Board of Directors
Andy Golub
Executive Director
In the early 2000’s Andy’s work expanded from painting canvases to walls, cars, rocks, and just about anything else he could find. He enjoyed taking functional objects and adding an artistic perspective to them. In 2006, shortly after painting 2 mannequins, he painted his first person at Art Expo, NYC. Andy discovered how the model’s energy could be an inspiration for the painting itself. After a series of studio paintings, he began painting models on the streets of New York City to share this interactive process with the public. Painting in public added a new dynamic to his work. By showing the body as a canvas, it challenged the idea of the nude body being solely a sexual entity. Also, painting in Times Square demonstrated the strong contrast between public space being used for artistic expression versus commercialization which is so prevalent.
Following Andy’s arrest for nude body painting and subsequent dismissal, in 2011, Andy’s work grew from being provocative to being well-known throughout the City. In 2013 the NYPD publicly acknowledged that Andy’s public performances were legal. And one year later Andy produced his first NYC Bodypainting Day. In 2017, he founded Human Connection Arts, making it clear that the purpose of this work is to build a public dialogue and to connect people through art. Human Connection Arts continues to grow, spreading public expression and acceptance around the world.
Carol Sumkin
Board President
Carol has devoted the past 25 years to a career in the non-profit field. Carol specializes in developing and implementing multi-million dollar strategic campaigns that raise diversified resources for non-profit organizations. As a seasoned development professional, Carol has raised funds for many reputable organizations including Children’s Health Fund, Montefiore Medical Center and the New York Botanical Garden. She has extensive experience developing Boards, managing fundraising events, writing grant proposals and budgets, and establishing administrative systems. As the Chief Development Officer at the international environmental health organization, Pure Earth, Carol worked with the staff and Board to create the organization’s first strategic plan: The Campaign for 10 Million Lives. The goal is to raise $10 million to launch 35 pilot cleanup projects of toxic sites in key developing countries. Carol received a Master’s Degree in Non-Profit Management from the New School for Social Research- Graduate School for Management and Urban Policy in New York City and a Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism from the Honors Tutorial College at Ohio University. She studied French at the L’Institut de Touraine in Tours, France.
Mark Galea
Dana DeFrancesco
A native of Pittsburgh, Dana is a Dancer/performer, Licensed Massage Therapist, Movement, and Dynamic Fitness Therapist, as well as a Yoga, Pilates, and Dance instructor. From a young age, she has been interested in how the body works and heals along with exploring how art can bring emotional well being into people’s lives. She has been involved in interactive and experiential theater. Dana owns Movement Journeys and performs throughout the tristate area.
Ronald Kuby
Ronald L. Kuby is an American criminal defense and civil rights lawyer, radio talk show host and TV commentator. He has hosted radio programs on WABC Radio in New York and Air America Radio, and television shows on MSNBC and the former Court TV. Beginning his career with the famed radical lawyer William M. Kunstler, Kuby has spent the past 33 years being as annoying as possible, fighting for the rights of the poor and oppressed, the dissidents and the demented, the artists and activists. Beginning in 1996 with the representation of photographer Spencer Tunick, Kuby has represented artists whose expressive activity, especially public nudity, have brought them into contact with the criminal justice system. Most recently, Kuby obtained the return of two pieces of guerrilla art–the Edward Snowden bust unlawfully erected in a Brooklyn Park, and the Trump Tombstone, placed in Central Park on Easter, 2016.
Georgie Maddock
Victor Mirontschuk
Victor is the President and Founder of EDI International, a global architectural and interior design firm, since 1976.
Victor has photographed over a dozen HCA events. His images have been published in National Geographic, USA Today and other publications.
Over the course of Victor’s career, he has utilized his photography skills to document architecture as well as various events. With a successful career and having served the built community across the country and abroad for more than 42 years, Victor has reached a point in his life where he would like to give back to his community. He has shifted his focus to the world outside of architecture, using his camera and lens to document important social issues.
John Rovito
John, a native from Weehawken, NJ is an established business owner, airbrush artist, and DJ.
In 2000, John created his stagehand business while he worked behind the scenes in theatre, film, and live concerts.
In addition to John’s stagehand business, he is an emerging artist who works primarily with airbrush and acrylics on canvas. Specifically, John’s paintings include abstract nudes, nature and surrealism. His nudes tell stories of imperfect beauty in contrast to today’s perfect portrayal of nudes. John’s creative process never has a scripted plan; instead, it begins with music and a very uninhibited and energetic rendering of either the figure or simply the movement.
Thomas Sebazco
Tom Sebazco is a painter & sculptor in New York City. Originally from Philadelphia, Sebazco also moved through the upper Midwest and Southwest United States before relocating to New York City. His work can be found throughout North and South America as mural paintings, canvas works and cast bronze sculptures. Before entering Pratt Institute, Sebazco started working professionally at the age of 14 in Dallas, Texas where he painted numerous murals and was in the heart of the Deep Ellum art scene. After graduating from Pratt, Sebazco stayed in New York and his murals in Manhattan and Brooklyn are still enjoyed by the college campus, businesses and neighborhoods throughout the city.
