About Moonforest Gallery of the Arts

Claudia Shakaya Hope Reese has been a visual artist, teacher, and vocalist all her life.  She offers classes, and community gatherings that center around the arts.  Her current visual arts work is shown here, both the preliminary drawings and finished paintings or sculptures. All are for sale, and prints of various sizes can be made and delivered upon request.

Vocal Improvisation (group and individual experiences) are meant to be fun, and adapted to the experience levels of the participants.  They are meant to increase confidence in using the voice and feelings you have. Humans need to sing! We need to play and express! Join us!

Visual arts journeys involve creative writing and creative visualization to form and focus the ideas that will be used in the art piece.  Shakaya then teaches the specific desired techniques the participant wants to use in their sculpture. She has education and experience in many visual arts techniques.   

Please see the classes pages and calendar to see what is being offered. (The classes have been on pause during Covid. I will update when they begin again. August of 2023? )

Fine Arts

BA in Fine Arts with an Art Studio Emphasis (Sculpture, painting, drawing, and mixed media are my strong areas)

BA in Art Education:  Teaching is also a strong area. My classes have always been designed to be enjoyable, involve personal exploration, and successfully teach technical skills.

Taught Art in the public schools for 14 years (ages 4-21).

Taught in a the Very Special Arts Program DE, in private facilities at various locations. 

Taught community arts programs geared to various cultures and their issues and concerns.

Currently facilitates individual and group arts experiences in local venues or private homes. This includes singing, visual arts, drama, dancing and creative writing (on pause. Will update)

Vocalist

Growing up in a very musical family provided me with much experience jamming, both on instruments and vocally. 

University Study:  voice and music theory, singing with voice majors in the small auditioned groups, toured and won awards while in these groups. 

Other Experience:   After graduation, I went on to sing in auditioned community chorale groups in different towns. The most notable one was the Frederick Chorale in MD. They toured and made television appearances, filled large halls with paying ticket holders. In this group, I got to experience the composer Swingle as a guest director, where we sang many of his very difficult compositions with precision. 

There were other groups, and many varied and complex compositions.  I became well versed and adept at singing a wide variety of styles and compositions. I most currently was a member of the Dorothy Cotton Jubilee singers based in Ithaca, NY.

I most enjoy facilitates ongoing vocal improvisation groups.