Codi Josephson is originally from Montana, but moved to Iowa to go to Cornell College. After graduating from Cornell, she taught high school art for two years, and for the past six years she has been working at an arts-focused youth center in Iowa City. She provides art-making opportunities for youth who come to the center as well as other locations in the community such as schools, community centers and youth shelters. Codi encourages and facilitates youth to use art as a tool for empowerment, self-expression and social activism. As an outlet for this work, she coordinates a gallery space that is used by youth in Iowa City to show their work. Her work has given her the opportunity to be part of a community that recognizes the importance of art as well as the importance of supporting and encouraging youth in the arts.
Codi’s current art practice plays out in tandem with her profession; one influencing the other. Similarly, the method in which she works is continuous and ongoing. She commonly explores ideas with a variety of materials including painting, printing, textiles and (most recently) sculptural book forms.
Gene Romero is originally from Santa Fe, NM but he has spent many years in the Midwest. He holds a Bachelors of Art from Carleton College in Northfield, MN and a Master of Arts and Fine Arts from the University of Iowa. While at the University of Iowa he also attainted his Teacher’s Certification in K-12 Art Education. Currently he is an Assistant Professor of Humanities in Art and Writing for New Mexico State University branch campus in Grants, New Mexico. He has taught a diverse group of students throughout his teaching career. He has worked with students at City High and at Lincoln and Kirkwood Elementary Schools in the Iowa City area. He also worked with students at the American International School in Mallorca, Spain. His current teaching position has exposed him to the Native American Culture of Navajo, Zuni, Laguna and Acoma in Grants, New Mexico. He has worked with students of all ages and from diverse backgrounds. He enjoys sharing his own cultural experiences and knowledge of Mexico and New Mexico with his students.
As an artist Gene Romero’s work is influenced by his many trips to his mother’s hometown in Jalisco, Mexico. He works primarily with gouache on wood drawing off the work of the traditional Hispanic Arts of New Mexico, such as retablos and bultos. He has also reproduced a Diego Rivera mural for Los Cabos Restaurant in Coralville, Iowa. He is currently producing work for a local gallery in Santa Fe and regional art shows in New Mexico.
Codi Josephson is originally from Montana, but moved to Iowa to go to Cornell College. After graduating from Cornell, she taught high school art for two years, and for the past six years she has been working at an arts-focused youth center in Iowa City. She provides art-making opportunities for youth who come to the center as well as other locations in the community such as schools, community centers and youth shelters. Codi encourages and facilitates youth to use art as a tool for empowerment, self-expression and social activism. As an outlet for this work, she coordinates a gallery space that is used by youth in Iowa City to show their work. Her work has given her the opportunity to be part of a community that recognizes the importance of art as well as the importance of supporting and encouraging youth in the arts.
Gene Romero is originally from Santa Fe, NM but he has spent many years in the Midwest. He holds a Bachelors of Art from Carleton College in Northfield, MN and a Master of Arts and Fine Arts from the University of Iowa. While at the University of Iowa he also attainted his Teacher’s Certification in K-12 Art Education. Currently he is an Assistant Professor of Humanities in Art and Writing for New Mexico State University branch campus in Grants, New Mexico. He has taught a diverse group of students throughout his teaching career. He has worked with students at City High and at Lincoln and Kirkwood Elementary Schools in the Iowa City area. He also worked with students at the American International School in Mallorca, Spain. His current teaching position has exposed him to the Native American Culture of Navajo, Zuni, Laguna and Acoma in Grants, New Mexico. He has worked with students of all ages and from diverse backgrounds. He enjoys sharing his own cultural experiences and knowledge of Mexico and New Mexico with his students.