Teachers at Hootenanny Art House

PETE SINJIN HEITMANN

Pete is a co-founder of Hootenanny Art House, along with his partner Kira Smith. He has spent the last twenty years playing music from his native Pennsylvania to his adopted homes of San Francisco and New York City. His musical inspiration ranges from punk rock to country to the blue plastic trumpet inspired jams his three year old daughter Zoe initiates in the morning to wake up the sun.

He regularly plays out and records to fulfill his grownup creative drive.

Check out www.petesinjin.com to hear more....

He’s thrilled to be doing a lot more teaching in his Brooklyn neighborhood and looking forward to sharing his guitar strumming passion with new and old friends.

Keep your eyes open for Pete playing his guitar and singing in the new film, 'The Nanny Diaries'. Don't blink or you'll miss it!

ARIA ISADORA RIVERA

Aria is a Brooklyn native and has two little ones of her own. She is Waldorf educated and received her BFA from Purchase College. She is currently obtaining her Masters degree in Creative Arts therapy. Aria has always seen art making as a way to integrate all the many facets of her life. Aria is trained in photography, printmaking, painting, collage, and numerous other mediums. Aria also has a background in Flamenco dance, Yoga and early childhood education.

GWYNN DUNCAN

Gwynne is a Brooklyn artist with a BFA in painting

from Bard College.  She has been showing her paintings based on dream imagery for many years in NYC and has curated several group shows.

She has a mural in the subway at the Clinton-Washington stop on the G  line in Brooklyn, and she was featured in the LA Times for her painting  'Empress' in the show "From the Ashes" following 911. 

She exhibited her work at Hootenanny Art House this past spring.

KIRA SMITH

Kira runs Hootenanny Art House with her partner Pete. She learned everything she needed to know about her new adventures in business and motherhood from her ten years as a modern dancer. Well, at least the she’s got the spinning part down. Kira has also studied yoga, women’s spirituality and creative arts therapy. She is thrilled to get to hang out with so many smart and dedicated parents and their rebel-rousing kids.