Artist-in-Residence Spotlight
On Tuesday March 17th 2026, during Summit Day, while the Ruth Asawa School of the Arts students were busy hosting a school-wide Hunger Games themed competition, the PTSA set up a photo studio in one bright lit corner of the cafeteria, turned off the overhead neon lights, and let photographer Nicole Seguin work her magic. A long-time portrait expert, Nicole donated her talent, time and sharp eye to help seven Artists-in-Residence obtain a new image of themselves. Artists across the spectrum joined us for this amazing opportunity: vocal and songwriting, visual arts, creative writing, theatre and musical theatre.
While they waited for their turn in front of the camera, parents Courtney Saunders (Media, 2024 & Fashion and Costuming, 2026) and Cristel de Rouvray (Spoken Arts and Vocal, 2028) interviewed them. Parent Josh Jacobson (Theatre Tech, 2028 & Musical Theatre 2030) took behind the scenes pictures (featured left) and parent Felisa Preskill (Creative Writing, 2029) fed everyone with cool drinks and homemade shortbread!
Michael Orlinsky
Vocal Music- songwriting, opera, guitar, musical director
How did you become an artist?
"I always was; my father was a smart man - since my older brother was an excellent baseball player, he didn't want me to feel like I had to compete. He noticed where my talents were, and told me that I felt more like an artist. So, he got me a guitar when I was thirteen years old. I was in bands all through high school and started writing music. When I went to study music at the University of Nevada Las Vegas; they had a requirement to study an instrument, and I chose vocal - this led me to perform in an opera and I was good at it. And today I sing with the SF Opera."
What projects are you working on in and out of school?
At the Ruth Asawa School of the Arts I have had an ongoing project to create an album with my songwriting class in the vocal department. This year I found a wonderful producer who can get this project to the finish line.
Outside the school I am the lead singer, guitarist and lyricist in a band, Your Stray Dog - Jeff Castleman from Visual Arts is the drummer! We blend rock, blues and more in a fusion of styles, and we are releasing an album in 2026!. I’m also singing at SF Opera this season, Verdi’s Simon Boccanegra. And I am working on bringing to life a ballet I wrote 13 years ago! My band’s bass player also teaches at a Ballet School - Miss Marion’s Dance Garden. So together we are planning the world premiere of my ballet, on May 30-31st at Presidio Middle School. And some Ruth Asawa School of the Arts students will also be performing!
What advice do you have for Ruth Asawa School of the Arts students?
Quantity over Quality! Quality comes from practice; the magic comes from letting things flow - not over-obsessing over one detail. As you practice, you develop a signature sound - and that is what people want to hear.
Jaime Longa
Department: Visual Art - oil painting and figure painting
How did you become an artist?
I have been drawing for as long as I can recall! As a kid I planned to be a cartoonist, yet evolved into fine art as I wanted more ownership of the project. I had a wonderful art teacher from 1st to 8th grade - she also taught at the Ruth Asaw School of the Arts, and then I went to RASOTA in visual arts. My class (2002) was the 1st to experience this campus! At the Academy of Arts I completed a bachelors and masters degree. I joined RASOTA as an artist in residence in 2016 - first as 9th grade visual arts instructor, and then quickly moved to 11th grade which I still teach today. I am now completing a teacher’s certification so that I can join SFUSD as an employee.
What projects are you working on in and out of school?
I am creating a new body of work around Basque history and diaspora. I used to focus on cityscape painting, yet I now long for more history and identity, in line with my unique personal background. My parents are both from the Basque country (spanning southern France and Northern Spain), yet they were born in the Philippines, where their families were steamship owners, trading between Europe and Asia. With the repressive Franco regime in Spain, my parents immigrated to the Bay Area in the 1970s. As an accountant and a teacher, they worked their way up, saving for a house and raising their children. I am now exploring this Basque background in a series of paintings - I have completed nearly 20 and am looking for a gallerist.
At RASOTA, my 11th grade class rotates projects every month - I focus on helping them figure out their artistic identity: what's important for me to say and how do I express it visually?
What advice do you have for Ruth Asawa School of the Arts students?
When you choose to pursue a creative path, you have to put 100% of yourself into it. Practice! And networking is also crucial - get to know people in your field, build relationships, put yourself out there, even if you are an introvert!
Clark Tate
Department: Visual - Digital Art
How did you become an artist?
Clark Tate studied art in school. Was an oil painter. Studied graphic design and illustration. Landed in advertising with one of the major agencies; 12 - 15 years as an Art Director and a Creative Director: doing major campaigns for huge brands and creating TV ads. He connected with RASOTA because his kids attended school here and he was in the PTSA.
What projects are you working on in and out of school?
Very excited about working with his Ruth Asawa students on graphic novel projects. Borrowed the collaborative process/structure from advertising: writers (from RASOTA creative writing) partner with designers and visual artists (from Visual Arts) to strengthen/deepen storytelling acumen. Even introverts have to pitch their stories to the group at large; a very rewarding process as the artists can see how feedback and collaboration make their projects stronger and more of what they dreamed of creating. Also the feeling of shared enthusiasm for the process is amazing and so motivating.
What advice do you have for Ruth Asawa School of the Arts students?
“Pay attention to the struggle. It’s part of the creative work.”
"In a world of ever expanding AI, the fulfillment and joy of creating art comes from finding new self expression after conquering the struggle to get there.”
Ely Sonny Orchiza
Department: Musical Theatre
How did you become an artist?
Eli is a director and dramaturge. While an undergraduate at the University of California Berkeley, Orquiza founded the Projector Room Ensemble (“PRE” or previously conceived as The Projector Room Play Readings Ensemble, defunct). PRE is an experimental theatre initiative committed to the exposure of new and diverse voices onstage, all formative in his artistic and creative praxis. The company produced an in-house staged reading of Trade by Mark O’Halloran, which had its U.S. American Premiere in the Spring of 2019 produced by the longest-running queer theatre in the world, Theatre Rhinoceros.
He began teaching at RASOTA in 2021/2022 but also has an active progressional life in theater communities around the USA.
What projects are you working on in and out of school?
He is a Company Member of PlayGround in San Francisco
He is a Member of the Literary Managers and Dramaturgs of the Americas
He is an Affiliate Artist and an Immigrant Artist Mentor for the New York Foundations for the Arts
He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Theater and Performance Studies from the University of California, Berkeley
He was a former Board Member of Theatre Rhinoceros in San Francisco.
What advice do you have for Ruth Asawa School of the Arts students?
“Expose yourself to different modalities and craft. The collaborative aspect of the arts is so important.”
What is amazing and unique about the Bay Area arts ecosystem?
The importance, tradition and longstanding investment in the arts. There is a respect and reverence for what art can bring to the community……and vice versa. The social and community impact of the work is always considered. Making art here feels intentional and collaborative. We have the opportunity to build community as we create art…..as opposed to being alone; as opposed to being silenced.
