Our materials and collections have a story, each shaped by the talented artists who bring them to life.
Introducing the
Fall Artist in Residence of 2024
Janelle Rubin
Janelle Rubin is a born and raised Queens native, who has an endless curiosity for creating and making. She has prioritized keeping art and creativity in her life by always learning new skills. She is a self-taught sewist (sewer and artist), who values creativity and sustainability. She began sewing in 2016, creating her own garments to combat fast-fashion and live a more sustainable life.
During her AiR program, she will be mastering a new element through woodworking. Her collection is centered around home décor and function, creating pieces inspired by her daily life. She is excited to use salvaged materials for her collection, continuing her personal mission of creating with sustainability in mind. After the program, she is excited to continue to be part of the FSC community.
She will also continue her small business, Scrappy Pup Totes, creating sustainably made tote bags with unique furry friend designs, using fabric scraps and deadstock fabric.
Collection Coming Soon!
Will Callahan
Will is thrilled to join the Artist Fall Residency Program at Final Strike. A native New Yorker, Will has an extensive background in theater, film, and television.
His career highlights include being part of the Broadway National Tour of Pippin, being featured in The Greatest Showman, and appearing on the Metropolitan Opera stage, along with numerous regional performances across the country. Since retiring from Musical Theater, Will has shifted focus in recent years to Directing, Teaching, Painting, and Filmmaking.
Having dedicated his life to the arts and arts education, Will is now a lead teaching artist at Take Two Film Academy and contributes as a writer and researcher for The Harriet Tubman Effect. He also recently served as Assistant/Associate Director for Scooby-Doo Live for Warner Bros. Entertainment. Will shares Final Strike’s commitment to creating a more sustainable and equitable industry and is excited to collaborate with this talented group of artists.
What inspires your collection?
"I was a Nickelodeon kid growing up. I've always wanted an excuse to bring some of that nostalgia to life, and this residency seems like a perfect opportunity. I'll be presenting props, statues, and replicas that tap into that nostalgia from our youth all while invoking perspectives of our society today." -Will
Collection Coming Soon
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Dalaeja Foreman
Dalaeja Foreman (she/they) is a world-builder, martial artist, and first-generation Caribbean-New Yorker passionate about holistic wellness and liberatory action for individuals and communities. With over 18 years of experience practicing and teaching Muay Thai, Dalaeja integrates radical pedagogy, healthy Earth-relations, and reclaiming public spaces into her curatorial and organizing work. Her focus is on challenging hegemonic ideologies and fostering resistance through cultural production.
Dalaeja is a co-founder of the woodworking worker-cooperative Breadfruit and the founder of Metamorphosis Movement, a mobile martial arts school. Currently, she is working on a collection of refurbished furniture and wooden knives made from reclaimed materials, while continuing to expand her wood-sculpting practice and her role within Breadfruit.
Sophia Fox-Dichter
Hello! I am a researcher, teacher, and artist with a passion for textile and glass arts, particularly fabric dyeing and manipulation. My creative journey has led me to explore various crafts, including etching, bookbinding, fashion design, stained glass work, woodworking, drawing, punch needles, and quilting. I find joy in learning new tools and techniques. This summer, my collection will focus on stained glass pieces and home goods crafted from repurposed theater textiles, transforming materials like backdrops into poufs and glass shards into mosaics.
Looking ahead, I plan to pass my doctorate exams this fall, becoming a PhD candidate while balancing my love for art and research.
Ray Huth
I am a professional actor based out of NYC, with a BFA in Drama from the University of North Carolina School of the Arts. When not working on a film, stage production, or commercial, I fill my time by working as a production carpenter for Off-Broadway. I love working with my hands and discovered woodworking as a wonderful marriage of both my artistic skill set and my carpentry skill set. I am also an avid reader and lover of books!
You can follow me at www.rayhuth.com and @rayhuth.
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