Staff
Educational Programs Director
Maria Griego is a lifelong New Mexican whose roots date back to at least 1620, or so Ancestry.com says. Maria holds a BA in Languages and MBA from the University of New Mexico and was awarded a Fulbright scholarship to study in Mexico City. Over her over 25-year career, she has worked in the private and non-profits sectors, and was a program evaluator for the NM Legislative Finance Committee for eight years, analyzing state programs to ensure they were meeting their mission effectively. She is passionate about education as the third generation in her family to be an educator.
Maria’s love for the arts began with trying to replicate Bob Ross with her primary color poster paints and her Big Indian Chief art pad. Her clouds were never like his! She also studied ballet, tap, jazz, ballroom, and flamenco dance, as well as classical, folk, rock, and flamenco guitar. She briefly dabbled in school theater with her unwritten role of Ruth Putnam in Albuquerque Academy’s 1992 production of Arthur Miller’s The Crucible.
Maria is quadlingual (Spanish, English, French, and Italian), loves art and travel, is a foodie, and a dog mom to her 80 pound Black Lab, Lucca.
Maria oversees ArtWorks and the Hands-On Heritage summer program for Partners in Education Foundation.
Teaching Artists
Carisa Otero (Visual Arts)
Carisa is a retired art educator whose 26-year career inspired creativity and self-expression in students from kindergarten through sixth grade. Holding a Master’s Degree in Education, she blends academic expertise with a deep passion for the arts; developing engaging, hands-on lessons that integrate art history, cultural traditions, and personal exploration.
As an artist, Carisa’s work has focused on Spanish Colonial arts, with particular emphasis on retablos, tinwork, and pottery. She brought these traditions into the classroom, connecting students to the cultural heritage of the Southwest and fostering an appreciation for both historical craftsmanship and contemporary creativity. Her students’ work reached far beyond the classroom, including their hand-punched tin ornaments being featured on the U.S. Capitol Christmas Trees.
Carisa was recognized as 2017 Educator of the Year by the Albuquerque Hispano Chamber of Commerce. She has also secured multiple competitive grants to support the arts and technology in the classroom, expanding student opportunities and resources. Beyond her own artistic achievements, Carisa contributes to the broader arts community through collaborative projects, most notably participating in a Dia de los Muertos-themed installation at El Museo Cultural in Santa Fe. Her legacy lives on in the countless young artists she inspires and the enduring value she places on the role of art in education and community life.
John Paul “JP” Granillo (Visual Arts and Author)
Born in 1983 in Santa Fe of Chicano and Ute descent, John Paul “JP” Granillo coped with the inner and outer chaos of his childhood by immersing himself in his art. JP spent the entirety of his 20s in maximum security prison, including 18 months in solitary confinement. While incarcerated, he honed his craft as an artist, infusing his drawings with bold Chicanx iconography and symbolic imagery of his family roots. Upon his release from prison, JP began organizing and leading community-based mural art projects. His vast range of artistic practice (mural art, stone sculptures, and acrylic and oil painting) all seek to give life to under-represented historical narratives and perspectives and to foster pride in Chicanx culture.
JP served as a member of the City of Santa Fe Charter Review Commission, the Santa Fe Housing Trust Board, the Monte del Sol Charter School Board, and the Santa Fe City Council Advisory Board. JP received the Santa Fe Hispanic Chamber of Commerce’s 2023 Forty Under 40 award.
JP’s work has been displayed at the Museum of International Folk Art, El Museo Cultural, El Museo de las Americas in Denver, CO, and in private galleries across the country. Countless walls in city parks, as well as public and private buildings in Santa Fe, are adorned with his murals. He has been featured in the Santa Fe Reporter, Santa Fe Magazine, and New Mexico Magazine. JP was awarded Best in Show at the Spanish Contemporary Hispanic Market twice and is a Philadelphia Mural Arts awardee for climate activism. He is featured in Between the Lines at the International Folk Art Museum through 9/2/25.
Natalie Kincaid (Storytelling, Poetry & Visual Arts)
Natalie is a teaching artist with a background in fine art and writing. Her work is shaped by the values of the National Writing Project and the workshop model of emergent learning. Natalie’s portfolio captures ordinary moments, the world around her, and the people she loves, in portrait. Her process includes mixed media, narrative, and photography.
Natalie created Think, a participant-driven, portfolio-based writing workshop for Our Place of New Trier, a Chicago-area community for young adults with developmental delays. She authored The Our Place Literary Guide to support inclusive, creative engagement with writing. Natalie holds a BFA in Design and a MA in Education, and is a National Writing Project Fellow. She is certified through InterStrength to facilitate collaborative work around interaction styles and motivation.
Natalie likes spending time outdoors with friends and family, and enjoys running and hiking in her free time. Some of her favorite destinations include the Art Institute of Chicago, Hirshhorn Museum in Washington DC, and IAIA in Santa Fe. She and her husband live and work in Santa Fe. They have two sons.
Selina Fernandez (Visual Arts, Music, and Poetry)
Selina Fernandez is a Mexican-American artist, musician and educator from Santa Fe. She holds a degree in Feminist Studies and is passionate about social justice, community arts, and cultural celebration. A member of Alas de Agua Cultural Center, she leads workshops in printmaking, graffiti, poetry, and more. Selina’s art has been displayed at the Santa Fe Community Gallery, El Museo Cultural de Santa Fe, Garagedoor Gallery, Alas de Agua Cultural Center, Angel’s Coffee Shop, and is currently displayed at Casa Bonita Restaurant in Santa Fe.
In 2025, Selina co-founded Mariachi Gran Victoria, a grassroots youth Mariachi program inspired by her lifelong love fro music and community empowerment. Selina is returning for her second year as a teaching artist for ArtWorks.
Patty Montes-Burks (Visual Arts & Murals)
Patty Montes-Burks is a Santa Fe native whose career has always centered on art. Her work has supported healthy lifestyle initiatives such as designated driver campaigns, substance abuse prevention, student nutrition, and IDEA. With degrees in studio art and business from the Santa Fe University of Art and Design, Patty combined that education with creative experience and practical skills.
Over the years, she has worked as a draftsperson for the U.S. Forest Service, led the City of Santa Fe Graphics Department, interned with NM ARTS in grantmaking activities, and served as Arts Board Liaison to the Mayor and City Council running competitions for the Art in Public Places Program. Her creative pursuits span teaching sign-painting, designing and producing art magazines, photographing interiors included in publications, and organizing gallery exhibits. Most recently, she drew from her large wall graphic experiences to lead a team of artists for Gilberto Guzmán in reproducing a 24’ x 5’ scaled replica of his iconic mural Multicultural, now on permanent display at the Vladem Contemporary Art Museum in Santa Fe.
Patty continues to keep art at the heart of her work by building her portfolio of art endeavors in painting while enjoying a life rooted in creativity, community, and cultural values.
Alexis Ziegelmeier (Visual Arts)
Bio coming soon!
Mario Peixoto (Visual Arts)
Bio coming soon!
Fernanda Camargo (Film)
Fernanda is a creative producer and development executive with over a decade of experience in children’s and family content. She has collaborated with broadcasters, distributors, and independent producers worldwide, contributing to award-winning shows such as Milo (PBS Kids), Blue Building Detectives (Gloob), and international co-productions like Magic Lilly (Super RTL/TV3) and Monster Shaker (Gulli/M6). Driven by a passion for storytelling that promotes media literacy and social-emotional learning, Fernanda also serves as a reviewer for Common Sense Media, helping families make informed viewing choices.
Fernanda will be documenting ArtWorks programming as it is happening in the classroom, museums, and performances to be shared with our stakeholders and as part of our annual art show and exhibitions.
Teaching Artist