The ArtSpace Faculty:

Arts Integration Team

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Gwen Ottinger (Art Teacher) received her B.F.A. with a concentration in ceramics from East Carolina University. She then had a pottery apprenticeship in Baltimore, before moving to Asheville where she received her K-12 Visual Art license from UNCA in 2001.

Gwen joined ArtSpace in 2003. Outside of school, Gwen enjoys gardening, pottery, printmaking and mostly spending time with friends and her daughter, Cyra and husband, Pete.

Josh Batenhorst (Drama Teacher) was born and raised in the Texas panhandle. Valedictorian of West Texas High School, Josh earned his B.A. in Theatre from Southwestern University as a Brown Scholar, receiving full tuition, room and board. After a semester in Germany, Josh moved to the mountains and began work as a theatre intern with the North Carolina Stage Company and subsequently at ArtSpace as an Artist-In-Residence until 2006 when he was hired to teach drama and work with the Arts Integration Team full time.

Josh was awarded "Best Actor" by Southwestern University in 2001 and was a member of the university's "Not-So-Secret Senior Society" and Alpha Chi Honor Society. He enjoys good food, playing guitar, singing the blues, cracking puns and making new friends. Josh lives with his partner Amber and her two daughters, Kaiya and Jordan.

Linda Metzner (Music Teacher) received a Bachelor of Music from Furman University, a Masters in Composition from the University of South Carolina and has completed course work toward her doctorate in Theory/Composition from Florida State University.

She has received numerous honors and awards including one for excellence in teaching from Carolina Day School and the Asheville Arts Council. She worked as an elementary music teacher for 12 years at Carolina Day School before joining ArtSpace in 2007.

She likes to compose music, poetry, enjoy the mountains, travel and attend music festivals.

Cherie Holmes (Dance Teacher) was born in Henderson County and attended N.C. School of the Arts. She has danced, studied and choreographed performances all over the Southeast. In addition working as a dancer and with theatrical productions, she also worked for many years as a trainer and educator for a consumer company. She is currently working on her B.A. in Theatre Arts with a dance minor at UNCA. She joined ArtSpace in 2006.
She lives with her husband, Mark Sanborn, and their son, Tyler, in Asheville.

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