoga and meditation, and performative nightlife as the resident artist of the NYC Rocky Horror Picture Show cast. She is super excited to be a part of this innovative program at Spark! “
Angie Phoenix

Angie Phoenix

Teaching Artist

Angie is a self-taught abstract visual and sculptor artist. She graduated from Laguardia CC with a degree in psychology to deepen the understanding of the human condition and use art as a way to cope with life’s trials

With that she brings a sense of healing to her community through creativity. Angie has a deep connection with nature and animals. She continues to connect with her indigenous background to protect and preserve nature by bringing awareness through her creative expression thus, her art style flows with her sense of urgency to protect the voiceless.

Xavier Polanco

Teaching Artist

My name is Xavier Polanco, my passion is teaching and visual arts. I graduated with a BFA from The Cooper Union in NYC. I love portraiture, drawing and 2-D animation.

I made a short animation in college that premiered in a shorts film festival in Argentina. I have taught teens before and I find it really fun and rewarding! My favorite part about teaching is seeing smiles as my students get more confident and are having fun while making art. 

Jazmine Nieves

Teaching Artist

Jazmine Nieves also known as Old Art Soul is Harlem based Fine Artist who discovered her talents during the pandemic. 
She has had a passion and appreciation for textiles, costume, and doodles her whole life . Jazmine graduated from LGCC and now attends The Fashion Institute Of Technology and majors in Fine Arts.  
 
She fundamentally believes that every person should have the opportunity to  nurture their inner artist.  She feels that art is the perfect tool for self discovery, philosophical expression, healing, and experimentation .  
 
Jazmine learned that she loves working with kids during her time as a swim instructor. She loves watching her students evolve overtime and become more comfortable in their fields of study, weather it is the confidence and freedom of knowing that they can safely swim, or the empowered feeling knowing that they can execute an idea in their preferred medium . She finds  this experience to be  incredibly inspiring. 

Naderson Saint Pierre

Teaching Artist

Naderson Saint Pierre is a passionate and talented portrait artist known for his ability to capture the essence and personality of his subjects through his art.

With a keen eye for detail and a deep understanding of human emotions, Naderson brings portraits to life, creating captivating and evocative works of art.
 
Born in Gonaïve/ Haiti, raised in Orlando Fl, Naderson discovered his love for art at a young age. He was drawn to the world of portraiture, fascinated by the ability to convey the complexity of the human spirit on canvas. Naderson honed his skills through years of dedicated practice, continually pushing the boundaries of his artistic abilities. Naderson Saint Pierre exhibited in
many galleries throughout Florida and New York City.

Grace Donnelly

Teaching Artist

Grace is a student studying visual arts in NYC but is originally from MA. She is an aspiring tattoo artist and is currently a licensed apprentice.

She has painted and drawn for a majority of her life which has been a major outlet and passion for her. She found her enjoyment for teaching kids through traveling with other students to the Dominican Republic and facilitating a summer camp for kids within the Batey communities. This experience opened Grace’s eyes overall and evoked her love for working with kids. She believes showing kids creative outlets are important for them so they can use these tools throughout life. Grace believes that all kids should have access to art as a means of expression, healing, and self discovery.

Stella Kogan

Teaching Artist

Stella Kogan is a self taught artist that is currently a senior in high school. She has been passionate about the arts since a young age and plans on pursuing a Bachelors in Fine Arts in college.

Stella creates paintings, drawings and sculpture using found material that she incorporates into her work. Her favorite media includes acrylic paint and clay. Stella also has two years of experience working with younger children in the arts from ages 4-13. Currently, she runs two clubs at school where she helps students execute art projects as a part of Art and Self Expression Club and paint murals around her school as a part of the Mural Club. 

Pennsylvania Partners

As we begin this new chapter in PA, Spark is striving to reach more kids and we couldn’t do this without collaborating with partners. I am pleased to announce that Spark is now a part of the It Takes a Village Hybrid Homeschool Community in Wind Gap. Spark is featured in the afternoons after the Learning experience at 1pm every other Wednesday starting in the new Year on Jan 3rd. Register here!

 

This Spring, we are bringing our program as weekday afternoon class to the Pocono YMCA in Stroudsburg this Fall. Our intention is to teach our unique program by reaching more children and we couldn’t be happier to have this opportunity to grow and spread the spark! We start in the Spring. All materials included. 

Register through the YMCA to join!

Interested in working with us?