John Cloud Kaiser is the Gallery Director and Director of Education at Materials for the Arts in New York City. Since starting his art collective The Freestyle Family over 20 years ago, he has been dedicated to artwork made from re-used materials, art that impacts communities, and art that examines sustainability across our society.

A graduate of NYU, Kaiser lectures at conferences, teaches workshops to NYC students and teachers, curates art exhibits, and advocates for arts access. He has exhibited art projects throughout New York including Socrates Sculpture Park, Storm King Art Center, and Governors Island. He has been featured in The NY Times, collaborated with CERN in Switzerland, and was selected as Arts Administrator of the Year by the NYC Art Teachers Association. 

Joy Suarez has over thirty years experience as a teaching artist and educator. After graduating from Florida State University with a degree in Anthropology, Joy moved to New York City, building a strong career designing and implementing programs and curricula for educational organizations including the Children’s Museum of Manhattan, New York City Housing Authority, New York City Department of Education, The Fashion Center, Children for Children and the Lower Eastside Girls Club.

Joy has been Materials for the Arts’ lead teaching artist designing and conducting Creative Reuse workshops for art educators since 1995. Joy’s other full time passion is working with her partner Louie Miranda where together they co-write and co-produce studio recordings of their own brand of informational music that is for children and their families to grow with.