About Us
FLOC began with a simple belief: creativity is better when it’s shared. Our studio is a gathering place for adults, young and old—a space to try something new, return to a forgotten passion, or simply spend an hour reconnecting with your creative self. What happens here isn’t about perfection; it’s about process, play, and the friendships formed along the way.
FLOC is supported by an incredible board whose vision, generosity, and leadership keep our mission thriving. Their commitment helped FLOC earn a 2025 Ridgewood Arts Foundation Grant, enabling us to establish our programs and make them accessible to the community we love. Below, meet the team guiding FLOC’s mission and shaping the future of our community.
Meet our board members below
Sandy Santangelo
Growing up in a family that put the “Y” in DIY Sandy became a curious creator from an early age. This prompted her to earn a degree in design and spend years in the fashion industry. She has spent her life going from one project to the next loving meeting new people and learning new things. FLOC is a space that she has been wanting for years where people can gather to learn, create something new, play games or just hang out eating popcorn and looking at art books!
President and Co-Founder
Karen Dusci
Camera shy Karen is happiest when she's searching for treasures at a flea market or wrapped up in a home decorating project. She's partial to anything candy or ice cream related and is an absolute sucker for oversized faux sweets. She fills her home with things that make her smile and, as she constantly reminds her husband, there's always room! In her eyes, paint and resin are two of man's greatest inventions, and she would happily own a TV that played nothing but Flea Market Flip and Bargain Block. Creating the things you wish existed is an idea that really resonates with Karen, and she's looking forward to sharing her passion with the FLOC community.
Co-Founder
Growing up in a house with an art studio and a mother who, at 86, still oil paints nearly every day, Jill has been engaged with the arts as far back as she can remember. Since moving back to Ridgewood with her own family, besides enjoying the sometimes wacky student art ideas in TIC TOC classrooms, supporting to the arts community through the Ridgewood Arts Foundation, and working on Project Graduation (currently on her third and final one!), Jill loves creating projects and going to museums and performances with arts friends. She is excited to create and spend time with new and old friends in the FLOC community!!
Vice PresidentJill Williams
Liz loves creating with others! Her favorite thing to do is crafts with children. Family gatherings always include a craft with "Lizzie". Liz also loves to hike, read, dine-out, play board games, watch old movies, garden and spend time with her extended family. She continues to take art classes, working in oil paints, to be a part of a community of other artists.
Co-TreasurerLiz Galatro
Gretchen Horwitz, assistant treasurer, lives in Glen Rock with her husband, three sons and two dogs. Although numbers are her speciality, Gretchen loves being part of a community that celebrates creativity and helps artists and makers thrive together.
Co-TreasurerGretchen Horwitz
Cathy Stillwagon
SecretaryCathy is a long-standing supporter of the performing arts (dance, orchestra, and theater). She is in awe of the local talent of those in the creative arts and so looking forward to this new space for individuals of all backgrounds to create, observe, teach, relax, and feel welcome.
Larisa Shlahet
Larisa lives for all things artsy and creative. She loves to get her hands dirty and figure out how to solve artistic “problems”. She has been playing with flowers professionally for over 20 years and designing packaging and graphics longer, but it has always been the wacky stuff she creates with friends that brings her the most joy.
Creative Director
Jill Feeney
Membership OfficerJill loves photography and has been known to take on any craft project with plenty of enthusiasm (skill level varies, but the effort is always A+). She learned how to use a glue gun in 2018 and hasn’t looked back. She’s also a big fan of board games and card games and brings that same sense of fun to the FLOC Board.
Stacey is an avid reader, writer and let's be honest, talker. She is eager to bring her love of the written word to FLOC and can't wait to have a third space to connect with other people who live in the world of creativity. She is also quite intimidated by anything 'artsy' that doesn't involve reading or writing so she can't wait to learn alongside old and new friends.
Newsletter Editor Stacey Loscalzo
Jenny Lo
Jenny Lo is someone who finds joy in simple, meaningful moments-getting lost in a good book, binging a great show, soaking up the sun at the beach, and spending time with family and friends. After a 30 year career as a knitwear designer, Jenny is excited to surround herself with people who spark inspiration and bring new creative energy. She thrives on good company, good stories, and the kind of everyday moments that fuel imagination.
Programs Chair
FLOC is a 2025 Ridgewood Arts Foundation Grant Recipient