Mollie O'Mara is the Chairperson of the Art Department at La Salle Academy. She has over 15 years of experience teaching art to students from first through eighth grade. She earned a BFA from The Catholic University of America and coordinates the annual art expo event at La Salle Academy. Ms. O'Mara is also an actress, photographer, and the owner of mollieomaraphotography, where she focuses on photographing children. She thanked all those involved in making the virtual art expo possible.

2. Mollie O’Mara
La Salle Academy Art Department Chairperson
Mollie O'Mara is a native of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania where
she won a chance at a young age to study every Saturday
morning atThe Carnegie Institute. Her skill lead her into
many more art lessons and a BFA fromThe Catholic
University of America.
Ms. O'Mara became the Chairman of the Fine Art and
Technology Departments three years ago and has since
continued the important annual art expo event here at La
Salle. Previously she coordinated fifteen years of art shows
atThe Epiphany School where she was the lead art teacher
for first through eighth graders. Ms. O'Mara also is an
actress, director, photographer and owner of
mollieomaraphotography where her concentration is
children. She thanks all who helped with this virtual art
expo, especially Caitlin Kerwin, the teachers, the
administrators, judges and speakers and most of all the
young artists. Keep art alive. It matters.
Thank you for your support of our art expo and our
school. Enjoy the show!

3. Guest Speaker: Howard Skrill
I am the creator of the Anna Pierrepont Series
consisting of plein-air and studio images of public
statues, statue removals and the absences of the
statues after removal in order to explore their
impact on public and private memory. Works from
the series are published worldwide standing along
and incorporated into pictorial essays, including the
mostly autobiographical DeathWish.
Many works have been exhibited in New Jersey,
Virginia and NewYork City in 2019 and will be the
subject of my first solo museum exhibition (opening
remotely because of COVID-19 on June 6th) at the
University of Fairfield.
I am a long-time Brooklyn based artist/educator
principally at St. Francis College in Brooklyn and live
with my wife, Mary.

4. Guest Speaker: Francis Estrada, MOMA
Born in the Philippines and currently residing in
Brooklyn, Francis Estrada is a visual artist, museum
educator at the Museum of Modern Art, and
freelance educator of Filipino art and culture. Francis
has a fine arts degree in painting and drawing from
San Jose State University, and he has taught in a
variety of studio, classroom, and museum settings
to diverse audiences, including programs for adults
with disabilities, cultural institutions, and after-
school programs. He was also an administrator and
educator at the Museum for African Art, where he
enjoyed teaching about the amalgamation of art
and culture through objects. Francis has exhibited
his work internationally, including online
publications. His work focuses on culture, history,
and perception.

5. A Note from Francis Estrada, MOMA
Dear students,
My name is Francis Estrada, and I am an artist just like you. I would like to congratulate you for being part of the 32nd Annual Arts Expo. As we all
continue to be affected by the current global pandemic, it is wonderful to see that you are continuing your art practice, and that you have the support and
guidance from your La Salle Academy community of classmates, teachers, administrators, and families.
During this time, I find myself doing things that ultimately give me joy. I wake up in the morning, water my plants, feed the birds outside my window,
and work on my art. I am aware of the events that are happening in the world, but I choose
to focus on the positive aspects. I feel that artmaking and the creative process provide me with the balance that I need at this moment. I also feel fortunate to know artist friends who use their
creativity to create masks or make meals for others in need during this time.
We all do what we can during this pandemic, and you should be proud that you are contributing to giving others joy by sharing your art in this expo. For that, I want to thank you for
providing positivity.
Sincerely,
Francis