Resident (R) means you live within Cobb County Limits. 
Non-Resident (N) refers to those who live outside of Cobb County. 

However, we welcome people from anywhere to participate in our classes, workshops and rentals. Join the fun today! 

Contact the Sewell Mill Cultural Center Coordinator Marie Jernigan at Marie.Jernigan@cobbcounty.org to propose classes.  Instructors are independent contractors who must become vendors with Cobb County and pass background checks in order to teach with us. 

Our performance venues, the Black Box Theatre and outdoor amphitheater, are available to rent throughout the year for art related events and programming. These facilities help provide professionals setting to display and nurture arts development within the county. We do not rent on holiday weekends and do not reserve space without deposits. Rentals are subject upon availability of venue and staffing.  Contact Marie.Jernigan@cobbcounty.org for more information on pricing, availability or to schedule a tour. 

We offer a variety of art classes for all ages! From students as young as 3 to Adults, we offer caregiver and me workshops to advanced art classes. 

Cobb Parks Refund Policy 

When the department cancels the activity, registration fees will be refunded.

To withdraw from a class that hasn't been canceled, submit a withdrawal request at least 7 days before the scheduled start of the class. You may request a 100% credit to the family’s account or a refund.

No refunds/credits will be given within the week prior to the start of the class, except for verified medical/hardship cases. Refunds for payments made by cash or check will be sent approximately 2-4 weeks after the refund is requested.

Senior Services Special Events and Trips are non-refundable.

To stay up to date on the most current policies regarding Covid-19, visit Cobb County's Covid-19 Update Page 

Marie Jernigan started her journey with Cobb County Parks in 2012. Being a Georgia Peach, Marie naturally attended university at Kennesaw State where she received her Bachelors of Fine Arts, concentrating in the wonderfully messy art of ceramics. Most days, Marie can be found programming events, classes and the gallery at the Sewell Mill Cultural Center. However, when she’s not crushing it at work, she is enjoying geeking out by playing board games, D&D and dreaming of being a karaoke rock star.

Contact Marie for Rentals, Facility Information, Classroom Programming and General Inquiries. Marie can be contacted at: Marie.Jernigan@cobbcounty.org

Lexi Brendel has her Master of Arts in Museum Studies and her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Painting and Drawing, both from Kennesaw State University. Coming from a long line of quilters, Lexi’s graduate dissertation focused on quilting and community building in Southern Appalachia. While she loves folk and fiber arts, her own artistic specialty is oil painting. She enjoys introducing children and adults alike to new avenues of art making. When she isn’t in the center or creating art, you can find Lexi listening to horror novels while playing Animal Crossing. Lexi’s excited to work with Cobb County again!

Contact Lexi for Teaching Opportunity, Gallery Exhibits, Classroom Programming and General Inquiries. Lexi can be contacted at: Lexi.Brendel@cobbcounty.org

Contact Donyeer for General Inquires, Class Registration, Class Information and Payments. Donyeer can be contacted at: Donyeer.White@cobbcounty.org

  I was born in Mexico City but have resided in GA for most of my life. I enjoy anything art related, I love photography, esp. street and lifestyle photography. I strive to learn as much as I can about new cultures & my fav. way to explore that is through food. If I'm not eating in some hole in wall place I'm off on a hike somewhere or exploring the outdoors with my dog. As a former nanny I enjoy creative teaching to kids and encourage them to explore their artistic side so I'm excited to be in environment that promotes just that!​

Contact Dayana for General Inquires, Class Registration, Class Information and Payments. Dayana can be contacted at: Dayana.Salinas@cobbcounty.org

After watching my wife Renee produce beautiful functional pots for several years, I finally decided to sit down at the wheel about fifteen years ago. Although my involvement was initially intended as a “stress reduction” mechanism from my full-time job as a biology professor at Kennesaw State, I found myself being drawn deeper and deeper into the world of ceramics.  The art and science of glaze formulation and firing appeals to my technical side, while the physical products provide a type of immediate gratification that was often absent in my work as an educator.  I’m drawn to strong functional pieces with surfaces that capitalize on the directional effects created in wood and soda atmospheric firings and I look forward to being able to explore this line of work more fully now that I have retired from my academic position.

I’m also excited to be able share my love of clay through teaching. As I’ve developed my own skills in clay, I’ve had the opportunity to learn from a multitude of talented ceramic artists.  As I work with aspiring potters on the wheel, I strive to “channel” whichever mentor’s voice seems most appropriate to the challenge facing the student I’m working with.

Clay started making pottery while enrolled at Armstrong Atlantic State University, where he received a Bachelors in Music. Initially self-taught, Clay later honed his skills by attending classes and workshops at Roswell Art Center West and Abernathy Arts Center while also interacting and collaborating with local ceramic artists.  He has participated in several arts and crafts events throughout the metro Atlanta area.

Clay currently works out of his home studio in Marietta, GA, where he predominately makes wheel thrown and altered forms fired in reduction to cone ten.  He has enjoyed teaching beginning to advanced students at several local art centers including: Chastain Arts Center, Roswell Art Center West, Abernathy Arts Center, Hudgens Center for the Arts, and Zen and Now Clay Studio. 

David Batley’s passion for photography began while serving in Southeast Asia with the military in the late 1960’s. He is recognized as a great teacher and has many years of experience passing on this passion and enjoyment to hundreds of students for over the past 15 years. As a photographer, he uses his skill to create unique images of all types, including fine art, commercial, event, or journalistic work. David holds a Masters degree in communication and design. He prides himself in sharing the challenge and fun of learning to develop a personal perspective for students.

My love for line dancing began two years ago on a day when I did not have any activity scheduled at my community center and line dancing was the only class available.  I had two left feet and was not good at all. The others in the class were very impatience with me and were annoyed at all the questions I was asking. With that being said, I practiced and practiced until I was doing so well that my line dance instructor asked me to teach her classes while she was on vacation. I am a member of the NTA (National Teachers Association).  I am constantly attending seminars to enhance my teaching capabilities and techniques. Along with learning the newest dances on the line dance scene.   On the teaching spectrum, I decided to take an easier approach to teaching and allow students to learn each week basic steps of line dancing and then incorporating those steps into the dances that I will teach in class each week.  I enjoy teaching students with little or no experience and watching them grow into great line dancers right in front of my eyes.  I am so excited to be able to share my love of line dancing at Sewell Mill Cultural Center.

Gloria Chan is a fine art instructor with 7 years of experience in facilitating learning in the fine art focusing on realism and traditional mediums. She received her Bachelor of Fine Art from Kennesaw State University (2021). She is specialist in watercolor, oil paint, and graphite as a medium for creating art.

Jeff Pergl has been teaching yoga as a certified instructor for 14 years. His inviting approach make learning both understandable and achievable. He specializes in teaching those with little or no prior experience, providing modifications to poses when needed. Come have fun and learn what a mind/body yoga experience can be!

Marise Fransolino, born in Brazil, received her Masters Degree in Product Design from North Carolina State University. She found her passion in ceramics over 22 years ago, and since then, as a Studio Potter, she continues to broaden her knowledge, researching new techniques and exploring the media. Her work has been featured in small galleries, gift shops, outdoors juried arts festivals and invitational art shows.

She has taught ceramics classes and workshops in many art centers in the Atlanta metropolitan area and in Brazil. As an Instructor, she hopes to inspire others to love ceramics as much as she does, by sharing her knowledge in a friendly, relaxed and fun environment. In each class, she provides step-by-step demonstrations and aids the students according with individual skill levels, encouraging   independence and personal expression.​

Visit Marise Fransolino's website 

   PRODIGY PERFORMING ARTS LLC is a dance and performing arts studio that prides itself on offering quality arts instruction while sharing the joy of artistic expression with every student. We strive to aid the development of young performers so that they will not only excel on the stage but will confidently express themselves in all areas of life. Dance lessons become life lessons such as putting forth one's best effort, advocating for oneself by asking questions, trying new things, practicing teamwork, and being bold, brave, confident, and prepared.

Our teaching staff has dedicated much of their lives to the performing arts, and it all began with our teachers making it fun. We were enthralled and inspired, loved and challenged. Passing on that legacy to our students is very important to us. Founded in 2006, Prodigy Performing Arts has been dedicated to enriching the lives of children in the Metro Atlanta area, sharing the art of dance, drama, music, and movement for 15 years. 

Visit Prodigy Performing Arts Website

Reid Stevens is an American record producer, singer-songwriter & multi-instrumentalist, based out of Atlanta, GA. With degrees in Media Arts and Business from the University of South Carolina, Stevens founded the music production & promotion label, 33 1/3 Records, in 1999, to serve as a platform for releasing his work as a producer and songwriter. Since its inception, 33 1/3 Records has evolved into an agency that not only produces music, but also operates as a platform for exposure for artists and bands. 

Stevens recently produced Step Inside for 33 1/3 Records as well as singles, EPs, compilations & albums for artists & bands. Stevens has also been featured in the "At Home for Christmas" series, a global charity relief project assisting St. Jude's and Project Half Way based out of Myrtle Beach, SC featuring top national acts and recording artists for iTunes, Amazon, CD Baby, wrote a jingle for an iPhone/Android app, had original songs "Dream" chosen as Dave FM's new music seminar, "Welcome To The Universe" chosen for UPN/WB television series & created music for AllTwang TV Music Web Series, performed original Songs, "Sunrise" & "Going Back To Old Days" for Comcast Artist On Demand Music Series, participated in CBS Competition series "Rockstar" (INXS & Supernova) judged by creators/ producers of hit television series Survivor and has performed alongside #1 multi-hit songwriters. 

Tom Egan has been a potter, avid naturalist, and whitewater kayaker for over 30 years.  His pottery focuses on the Japanese aesthetic of shabui which is often described as the perfection of imperfection.  This presents itself in his work in forms that are organic and pleasing to the touch.  His current work focus on bringing all of these influences together to foster the creation of moments of pure beauty in the chaos of the modern world.  This is accomplished through his approach to handmade objects, ikebana inspired flower arrangements, and exploration of diverse cooking traditions coupled with artistic and inviting table presentations.  All of these elements combine to make art part of life’s daily rituals.  As a teacher, Tom strives to provide a strong foundation to beginners while at the same time helping advanced students explore and expand their own personal aesthetic in clay.

For 15 years, Vanessa has been a freelance graphic designer, web designer, and illustrator. She obtained an associates degree for 3D animation from the Art Institute of Atlanta after initially receiving her bachelor degree in chemical engineering. She has also been teaching character drawing classes and camps aimed at young students for about 8 years and recently started a traditional drawing class as well.

Vanessa hopes her students learn valuable art techniques while being entertained by the drawing process. She often jokingly tells her students "Failure is the path to success!" which reinforces the idea that constant practice, including all the mistakes made along the way, are what ultimately makes a successful artist. In her spare time you can find Vanessa watching Japanese anime, reading comics, playing video games, or teaching a martial arts class.