MEET THE FELLOWS

2024 ARTS FELLOWS

CAMARA GAITHER

Camara Gaither is a poet, speaker, and clinical social worker. She loves that poetry is a language for the most elusive, beautiful, and even atrocious human experiences. Alternating between page poetry and spoken word poetry, she shares to evoke a sense of collective resonance, hope, and a desire for change. Camara creates customized poetry, writing workshops, and motivational messages for organizations and special events. She has also won multiple spoken word poetry slam competitions throughout Florida. In her social work, she loves making creative and clinical things converge by incorporating artistic activities in trauma therapy with clients. Camara has worked with college students in ministry settings, survivors of domestic violence, youth in residential treatment, and veterans recovering from post-traumatic stress disorder. Camara also finds joy and artistic expression through roller skating and doing improv with her family. She is blessed with a vivacious daughter and a loving husband.

XAVIER MOSS

Always covered by God’s righteousness, and his own paint, Xavier Moss is a Jamerican artist exploring the intersection of flora, fauna, and faith. Raised in Okinawa, England, and Florida, natural history illustration has been a constant companion, allowing him to see his Creator through Creation. Studying biological illustration at the University of Florida opened his eyes to the seemingly disparate viewpoints of natural history and faith, and in his work, he seeks to create a space where individuals from diverse backgrounds can pool their knowledge and unravel the significance of biblical biotas. Xavier believes that everybody is inherently creative, and embodies this in teaching at The Artistic Hand, The Orlando Museum of Art, and MassArt. As a digital missionary, he seeks to share His faith through his creative process. When not in the studio, Xavier explores the natural areas of Central Florida, enamored by the beauty of God’s creation.

MARIA PABLO

An American-Asian artist hailing from Manila, Philippines, and raised in San Diego, CA, this photographer developed an enthusiasm for art at the age of six. Introduced to photography by her father at 12, she was captivated by the camera, and it has since become the transformative lens through which she crafts visual narratives. Graduating with a BS in Psychology and a minor in Art History from San Diego State University, she is currently pursuing a Masters in Counseling at Reformed Theological Seminary. With over 15 years of professional photography experience, she has collaborated with the United Nations, Doctors for Africa, San Diego Chargers Foundation, Arc of San Diego, Salish Cancer Center, and various small businesses and entrepreneurs in the United States.
Enthralled by the camera from an early age, she utilizes it to forge connections and delve into the personal stories of individuals. Approaching photography with a Biblical foundation, she seeks to convey the glory of God through visual storytelling. Additionally, she employs her camera as a means of giving a voice to the voiceless, currently integrating photography into psychoeducation therapy for healing.

MELISSA RAMB

Soprano Melissa Ramb is an Orlando native and avid performer, teacher, and director. A former Studio & Affiliate Artist with Orlando Opera, she currently serves as Soprano Soloist/Section Leader and Director of Choristers at the Cathedral Church of St. Luke. Ms. Ramb has performed in opera, oratorio, concert, and musical theatre throughout the United States and abroad and has been praised for her clear soprano voice and her commitment to storytelling. She has performed with Opera Orlando, Orlando Opera, Chattanooga Symphony & Opera, dell’Arte Opera Ensemble, Lake Placid Institute, First Coast Opera, Orlando Philharmonic, Orlando Symphony Orchestra, and UCF Chamber Orchestra. She is an avid yogi, reader, traveler, and loves time with her husband, two daughters, and their golden retriever.

KATHLEEN SAFI

Kathleen Safi is a self-taught artist who honed her craft through a daily painting practice. She works in acrylic and watercolor and creates pieces inspired by the beauty of Central Florida where she lives. Her paintings range from plein air landscapes to fanciful pieces featuring birds and nature. She believes that keeping art around helps us to lead better lives and experience the world in a more meaningful way- whether it's art that makes you chuckle, makes you reminisce, or makes you wonder. She is a student of Christian iconography and is interested in exploring how both sacred and gallery art can “open the eyes” of the viewer’s heart to see our Creator. Her work can be found in homes and stores across Florida. She lives in Oviedo with her husband and three children.

KRISTEN VALLE YANN

Kristen Valle Yann is a representational oil painter currently residing in central Florida. Born and raised in a rural town just north of Tampa, Kristen spent much of her childhood inspired by nature and the quiet beauty around her. In 2018, she obtained a Bachelors of Fine Arts degree from Florida State University, followed by a year as a resident artist at East Oaks Studio in Cary, North Carolina. Currently, Kristen is a full-time artist, working in subjects from portrait and figure, to landscape and still life, each representing a still and contemplative quality.
Kristen’s work has honored her notable recognition with organizations such as The Portrait Society of America. Her work can be found at Collins Galleries in Cape Cod and Sugarlift Gallery in New York along with private and public collections. Yann is currently developing a body of work that investigates her lived experience growing up in rural Florida.

2023 ARTS FELLOWS

NATALIE DOURTE

(Painter) With over a decade of experience working in watercolor, Natalie Brooks Dourte shares her love of nature through painting. Born and raised in Florida, her imagination has been captured by the coasts and the lush world between. Her work seeks a rhythm of breathing in nature and exhaling with paint, honoring her source of inspiration, and inviting others to join her in the practice of wonder. Natalie believes that art can change the way we see the world and enjoys teaching watercolor workshops and classes in Winter Park and Orlando. Natalie is a member of the Central Florida Watercolor Society, wife to the brilliant green thumb behind many of her painting subjects, and mom to their three kids (who keep growing up- no matter how many times she tells them to slow down).

VASHTI GORACKE-THEDE

(Choreographer) For over ten years Vashti has enjoyed a diverse career in the entertainment industry as a professional dancer, choreographer, director, instructor, and dance film producer. Her professional work includes working for companies such as the United Ballet Theatre, Continental Ballet, Twin Cities Ballet, Delta Airlines, Best Buy, AMC Theaters, Shop HQ, MAC, Dillards, Farmer's Insurance, and more. She is the founder of VG Talent & Services LLC, where she helps creatives digitally manage, package, and present their skills so they can monetize their talents and turn their passions into profits. Vashti is a native of Kansas City, KS, and is married to her husband, Jake Thede.

KARINA HORNBERGER

(Painter) is an American-Colombian artist with a deep passion for the arts. She grew up in Orlando, FL and recently graduated from Rollins College with a double major in English and Studio Art. Her first exhibition, Prograde & Retrograde, at the Rollins' Museum of Art showcased her technical ability in watercolor painting, where three of her pieces were purchased. Two of these paintings now permanently reside in the Rollins College Olin Library. Karina's faith was deepened throughout college as she was, and still is, greatly involved in InterVarsity Christian Fellowship where she acted within the organization as a student co- president for the Rollins chapter, a campus ministry staff intern at FSU and a current volunteer staff at Rollins College. With a love for writing and illustration, she is passionate about telling stories through her art, and this has culminated into a desire to share a narrative about the intricacies of her faith through her artwork.

JAKE THEDE

(Operatic tenor) has sung with renowned choirs and opera companies throughout the United States and beyond including Orlando Opera, Minnesota Opera, Minnesota Chorale, Lyric Opera of Kansas City, Des Moines Metro Opera, Eutiner Festspiele (Germany), Lawrence Opera Theater, Kantorei of Kansas City, and Deo Cantamus. Jake received his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from the University of Kansas where he studied vocal performance under the direction of Dr. John Stephens. Above all, Jake loves to lift his voice to God in worship singing at churches and worship events throughout the country. Jake is a native of Urbandale, Iowa, and has been married to his wife Vashti for six years.

LAUREN THERIAULT

(Choreographer) is an Orlando-based artist and performer. She grew up immersed in the arts,and began her dance training at the age of 13 in ballet, modern, and jazz. Lauren attended Palm Beach Atlantic University and has degrees in Graphic Design and Dance Performance & Choreography. While she was there, she trained in ballet under the direction of Eileen Hebron (former Corps member with American Ballet Theatre), as well as Jin Hanley, Ivy Platt, and other internationally known modern and ballet dancers. Lauren has international dance experience as well as several awards,and enjoys both performing and choreographing in professional dance companies in the Orlando area. She has just recently received her Masters Degree in mental health counseling from Reformed Theological Seminary. She has enjoyed exploring the intersection of all these areas, always finding new ways to tell a story, bring new perspective, and point others to the ultimate Creator, God.

DAN CROSBY

(Sculptor) Dan has been an artist since a young age, spending hours a day with clay, pencil, or brush in hand. While attending college in Orlando, he married Rebekah, and in 2006 they moved to Boston so that Dan could study fine art at Massachusetts College of Art and Design. He graduated with a bachelor’s degree in sculpture and worked for a local bronze foundry until 2010, when he moved back to Orlando with his young family to become a model-maker. For several years, Dan helped to design and create aerospace replicas for notable museums, including the Kennedy Space Center and the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum. In 2015, Dan partnered with a fellow craftsman to start a custom woodworking and furniture business, Grit & Grain Co., while continuing to create both personal and commissioned artwork. A narrative artist who enjoys telling stories through the use of a variety of materials and mediums, Dan is intrigued by the pursuit of deeper truth woven throughout humanity and motivated by a desire to see the Creator’s hand in the most insignificant places and objects. He lives in Winter Springs with wife Rebekah and their two daughters.