Alicen Harrad, December Featured Artist

Alicen Harrad grew up in New York loving art and music but found the highly competitive public schools stressful and dull.  In her junior year of high school, she registered in the arts program thinking it was an easy way to get enough credits to graduate. This flippant decision became the turning point in her life.

Design and painting classes were surprisingly intense and participating in an award-winning choir and theater group proved technical and demanding but rewarding. The art room became a safe haven where talent was nurtured, encouraged and appreciated and where “square pegs” could excel. She felt right at home.

As an education major at the Philadelphia College of Art, Alicen continued painting and exploring classes such as ceramics and photography. She also started teaching in Philly’s inner-city schools and later taught in Montreal, Washington DC and Los Angeles. Marriage to Mark brought her back to New York where, as a local community center director, Alicen had the joy of introducing art, music, dance and theater to hundreds of children, including her daughter, Remi. It was also an opportunity to hire, train and guide many young people who later became amazing teachers. Living and working in the old, established neighborhood of Yorkville in a program attended by generations of children and their families, created a personal bond and a highlight to her life. read more