Vitek
Vitek, a co-founder and president of GCL, is a professional artist, art restorer, set designer and teacher. He was trained in the Old World techniques of Fine and Decorative Arts in the Czech Republic and Germany. After his education, he worked in the restoration field, restoring castles and churches, before coming to the United States in 1991. Since then he have worked as a freelance artist, gallery owner, art teacher. Currently he also owns a restoration company, VK Restoration and consults for various art education organizations, architects and historical societies. Vitek and his partner Lori Divine created and directed Gateway City Arts in Holyoke, MA from 2012-2024.
Eileen is a self employed Business Consultant in Western Massachusetts. Her clients include profit and not for profit organizations. Eileen resides in Westfield, is a Commissioner for the Westfield Housing Authority, a volunteer for Kevs Foundation and the Friends of the Homeless. Eileen enjoys playing softball, volleyball, watching the New England Patriots and spending time with her family.
Kevin has been active in Western Mass theater for many years. He has been involved in many facets of theater production. He is the co-founder of Ghost Light Theater, Gateway's resident theater company. He is a firefighter and paramedic for the city of Westfield Massachusetts.
Jennifer Campbell is a lifelong resident of Western Massachusetts and resides in Holyoke, MA. She has worked in the nonprofit sector in human services since the mid 1990s. In 2020 she achieved a Masters Degree in Public Administration with a focus on Nonprofit Management. In addition to her current professional career, she was a small business owner from 2003 - 2008 with Night Owl Records in Easthampton, MA. Jennifer has been actively involved in local theater for many years and has assisted in hosting local fundraising music events.
Paul has been involved in education and performing arts for over 45 years. He has been on many boards of directors including the International Juggling Association, Coops and worker run organizations related to food and distribution, along with performing international and national. He has produced a Word Festival going into its 12 year. Runs a monthly reading in its 15th year. He has published 70 writers and presently has seven books published himself.
Elizabeth MacDuffie did doctoral studies in Writing and the Teaching of Writing at UMass, Amherst, where she was fortunate to be able to study under seminal professors Charlie Moran, Peter Elbow, and Anne Herrington. She taught at UMass and later at Holyoke Community College. A few years after founding Meat for Tea: The Valley Review, she left academia to focus on this arts & literary journal. Meat for Tea now also includes a podcast and a micro-press.
Mark Alan Miller is a recording engineer based in western Massachusetts, specializing in mastering, mixing and band recording. He lives in Holyoke, MA where he lives with a lovely woman who happens to edit a great arts and literary journal. He splits his time with her, his work, and his son, mostly. He also records as Out Out, under the general umbrella of "industrial music." There are never enough vinyl records in his life.
Dimitri has been involved in the visual and performing arts all his life. Son to artist Feodor Rimsky, and life long member of the Washington Art Association (to which his father was a founder). Dimitri also founded the Savoy Agency, a multi-faceted talent agency running nightclub and concert venue entertainment calendars during 1980’s. He has organized many public and private events and continues to support creative activities however possible. Dimitri is currently a retired web designer and occasional poet.
