Art, Yoga, Meditation
& Nature for Kids

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Our Mission

We are committed to igniting the Spark within every child. Together we can create a nurturing environment where children thrive, discovering their passions and cultivating the skills needed to lead fulfilling lives. Let us inspire the next generation to dream big, embrace creativity, practice mindfulness and protect our planet.

A Note from the Founder

Sebastian Alappat

I have loved art since I can remember and putting my passions on paper was one of my earliest forms of self-expression. I grew up different from most of my friends: born abroad, traveled extensively and have a love for other cultures. I have absorbed the world around me and became a prism for channeling it. I truly love life and embrace it with genuine gratitude and reverence for what I have been able to do, where I have been able to go and all the families and kids I have met along the way.

My service is to children. Once I found the path I was meant to walk on, the universe has had my back, time and time again, just look at the picture! 

I speak the language of children (patience, laughter and connection) and it is truly a special gift. I have met so many kids on my decade long journey and I hope that I have made an indelible mark on their lives by welcoming them for exactly who they are.

I serve because I genuinely love what I do and feel so blessed to call this my job. To have created a company that can impact lives, connect me to other artists and make the world a better place feels like the greatest thing I have made, save the creation of my children.

We are doing big things and making huge waves. It’s the deepest honor to work with your kids. Thank you for trusting us to nourish, support and elevate your children!

Father, world-traveller and artist, Sebastian Alappat is the founder and creator of SPARK. Born in Kerala, India and raised in Africa then America, Sebastian is an enthusiastic traveler and lover of life. He’s been making art since childhood, pouring over comic books as inspiration for his early drawings.

Groomed to be a doctor, especially as the firstborn Indian son, Sebastian realized he was destined for a path that was much different. He switched from pre-med to fine art & computer science then had a decade plus career as a Graphic Designer /Art Director. He worked with brands like Tommy Hilfiger and Armitron before driving cross-country and going back to school for advertising in San Francisco.

He studied abroad in Berlin and Saó Paulo and gained experiences with agencies like Ogilvy and Jung Von Mott. He returned to New York City and became a Creative Director for a start up called Lenddo. After several years, he couldn’t deny the call any long and left corporate America for good to pursue his first love: Art. He committed to making art every day for a year, a project called Sketch 365, which culminated into Backyard art show he and his wife put on in their small Upper West apartment, officially launching his career as an artist. In 2015, as he was trying to figure out what to do next, a dear friend suggested he teach art to kids and boom! Spark was born.

Although it really started with art, Spark then expanded to include yoga and meditation. As a South Indian man, it’s been a great honor to bring that piece of India to kids here in America. Now residing in Pennsylvania, he is committed to bringing Spark to the kids out here in the country. It has truly changed his life and has helped evolve Spark into its latest iteration, one that now involves nature. Check out my art here!

Teaching Artists

A tiny seed grew from one student to now an incredibly successful program in multiple locations. This is all due to the decision to hire of an incredible team of Spark Teaching artists who have been instrumental to the spreading of the Spark over the years. Here’s our current roster of Teaching Artist all stars:

Jonathan Mendez

Teaching Artist

Francia Valbuena

Teaching Artist

Joel Polanco

Teaching Artist

Michelle Paer

Teaching Artist

Jazmine Nieves

Teaching Artist

Angie Phoenix

Spark Manager

Grace Donnelly

Teaching Artist

Alex Pertoff

Teaching Artist

Joy Dunn

Teaching Artist

Noel Wah

Teaching Artist

Chyna Tené

Teaching Artist

Connell Thompson

Teaching Artist

Jomani Danielle

Teaching Artist

Carolina Parra

Teaching Artist

Tahira Simpson

Teaching Artist

Interested in working with Spark?

If you’re an artist, creative, yogi or heart centered individual with a desire to change lives get in touch to learn more. We are always accepting resumes for future teaching opportunities.

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  • 162 West 72nd Street - 5th Flr
  • start@thespark.nyc
Spark ©2024 All rights reserved.
Site Design by Sebastian Alappat
Development by MMAG
Photography: Credits Carolina Parra & Sahira Medley

Jonathan Mendez

Teaching Artist

Pediatric CPR and First Aid Certified

Jonathan is an NYC artist that specializes in pyrography and woodburning.

He has a bachelor’s degree in Studio Art and over 10 years of experience working with and mentoring children from ages 5-16. Back in 2015 he found out he had a genetic condition called Neurofibromatosis Type 1 which required multiple surgeries to remove tumors from his spine. During recovery he used art as his form of therapy. This is where he came across the art of pyrography which is his main study of art. Jonathan hopes to one day be an advocate in the Neurofibromatosis community, especially to show children they’re not alone.

Francia Valbuena

Teaching Artist

Friendly and creative tattoo and fine artist.

Francia has strong interpersonal skills proven through different art activities for kids and adults.
She graduated from LaGuardia CC, Associates degree in Fine Arts and coordinates creative activities at “The Kids Art Gallery” for a Brooklyn based art collective. Francia, is an accomplished tattoo artist with extensive experience looking to expand her career by instructing and enhancing the imagination of future generations.
 
Teaches : After School, Camps

Joel Polanco

Teaching Artist

My name is Joel Antonio Polanco.

I graduated from Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School and then received a BFA from Cooper Union, one of the best art universities in NY state. Alongside my art practice, I had the privilege at an early age to teach art to teens. I started at 17 years old as an assistant art instructor for Queens Council On Art (QCA). That quickly transformed into being a mentor to specific students at QCA. Fast-forward to college, I had the amazing opportunity to teach teens at the Saturday Program, a high intensity portfolio prep program for kids who are serious about getting into art college. I love working with children of all ethnic backgrounds from all walks of life. One of my best moments in life is when I became the instructor at Saturday program after being a student for 1 year! Today I own my own independent Animation company. 
 
Teaches: Portfolio Prep, Virtual

Michelle Paer

Teaching Artist

Michelle is a New York City born and based professional visual artist with a BFA in Illustration from the School of Visual Arts.

As a lover of art and psychology, she believes that art is our first and most fundamental tool that we have for self-expression. She strives to harness an environment where technical skill meets creativity to find one’s inner voice. Her favorite mediums are oil paint, watercolor, and mixed media. Her favorite subject is people and figure drawing.
Aside from art, Michelle is extremely passionate about social issues. She is the Co-Founder of her Tenant Association and volunteers at Pride. She loves cooking and baking, yoga and meditation, and performative nightlife as the resident artist of the NYC Rocky Horror Picture Show cast. She is super excited to be a part of this innovative program at Spark!

Teaches: After School , Camps, Private Lessons

Jazmine Nieves

Teaching Artist

Jazmine Nieves, also known as Old Art Soul, is Harlem based Fine Artist who discovered her talents during the pandemic.

She has had a passion and appreciation for textiles, costume, and doodles her whole life. Jazmine graduated from LGCC and now attends The Fashion Institute Of Technology and majors in Fine Arts.

She fundamentally believes that every person should have the opportunity to nurture their inner artist. She feels that art is the perfect tool for self discovery, philosophical expression, healing, and experimentation.

Jazmine learned that she loves working with kids during her time as a swim instructor. She loves watching her students evolve overtime and become more comfortable in their fields of study, weather it is the confidence and freedom of knowing that they can safely swim, or the empowered feeling knowing that they can execute an idea in their preferred medium. She finds this experience to be incredibly inspiring.

Teaches : After School, Camps, Private Lessons, Forest School

Angie Phoenix

Spark Manager

Pediatric CPR and First Aid Certified

Angie is a self-taught abstract visual and sculptor artist.

She graduated from Laguardia CC with a degree in psychology to deepen the understanding of the human condition and use art as a way to cope with life’s trials.

With that she brings a sense of healing to her community through creativity. Angie has a deep connection with nature and animals. She continues to connect with her indigenous background to protect and preserve nature. By bringing awareness through her creative expression her art style flows with her sense of urgency to protect the voiceless.

Grace Donnelly

Teaching Artist

Grace is a student studying visual arts in NYC but is originally from Massachusetts. She is an aspiring tattoo artist and is currently a licensed apprentice.

She has painted and drawn for a majority of her life which has been a major outlet and passion for her. She found her enjoyment for teaching kids through traveling with other students to the Dominican Republic and facilitating a summer camp for kids within the Batey communities. This experience opened Grace’s eyes overall and evoked her love for working with kids. She believes showing kids creative outlets are important for them so they can use these tools throughout life. Grace believes that all kids should have access to art as a means of expression, healing, and self discovery.

Teaches: After School, Camps

Alex Perloff

Teaching Artist

Alex Perloff is a passionate artist whose creativity spans multiple mediums including visual art, music, and film.

With a keen eye for detail and a deep appreciation for aesthetics, Alex brings a unique perspective to every project. He blends artistic expression with musical innovation in various mediums. Whether  painting a canvas, composing a melody, or dissecting a film, his work reflects a profound love for storytelling and artistic exploration. Always on the lookout for inspiration, Alex continuously seeks new ways to merge these interests into captivating and meaningful creations.

Teaches: Portfolio Prep

Joy Dun

Teaching Artist

Pediatric CPR and First Aid Certified

Hi! My name is Joy Dunn, and I’m so excited to be coming in as a teaching artist at Spark!

As a Senior Fine Arts major at LaGuardia High School (right next to the Spark Studio) I hope to expand nearly four years of experience working within youth arts programs. My experience includes curatorial work, summer camps, and teaching artist opportunities. My personal teaching philosophy centers around fostering unique voices, creativity, and honing in on developing fine arts skills in your budding artists. Outside of teaching, I love painting, drawing, baking, and taking walks in Prospect Park — which I like to think further inspires my work. I truly look forward to extending my artistic knowledge through Spark and contributing to your child’s creative development!

Noel Wah

Teaching Artist

Pediatric CPR and First Aid Certified

My name is Noel Wah. I'm a long time art enthusiast. Mostly self-taught in animation, fine art and ink work.

My whole life I’ve been an art enthusiast. In middle school I prepared a portfolio and auditioned to get into High School of Art and Design. Since , I’m most self taught in animation, ink work and some painting. 

I’ve worked with kids for 18 years and counting. As a tutor, after school group leader , to an educational assistant. For 10 of those years, I worked with students with special needs including autism, ADD, ADHD, along with emotional trauma. Those are the students that make this line of work very fulfilling.
 
In 2014 I was in a car accident that led to 10 months of physical therapy that made me look to more forms of fitness aside weight lifting such as yoga. Which led to meditation. I still use these in my day to day. 
I’ve used art, fitness, and meditation to connect to my students for many years now in order to help them to find a level of mindfulness and achieve tools for success

Chyna Tené

Teaching Artist

  • @xxx

I'm Chyna Tene, an artist exploring the arts. Originally from Columbus, OH now living in Queens, NY.

My background explores multiple media like dance, yoga, visual arts, and acting. I use these mediums to express, to learn, and to share. So being a part of Spark where I’m able to share ideas, create activities, and explore alongside the kids and other artists has been an experience. This company isn’t only amazing for the kids to learn art, yoga, meditation, and nature, but it also gives the teaching artists the chance to do the same and there’s a lot of power in that. My artistic journey continues to grow and expand, and I’m looking forward to what’s next!

Teaches: After School

Connell Thompson

Teaching Artist

Pediatric CPR and First Aid Certified

While best known for his energetic saxophone performances, Connell Thompson has found a love for visual art, yoga and meditation, and is excited to join the SPARK team as a Teaching Artist.

As a teacher he incorporates his love for all art forms and cultures by encouraging discussion of ideas, art, and music amongst the SPARK campers and students.

Connell started out playing clarinet in middle school, but quickly took up the saxophone in high school to join the jazz band. He went on to study music at NYU, earning his Bachelor’s of Music in Jazz Performance in 2010. Since then he has played all over and under NYC and around the world, starting in the parks and subways and making his way to international festival stages with some of today’s biggest artists. His style reflects his love and respect of different cultures, and is mixed with all kinds of sounds from Jazz to Ska to Motown to Balkan and Turkish to Afrobeats and Amapiano.

Teaches: After School, Camps

Jomani Danielle

Teaching Artist

Jomani Danielle is an abstract artist that melds worlds using multiple modalities.

When using oil, pastels or acrylics – whatever the vehicle, it makes no difference: vibrancy and movement are the goal. She relies on the canvas to guide her creation of landscapes in abstraction. Her symbols are reminiscent of the Bogolanfini from Mali and Sanskrit lettering. Though not intentionally derived from then, it is reminiscent of these forms of communication. She finds it to be an anchoring of her ancestry that flows through her creative process as an Afro Guyanese creative and artist.

Carolina Parra

Teaching Artist

I'm an emerging actress living in New York since 2015. I'm originally from Colombia, where I was born and raised.

I hold a Bachelor’s degree in Architecture and a Master’s specialized in Management and Event Communication.

After graduating from college, I left home and went to live and study in Paris. While living there I studied acting for film and theater. At the same time, had the opportunity to participate in many projects in front and behind the camera: as an actor, casting director, producer, co-producer, PA, and AD. After six years of living in France, I decided to come to New York to study Filmmaking.

While living in chaotic New York I’ve also developed my creative side through the practice of yoga, mindfulness and meditation and most recently, photography.

However, rather than a photographer, I consider myself a soul catcher. I won’t claim to be the best and most expert photographer, I am an expert at making people feel comfortable in their own skin and that shows in the images I capture.

Teaches: Birthdays/ Photography

Tahira Simpson

Teaching Artist

Pediatric CPR and First Aid Certified

Tahira is a singer-songwriter and school psychology master’s student, originally from Atlanta, Ga. She comes from a family of artists, all varying in their mediums. 

Tahira is also very passionate about fostering creative abilities and believes that creating is one of the truest forms of self-expression. 

Tahira was inspired to work with children by the arts and academic teachers she had growing up, and she incorporates this passion into her work with students. 

After completing her degree, Tahira plans to work at a high-need school as a school psychologist, and assist with arts related after school programs in the afternoon.