Staff

Lauren Repholz, Director
With a diverse and dynamic background, Lauren Repholz brings a passion for the arts, environment, and global exploration to the Paul Nigra Center for Creative Arts.

Lauren, moved from Pennsylvania to New York over 18 years ago and began her professional journey at The Arc Lexington, where she has made significant contributions across various roles. Lauren most recently oversaw the training department for two years and managed the agency’s self-direction program, for which she was a certified New York State Self-Direction Broker. Lauren played a pivotal role in developing and managing the Transitions program for five years after it was founded in 2015. Lauren has also worked directly with the people supported by The Arc Lexington, managing homes in Fulton County and overseeing the opening of homes in Albany.

A classically trained dancer with over 14 years of experience, Lauren brings a disciplined and creative approach to everything she does. Lauren is deeply passionate about environmental sustainability and ecosystem preservation. She is an avid flower and vegetable gardener, and can often be found in her spare time digging in the dirt. Lauren loves to immerse herself in diverse cultures, art, and antiquities and has traveled to over 18 countries across every continent except Antarctica. Lauren is enthusiastic skier with a penchant for big mountain skiing and is an AIARE II certified avalanche rescuer.

Lauren holds a bachelor’s degree in Liberal Arts with a focus on Criminal Justice and a minor in Greek, Roman, and Hebrew Classics from Temple University, where she graduated Summa Cum Laude.

Contact Lauren at (518) 661-9932 or at NishL@thearclexington.org.

Lori White, Events Coordinator
Lori White joined Lexington in June 2015 as its events coordinator, responsible for booking events at the Nigra Arts Center. Previously, Lori co-owned and operated The Railyard, a family restaurant, for 20 years. Lori has extensive experience catering a wide variety of events, from small parties to large elegant affairs, including weddings, conferences, retreats, meetings, graduation celebrations, social events, banquets and more. Lori is looking forward to working with you to plan the perfect event! 
Contact her at (518) 661-9932 or at whitel@thearclexington.org for meeting and event rental information.

Brenda Dwyer, Community Gallery Curator
Brenda is a self-taught artist who expresses herself through the artwork she creates. As co-owner of Adirondack Stained Glass Works in Gloversville, she has explored various styles of art design for more than 30 years. Brenda’s position as environmental and creative arts specialist for Lexington has enabled her to study art in its many forms and media while sharing her wisdom and expertise with others. As the Community Gallery curator at the Nigra Arts Center, Brenda develops and oversees our rotating art exhibits, from submitting calls for artists and selecting pieces to displaying the work. She also teaches a multitude of art classes and participates in our children’s day camp program. 
Contact Brenda at (518) 661-9932 or dwyerb@thearclexington.org. 

Megan Balser, Community Engagement and Communications Specialist
Megan is a 2014 graduate of the Savannah College of Art and Design’s Writing program. In college, she served as an assistant copy editor for District, SCAD’s student-run news source, and interned for two summers at the Spirit of Jefferson newspaper in West Virginia. In addition to editing and proofreading, she wrote for both publications, and between the two has had more than 40 clips published. Currently, Megan is Lexington’s Community Engagement and Communications Specialist.
Contact Megan at balserm@thearclexington.org or (518) 661-9932, ext. 123.

Art Class Instructors

Barney Bellinger
Metal Sculpting

Cheryl Bielli
Multi-media art forms, focusing in acrylic

Brenda Dwyer
Multi-media art forms (acrylic, woodworking, polymer clay, felting, alcohol ink, shibori dying) and cooking classes

Doug Hallberg
Stained Glass

Wally Hart
Cooking classes, specializing in pasta making

Savannah Horan
Multi-media art forms focusing on acrylic

Heather Mattioni
Multi-media art forms focusing in water color

Paul Sunday
Collage, Abstract painting and photography

Patrick White
Guitar Lessons

Jacob Willwerth
Multi-media art forms (acrylic, graphite, charcoal, polymer clay, sewing, beading, origami) and cooking classes

Courtney Wood
Strengthen and Lengthen Yoga and Kid’s Yoga

MaryAnn Zicarelli
Yoga