“This is such a non-judgmental, welcoming place – where all people can express their true self. And, what we do here – our art, films, education programs, Creative Cocktail Hour – is something you can’t get anywhere else, especially under one roof.”

Prior to her work at Real Art Ways, Tricia was the founder and executive director of Safe Harbors of the Hudson in Newburgh, NY.  Safe Harbors owns and operates The Cornerstone Residence a mixed-use building that includes housing, art gallery, art studio, theater and commercial space.  She is also the co-founder of the Golden Thread Gallery, currently a gallery without walls.

Outside of the meaningful work she does at RAW Tricia likes traveling, reading, the outdoors, seeing movies at RAW and more than anything hanging out with her three entertaining sons.

Aly is passionate about art, culture and community. She received her BFA in Ceramics & Sculpture from the University of Hartford in 2015 and has exhibited her work throughout CT.

Aly has traveled all over the world and has spent the last few years studying shamanism, leadership and personal development. Most recently, she began studying with international leader, Julio Olalla.

In addition to cultivating community and connections at Real Art Ways, Aly teaches workshops and sees clients at The Naughty Shaman in Glastonbury, CT.

When she’s not working, Aly is making art, writing, hiking or dancing!

Neil Daigle-Orians is an interdisciplinary artist originally from Omaha, Nebraska. Neil earned his BFA in studio art from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and MFA in studio art from the University of Connecticut. His work has been exhibited nationally and internationally, recent credits including the Czong Institute of Contemporary Art in South Korea, the Atlanta Print Biennial at Kai Lin Art, and Sideshow Gallery in Brooklyn, New York.

When not at Real Art Ways, you can probably find Neil locked in his studio, holding hands with that special someone, or wishing he was in the ocean.

Tom is a graphic designer and communications professional with a background in higher education, ad agencies and corporate settings. He holds a degree in Graphic Design from CCSU and has evolved with the industry over the years from marker comps, t-squares and technical pens to Photoshop, HTML5 and social media.

Outside of work, Tom collects LPs, 45s and 78s and practices audio engineering in his basement recording studio. He also assists his wife with landscaping projects and plays lead guitar in his surf-rock trio, The Aquatudes.