Elena Thornton
Founder, CEO
Publisher: "The Blue Guitar" Magazine
Elena has more than 20 years of hands-on experience in the education, business and the non profit sector. She has taught Russian language to all grade levels from Elementary School to College. She held positions as a Director of an after school program and also a Director of Training for a Phoenix based company. Elena’s formal education is in the Secondary Education, she holds both a B. A. and M.A. degrees from the University at Albany, NY. She is the past President of the Paradise Valley Artists League. Currently, Elena is an adjunct faculty at Paradise Valley Community College. Elena also served on a collaborative committee at Arizona Art Alliance.
Elena’s education and career experience combined
with real-life experience makes her the successful organizational leader
she is today. Currently, together with the Arizona Consortium for the
Arts Board of Directors, volunteer coordinators and advisors, she is
spearheading the efforts in developing relationships through networking
and partnering with local non-profit organizations that will bridge
resources and forge collaborations with individuals, public, private and
government organizations and agencies, educational institutions, business
community to reach their goals, objectives and ultimately build and
sustain a multicultural arts and performing arts center facility. Working
closely with all the entities, she is confident they will have the
resources, skills and knowledge that will enable them to continue on
their path to success, grow and leave a legacy for the next generation.
When not working on projects and community
involvement, Elena spends much of her time with her husband Jim and their
son Jeremy. She also devotes time to her art and poetry. Two of her poems are published in the book “Tapestry: A
Collection of Stories Woven by Jewish Women”.
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Aris Jerahian
Co-Founder
Aris and his family now reside in California.
Aris and his wife Zepure were instrumental in the consortium's beginning.
They continue to support us and are excited about our progress and growth.
As Vice President of Client Relations at The Members
Group, Aris leads his team to establish a long term successful partnership
with credit unions. His strategic focus is to help credit unions be
successful at their product offerings by obtaining maximum value from TMG
products and services. Aris has over 12 years of account management,
consulting and operational experience within the cards industry. He is
passionate about helping credit unions achieve and sustain extraordinary
performance on their card programs. He delivers the tactics and practical
advice credit unions need to help grow their portfolio.
His determination and attitude to succeed helped
him write his first book "Courage to Change" which was designed to help
readers improve both their professional and personal lives.
In addition to his experience, Aris serves as a
Council Member to The Council of Advisors for Gerson Lehrman Group. This
is a global network of executives and industry professionals who provide
their collaborative experience consulting to leaders in the investment
community.
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Rebecca “Becca” Dyer
Founding Member
Executive Director
Literary Arts Co-Founder
Editor-in-Chief: "The Blue Guitar" magazine and
“The Blue Guitar Jr.” magazine
Rebecca has been a
poet for more than 30 years. She earned her MFA in poetry from Arizona
State University and her BA in journalism from the University of Arizona.
Rebecca has been an instructor of poetry and creative writing for more
than 10 years, including at Mesa Community College. She has also taught
editing for more than three years, including at Arizona State University's
Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication. Rebecca has
more than 30 years of experience as an editor/manager for a publication,
including Tribune Newspapers for almost 25 years, and is now at The
Arizona Republic. Rebecca is a longtime member/contributor to the Virginia
G. Piper Center for Creative Writing at Arizona State University.
Rebecca is looking forward to the growth and
development of the Arizona Consortium for the Arts and the success of "The
Blue Guitar" and “The Blue Guitar Jr.” magazines.
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Sara Vannucci
Business Management
Sara Vannucci focuses her tax and business
consulting with family farms and businesses in the area of succession and
tax planning, as well as planning for physicians and medical personnel.
She is a tax consultant to many non-profit organizations. Sara holds
numerous Volunteer/Non Profit Positions, the following are just to name a
few: President, North Country Conservancy, 501(C)3 Land Trust, Cave
Creek, AZ. Director, Black Canyon Trails Coalition, Black Canyon City,
AZ. Advisor/Member, New River/Desert Hills Community Association.
District 3 Advisory Council, Maricopa County.
Sara is a member of several Professional Associations
including the Maricopa County Bar Association and she is a Licensed Life
& Health insurance agent in Arizona.
Sara had a private law practice in the Chicago area
for 33 years and she is a Licensed title attorney /agent for over 30
years.
Sara is a National speaker, instructor and past
chairperson and member of various Illinois bar association seminars and
committees for the Chicago Bar Association, the Northwest Suburban Bar
and various Realtor Boards, including the Women's Council of
Realtors; Arizona seminars in basic estate & business planning, insurance
planning, charitable planning, annuities & family foundations, and
reverse mortgages. Arizona community activities include participation on
Trails Committees, various land/development issues, and the Maricopa
County Merit Commissions.
Sara is an artist and an arts advocate and supporter.
She was also a journalist for two newspapers on land and business issues
as well as a former real estate broker (IL).
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Melanie Tighe
Archivist & Historian
Melanie is originally from Baltimore Maryland where she
served in the Air National Guard. She moved to the Valley ten years ago and
fell in love with Phoenix!
Melanie previously owned a chain of retail stores which
she sold when she decided to move to Arizona. Now, she is the proud owner of
Dog-Eared Pages Used Books at Bell Rd and 32nd Street. Her book store has
become a gathering place for local authors, musicians and artists so it seemed
a natural evolution to become involved with the Arizona Consortium for the
Arts.
Both of her children are now grown and have moved out of
state. Melanie enjoys spending her free time with her fiancé. She also enjoys
reading, writing, golf and playing with her two Border Collie puppies.
Melanie is an author and also writes a column, book
reviews of our local authors for the City Sun Times highlighting new
Arizona authors.
We are honored to welcome Melanie to our Consortium,
she brings a true entrepreneurial spirit to us and has graciously invited us to
her wonderful book store, where we hold our meetings, activities and events.
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Audrey Thacker
Art Show Coordinator
Audrey Thacker has been in the tax and financial industry
for the past seven years. She has served as a volunteer for various art
based organizations for the past five years.
Along with her tax background, Audrey also attends school
full time at Scottsdale Community College studying Accounting with a 4.0GPA.
She is also the owner of Audrey Thacker Designs, a small
jewelry design company; and Artisan Markets, LLC, an art event planning
company.
Dr. Judith Brandstadter
Founding
Member; Advisor
Dr. Judith Brandstadter has over twenty five years of experience in art
education, art history, and fine arts. She holds a B.A. from Queens College,
M.A. from New York University and an Ed.D from Columbia University. A
professional artist, she has exhibited her work in over thirty venues nationwide
and is a member of over a dozen professional organizations. Dr. Brandstadter has
published numerous articles in both educational and art journals. She is the
author of "Acrylics and Other Water-Base Paints for the Artist". She has served
on the faculty of many universities and colleges; Northern Arizona University,
Arizona State University, Ottawa University and the Maricopa Community Colleges.
Dr. Brandstadter is a certified art educator in the State of Arizona.
She has an art consulting firm offering seminars, workshops and art lessons to
interested students of all ages. Dr. Brandstadter will be exhibiting her new
projects this year. In addition, she is starting to write another art textbook.
Dr. Brandstadter sees an immediate need for the advancement of the arts in
Arizona. She is looking forward to the expansion, the promotion, the excitement
and the progress of our consortium for the arts.
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Kelly Depp
Advisor
Kelly Depp is an Author living in North Scottsdale. Her
first novel, Finding Home, went into print in May, 2009 and her second one is
almost finished as she is looking for a publisher. Ms. Depp has been writing
since she was in seventh grade but only in the past year realized her talent
lay in the novel. The death of a friend inspired her to start the book that
became 'Finding Home' and she hasn’t stopped writing since. Her son and her
boyfriend are her main cheerleaders, “Without the love and support of them all,
I could never have accomplished completing the book let alone getting through
the publication process”.
Ms. Depp is the youngest of two girls and grew up in a
small town in southern Georgia. Prior to writing, Ms. Depp worked in Corporate
America as an office manager and executive assistant for the past 20 years.
Being very involved in her son’s schools, she has volunteered many hours to
charitable organizations and has time and again found resources, volunteers and
donations that others simply could not attain.
For more on Ms. Depp and her
novels, please visit www.KellyDepp.com
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Laine Seaton
Advisor
A native of Hanover, New Hampshire, Laine Seaton brings
to us a 15-year background of book and magazine publishing, ESL teaching,
writing, and nonprofit marketing and fundraising.
Working for Harper Collins Publishers and several
magazines in San Francisco in the early ‘90’s, Laine switched major gears and
moved to Chigasaki, Japan where she taught ESL until 1999.
By 2002, she was serving as Account Executive for the
Grizzard agency in Los Angeles, a fundraising/marketing firm that assists
nonprofit clients in direct-mail, print and broadcast advertising, and web
marketing. She managed the campaigns of 25 homeless rescue missions nationwide
and led the formation of an Account Coordinator support team.
In 2005, Laine and her husband Chris, moved to Phoenix
where she joined the Valley of the Sun United Way, assisting with its annual
campaign at Arizona State University. Then as Development Manager for the
Sonoran Institute, a Tucson-based conservation organization, Laine cultivated
current donors, acquired new donors, and strengthened their profile through
direct-mail appeals and networking/outreach.
Laine has been a volunteer with numerous organizations
over the years, assisting with fundraising, communications, PR, special events,
and strategic planning. Organizations include: Habitat for Humanity, Save The
Family Foundation, Valley of the Sun United Way, Friends of Public Radio, and
the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of America Phoenix Chapter. She is a member of
the Association of Fundraising Professionals, and serves on their
Communications Committee as Newsletter Editor. She is also a board member of
North Country Conservancy, an Arizona land trust located in Anthem, AZ.
A lover of travel, Laine has spent time both in Europe
and Asia, and speaks French and Japanese. She lives in Phoenix with her husband
Chris and their two “kids,” Shep and Nixie.
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Ramona Richards
Theatre
Ramona Richards is an actor, writer and director who
has performed in radio, televsion, film, theater, musicals, skit comedy and
done costume design for Paramount Pictures. She has hosted two TV series and
her celebrity interview radio show, "A Celebration of Life", aired on five
continents for five years. As a writer, she has sold and had published nearly
2,000 articles and stories. Ramona has conducted continuous performance skills
workshops in the Valley since 1983. She has directed and/or performed in 72
local productions.
Roger Kirk Nelson
Advisor
Roger Kirk Nelson is an artist living in Glendale,
Arizona. Born and raised in Trinidad and Tobago in the Caribbean, he won
several national art and music competitions on the island before emigrating to
the United States in 1985. He has an advanced certificate in Art and Languages
(Spanish and French), a Bachelor’s Degree in Applied Arts, a Master’s in
Administration and a PhD with a focus in Industrial/Organizational Psychology.
His style has developed from his upbringing in the
Caribbean, his travels throughout the US and Europe and from his mentors. Most
notable among them are Jackie Hinkson, Trinidadian artist and teacher, and
Arizona Artists Henry Stinson, Mary Deloyht-Ahrendt, Joni Falk and Liz Kenyon.
He admires contemporary artists such as Henry Valenti, Shant Beudjekian, and
Stephen Quiller, and the color theory of the French masters, Monet, Matisse,
Chagall, Derain, and Gauguin. He also loves the vibrant abstracts of Kandinski.
Roger began painting at a very early age and after more
than 30 years of involvement with the arts and a commitment to artist
development, the subjects of his paintings are as eclectic as his life and
interests. The body of his work includes seascapes, landscapes, human interest
compositions, still life and portraits. He uses a variety of media including
pencil, watercolor, acrylics, oils and pastels to express subjects and moods.
He sometimes experiments with mixed-media in his work.
Roger is currently showing at the Red Dog Gallery in
downtown Phoenix and at various on-line galleries. He is the former Director of
Lending and Administration at a local non-profit and shares his time between
painting, running his own gallery and working for equality in home ownership
among Native Americans. He is a member of the Arizona Artists Guild, Arizona
Consortium for the Arts, International Plein Air Painters, and the Art Society
of Trinidad and Tobago.
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Tracy Penwell
Advisor
Tracy Penwell grew up as a “ranch kid” in Durango
Colorado. She first came to the Valley in 1981 and is a graduate of
Thunderbird, the Graduate School of International Management in Glendale. After
an 18 year career in finance which included risk management roles with Chase
Manhattan Bank, the Federal Bank of New York and the Government Securities
Clearing Corporation in NYC , she returned to Arizona in 2000 to launch
Scottsdale’s Rima Fine Art
www.rimafineart.com.
In 2005, Tracy Penwell found herself at the intersection
of style and sustainability when she began creating “fashion re-fashioned”
handbags. The former Wall Street executive and owner of a successful Scottsdale
art gallery launched her award-winning “Dressed Up Cat” handbags the following
year: cleverly designed and entitled wearable artworks made entirely from
beautifully-crafted vintage and “up-cycled” components bearing titles like
“Along Came a Spider”, “Lillypad Under Siege”, and “The Last Trophy Bag.”.
www.dressedupcat.com
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Beth Cornell
Advisor
Born in western Pennsylvania, Beth Cornell was
influenced by the local flavors of folk art available there. Her painting
career began at age 12 when asked to paint “colors” on the back of jackets for
a local teenage gang. Beth went on to study graphic arts and learned the
printing trade. After the birth of her daughter in 1993, Beth began to create
expressionistic works and signed them BoseC. Most of the early works had a
decidedly bold and raw style, having been influenced by the Great Self-Taught
artists of the southeast USA.
In 2004, Beth began to sign her work with her birth
name... slowly building a local following by exhibiting with local businesses,
galleries and the First Fridays art walk. Beth’s work has gained local
recognition. Beth is currently represented online by Fine Art Registry, Fine
Art America and Xanadu Studios (Scottsdale) as well by her own web site:
www.bethcornell.com
“I welcome the opportunity to work with Elena and the
Arizona Consortium for the Arts.” Beth Cornell
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Zhanna Tevan
Founding Member
Performing Arts (Youth Division)
Director of Consortium's "Arizona
Classical Kids"
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Diana Matatova
Dance (Youth Division)
Instructor of Consortium's Dance
Group: "Artists in Motion"
Diana is a junior at Arizona State University, majoring
in Biology. Since she was a child, her dream and main focus in life is to
become a Doctor. Diana is making her dreams a reality by volunteering at
various hospitals, participating in medical clubs, and is currently working for
a doctor’s office.
However, medicine is not her only passion; music and
dancing is an equal passion. After a stressful day, music relaxes and nourishes
her soul. For the past several years, Diana has been teaching at a dance studio
for the girls and boys in her community. Throughout the years, the group has
doubled in numbers and are performing and showing their talents to the
community. They are now our Consortium’s "Artists in Motion" dancers (Youth
Division). Diana’s teaching repertoire encompasses a range of styles of dance:
salsa, hip-hop, Russian, and the traditional dance of her homeland, Kazakhstan.
She will continue her education in the medical field, as well as utilizing the
power of dance and music to express her creativity and emotions.
Diana is thrilled to be part of the Consortium and is
looking forward to share her passion for music and dance.
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Joyce White
Fine Art Jewelry
Joyce White was born and raised in Mississippi. In spite
of significant challenges and adversity, she started her own floral business
from scratch in Phoenix, Arizona in 1996. As a talented and innovative floral
designer, she was constantly striving and looking for imaginative ways to
create unusual arrangements for her clients. Her first piece of jewelry came
about by accident while transforming a regular glass container into something
more unique. She called her new creation "Hole-N-My-Soul". Joyce's proprietary
technique in her Sculpted Art Jewelry was born.
Joyce found another form of working with glass in
bottles. She started to create Bottle Art. Sculpted glass pieces that glow with
colors are set into intricate tangles of gold and silver metals. These wearable
works of art have attracted customers throughout the United States.
In her equally colorful African attire, Ms.White presents
a striking, proud and joyous persona."Exploring my art has become synonymous
with exploring my past and my pain; it has provided significant healing for me.
I love the idea of this transformation of mine creating something of beauty for
others to cherish and enjoy. It is about sharing hope and looking toward the
future".
Joyce is very excited to be part of the Arizona Consortium for the Arts. She is looking forward to participating in all the aspects of its growth.
Michelle Hamett
Advisor
Michelle is a graduate of the Fashion Institute Of
Design, Los Angeles, CA. She was Assistant Designer with Haley Bob (division of
Bisou Bisou) and Freelance Designer for woman's ready to wear clothing line.
Michelle worked in the Fashion Industry in California for
8 years and later dabbled in photographic retouching for photography studios.
Now Michelle lives in Arizona and designs her own line of
graphic T-shirts for girls and women.
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Zepure Jerahian
Founding Member
Zepure is a Nutritional Consultant, an artist and a
model. She is very proud to be one of the founding members of the Arizona
Consortium for the Arts.
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Shea Stanfield
Community Representative
Shea's life is in the arts and service to the
community. She grew-up in northeast Phoenix graduating from Arcadia High School
where she focused her studies in the visual and performing arts as well as
journalism. She obtained her B.A. from Arizona State University in Graphic Arts
and Secondary Education. Her M.ED, also from Arizona State, is in Elementary
Education with an emphasis in Reading and Special Education. Shea spent the
first 25 years of her career as a working artist and teacher developing
programs for remediation of learning disabilities through the visual and
performing arts. Armed with certifications in Montessori International
Education, Reality Therapy from the William Glasser Institute and English as a
Second Language, Shea has spent the last 12 years as a counselor of at-risk
teens.
Shea has served her community through the arts in a
variety of ways. She was a member of the original committee to write the
Arizona State Arts Curriculum for the Arizona State Department of Education.
This K-12 curriculum still serves as the foundation for art programs throughout
the state of Arizona. She worked with the Arizona Art Education Association as
a chairperson for Youth Art Month coordinating exhibits at the Arizona State
Capital and local public libraries to promote awareness for youth art and the
importance of arts programs. She continues to coordinate the artist in resident
programs for the middle school where she works.
Over the years Shea has incorporated her love for the
arts and community development into a service role in the foothills area. Shea
served two terms on the Cave Creek Town Council 2001-2005 actively working
toward supporting the arts in her community. Shea has the unique ability to
move the arts agenda forward through networking opportunities. Shea has served
for the past six years on the board of the Sonoran Desert Center for the Arts,
an organization that is bringing together environmental preservation and the
arts.
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Ronald T. Floyd
Advisor
Ron Floyd has over 30 years of experience in corporate
marketing and university level academics. He has held the position of North
American Director of Marketing for two Fortune 500 companies, and has been
involved in numerous corporate start-ups. He currently holds the position of
Professor of Art at the University of Advancing Technology (UAT), one of the
top universities in the U.S. for animation and game design studies. Ron holds a
BFA in Graphic Design and a MS in Art Education / Studio Arts from the
University of Tennessee.
Ron is a recognized abstract artist, with close to 25
exhibitions and public art projects since 2006, with articles on his artwork
appearing in numerous publications, including Scottsdale Magazine in 2007 and
Scottsdale’s Best Magazine in 2008.
As a published arts writer, in 2007 Ron was named
Associate Arts Editor for Umbrella Publishing, one of the largest art focused
magazine publishers in California with 30 magazines. His articles have appeared
in magazines throughout California, and have been published locally by Chandler
Now Magazine, The North Valley Magazine, The West Valley Magazine, and kontakt
magazine of Phoenix. Ron also writes a featured Art Blog on azcentral.com, the
Arizona Republic’s online web site, along with occasional articles for the
Arizona Republic print edition.
Active in the Phoenix arts community, Ron is a co-founder
and current president of the East Valley Art Guild, one of the states largest
arts organizations with over 400 juried and affiliate members. He was
instrumental in founding the First Wednesday ArtWalk in historic downtown
Chandler in 2007, the Holiday Art Affair in 2007, and the Fourth Friday ArtWalk
at Riverview in Mesa in May 2008.
Ron believes strongly, that the definition of “ART” is
defined by the creativity and inspiration from all forms of artistic endeavors,
including fine art, prose, theater, and music.
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Linda Jenkins
Advisor
Linda was born to and brought up by Inez and Joe Huber
(hard working honest people) on a tobacco farm in Rural North Carolina. As
“Natures Child”, Linda enjoyed many hours in the vast wooded areas, fields and
flower patches of one of the most beautiful states in the USA .
In early adulthood Linda lived with her military husband
and two sons in France and The Netherlands (total of 10 years), what a
fantastic opportunity! The chance of a lifetime! Many hours and days were
devoted to studying formal and informal design in clothing, homes, churches,
castles and the beauty of the European country side. To walk where many of
history's most famous people lived and died was a wonderful education. Wow!
During the mid 1970's, Phoenix , AZ became home. College,
work and family were the issues of the day. Mid 1980's found Linda being the
“Snowbird”, living and traveling between Phoenix and Boston . While managing a
silk plant store in Burlington , MA , Linda took over a floundering business
and made it her own.
The name “The Silk Thumb” was created during a
brainstorming session with the sales manager and her staff at 128 Business
Journal. A fire in 1991 caused a devastating loss for “The Silk Thumb”.
During the 1990's, there was part time design, full time
work and more college. A brief move to Alpharetta , GA proved very successful
and one of life's learning experiences.
In early 2000 Linda went to design school sponsored by
her employer, one of the leaders in custom home design and furnishings and
stayed with them for the next five years. Then on to a local “to the trade” and
retail design store, all the while nurturing “The Silk Thumb” into a thriving
business once again.
Linda is an Ambassador at the North Scottsdale Chamber of
Commerce and a member at the Better Business Bureau of Arizona for the past 3
years.
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Nicholas A. Baio
Advisor
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Holly J. Wagner
Advisor
Holly J. Wagner has been a journalist for 27 years,
writing for publications as diverse as a wire service, The Los Angeles Times,
The National Law Journal, Hot Rod and Home Media magazines and wired.com. She
moved to Northern Arizona from Southern California in 2006 to balance her life
and spend time pursuing art as well as life. She works in stained glass and
mixed media as well as acrylic and watercolor paints. Somewhere in her wild and
misspent youth, Ms. Wagner acquired bachelor's degrees in History and Political
Science from UCLA (1986) and an associate's degree in Journalism from Santa
Monica College (1983).
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Jerry Sieve
Advisor
Jerry has over 30 years of experience as a professional
scenic/nature photographer/artist . Over 2,500 images have been published
worldwide. He also paints oils on canvas. Jerry led a one day seminar on
"Searching for the Grand Landscape" to over 100 people. In 2007 he was the
Chairman of Photograpy at the Cave Creek Film and Arts Festival. In 2008 he was
the Judge of photography at the Arizona State Fair. Jerry has exhibited in many
shows including at the Glendale College, AZ., the Desert Botanical Gardens in
Phoenix, at the Valley National Bank Center in Phoenix, at the Cincinnati
Nature Center, in Cincinnati, at the Picture Perfect Gallery in Scottsdale, at
the Tate Gallery in Sedona Arizona and each year he is an active participant of
the HIDDEN IN THE HILLS Studio Tour Art Expo. Jerry has received the prestious
60 Years of Arizona Highways award and the National Wildlife Federation
Calendar Award.
Jerry has published - One man Photographer for coffee
table books entitled, America's Southwest 1985, Ohio : Images of Nature 1990
Along the Arizona Trail, 1998. One man Calendars Black and White (Jerry Sieve)
1988, OHIO: Images of Nature 1990-1996. Jerry has taught over 50 photography
workshops in various areas across the nation. He was the Artist in residence at
the Fountain Hills High School and at the Cactus Shadows High School in 2006.
Over the past 16 years, Jerry have taught more multi-day workshops for the
FRIENDS OF ARIZONA HIGHWAYS Magazine than any other of their teachers. Jerry's
work is in numerous individual and corporate collections.
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Jami Lyn Lanser
Advisor
Jami began art at an early age. She can recall her mother
sitting at her isle painting for hours as she scribbled on paper in admiration.
Born in 1973, in Denver, Colorado to a mother of many artistic tendencies and a
father who enjoyed poetry and music; art came natural to Jami. In 1994, she
started her own business called ECCENTRICITIES DESIGN GROUP LLC. while still
going to school in Colorado. The company combined modern design concepts with a
timeless artistic approach to finish and treating walls, ceilings, columns,
floors, cabinets, trim and much more for home or business. By infusing texture
and color into the designs, simple structures became works of art. Jami
specialized in brilliant custom murals, faux finishes, speciality finishes,
trompe l'oeil, venetian plaster, mosaic and sophisticated custom paintings and
artwork.
Jami continued her passion for art through college
attending Colorado University in Boulder. In 1997, she moved to Phoenix and
attended Collins College in 1999.
Her own personal work was greatly influenced after all
the years of experience with such a variety of mediums. In 2008 she began to
focus solely on her personal growth and painting, thus ending an era for
Eccentricities.
Today, she balances family and art and is focusing on
developing her 2D works.
Jami's work can be seen in local small businesses,
galleries and art shows. Her favorite medium is acrylic. She likes the essence
of the paint and the instant gratification she gets from it. Much of her work
consists of mix media, mixing photography and objects with her pieces. Always
having a sincere love of photography since school, and now with more time to
explore her personal art, she plans on developing this more. Her subject matter
varies, however she is inclined to figurative work. In recent years, the force
behind the ideas for her work seem to be coming less emotionally and more
psychologically campaigned.
She has a passionate enthusiasm for the next era of her
art and life... Jami is also excited about the Arizona Consortium for the
Arts and is looking forward to all the projects and activities.
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Darren Ingram
Advisor
Darren has taught English literature at the secondary
and college level for 10 years. He has designed several curriculums including a
Philosophy in Literature class and an Introduction to Film class. He was an
instructor most recently at Tempe Preparatory Academy where he taught a Modern
European Humanities class that combined philosophy, literature, and history. He
also recently taught English 101 at Chandler-Gilbert Community College. In
addition to teaching, Darren works in video and film production and has
co-produced and co-directed two feature length documentary films. The first is
titled King of the Mountain and is about a storied rivalry between two high
school football teams in Oklahoma. The second is titled The Ticket which
analyzes what happens to people when they win the lottery. Darren now is
working in video and film production full time and owns a production company
called Eclipse Films that specializes in promotional videos for non-profits and
small government agencies. Darren also edits an online Film Journal titled
Eclipse Café that discusses film and culture.Darren is thrilled to be part of
the consortium and is looking forward to contributing his skills and talent.
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Angelika Ahlbrandt
Founding Member
Angelika has a love affair with the arts since
childhood. No wonder, both her mother and father had creative talents. Her
father was a sketch artist and her mother was a clothing designer. After coming
to the Unites States, Angelika started her career in Health Care. Both in New
Jersey and here in Phoenix, she has managed the Admitting Department of very
busy hospitals. On numerous occasions she had to cover other shifts. She was
elected President of the Admitting Association and was the first member of the
Admitting Association to be accredited. For many years she served on the Board
of the Credit Union. After retiring, Angelika started to devote her time to
painting (once again.) She has been painting ever since and likes to participate
in Art Shows. She is also very active in different organizations and serves on
their Board of Directors, from the Arts to Food Banks and the Park and
Recreation Dept. You can usually find Angelika with the paint brush in her hand
in front of her easel or outdoors, in our beautiful Parks and Recreation areas.
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Jeremy Evan Thornton
Founding Member
Student Affairs
Jeremy is a Graduate student at ASU majoring in Language
and Literacy. Jeremy is an aspiring musician, singer, actor and a
writer. He is very much interested in Music, Art, Culture, and PEOPLE.
Jeremy is passionate about passing along knowledge in the hopes of igniting
unlimited creativity and supporting the arts as much as possible.
Janessa Mckibin
Community Representative
Janessa is an Artist and innovator living the Phoenix
metro area. She served in the United Sates Navy stationed in Florida, Texas and
San Diego. Upon that duty Janessa had pursued her education in Art History, and
is earning a B.A. in Art History from Arizona State University. Janessa has
helped in the production of multiple fashion shows and video productions in the
valley. In addition to decorative ballroom dress design.
She enjoys activities in her spare time such as Archery,
Drawing, Painting, and exploring new ideas of Evolution Everywhere.
Ralph Skrzypczak
Audio/Video Production
Ralph was born in Chicago, Illinois and was taken a top a
mountain in Colorado at an early age. He grew up and was exposed to vast
forests of imagination. Lost in those forests he decided to walk to the desert
of Phoenix, Arizona and had continued writing stories, creating movies and
comics ever since. He Dreams of going back to the mountains. Ralph is currently
producing and editing Mr. E Comics and writing his comic book Codename Eden. He
is also currently pursuing a degree in writing and film from Arizona State
University.
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Windy Lynn Harris
Community Representative
Award-winning freelance writer Windy Lynn Harris has had
short stories and essays published over 50 times in magazines all across the
country. In addition, she has earned a 2009 grant from the Arizona Commission
on the Arts to further the development of her first novel. She is a member of
Wise Women Write and The National League of American Pen Women. Windy shares
her method to traditional publishing success in the seminar she calls, "Market
Coaching for the Unpublished Writer." Please visit
www.windylynnharris.com
for upcoming speaking dates or to see what she's up to next.
Nicole Romine
Dance
International award winning Director/Choreographer Nicole Romine
has travelled the world in her career.
As a professional dancer, she worked for over 15 years in stage, television
and film. Classically trained, she began her career in Stuttgart, Germany
dancing the role of Carlotta Grisi in Pas de Quatre at the Stuttgart Opera
House. She went to have a diverse career dancing in television series like
Fame as the lead female dancer. She danced at Paramount Studios, MGM, and
for companies in Argentina, Japan, Europe and the US.
She moved on to become artistic director for a dance
company and created over 28 original works and several full length
contemporary ballets. She also choreographed for television and a PBS
production she choreographed was nominated for an Emmy. She has taught
master classes in Ballet and Contemporary though out the US. She has worked
with such legends as Frank Sinatra, Madonna, Dick Van Dyke, and some of the
best dancers and choreographers in the world.
In 2007 she directed and choreographed an art film 'ing'
which received numerous awards internationally. Her work has been seen on
over 5 continents to critical acclaim and she continues to share her passion
for dance wherever she goes.
Gail
E. McCauley
Advisor
Gail E. McCauley is the President and Founder of Arizona
Model and Actor Management, LLC. Gail has over twenty years experience in the
fashion business. Gail has worked for Fashion Institute of Design and
Merchandising as a professional speaker, fashion instructor for Mesa Community
College and last 4 years as Agency Director for Model and Talent Management. The
Arizona Model and Actor Management, LLC is a new full service model and actor
management agency for male and female talent, age 5 and older. Statewide in
Arizona. The agency that will be opening soon will be utilizing models and
actors for fashion, print, catalog, runway, TV, film and voiceovers.
Gail is a Freelance writer for various regional and
national shelter publications including: 'Log Home Living', 'House Beautiful
Home Remodeling & Decorating', 'House Beautiful Home Building', 'Arizona
Foothills', 'So Scottsdale' 'Arizona Home & Design' and many others. Also
authored a book, '50 Ways To Paint A Wall', Creative Publishing International,
Copyright 2005.
Jonathan Gabriel
Advisor
Jonathan Gabriel was born in the Philippines where he
acquired his Bachelor’s degree in Architecture and had also earned credible
extracurricular achievements in the fields of Arts, Entertainment and
Martial Arts.
His skills as an artist and his love for guitar and
folk-singing made him jovially involved with social activities and stage
performances. He was a member of The International Art Society of Riyadh in
the 80’s and participated in international art shows. As Martial Artist of
various forms, Jon was an undefeated National Champion of the Phil. Moo Duk
Kwan Association (Tang soo Do - Korean Karate) and a recipient of ‘Best
Combat Judoist of the Year’ award. He is a 3rd Degree Black belt in Combat
Judo (hand weapon disarming techniques). He maintained a gym with a business
partner and a close to a hundred students and members back then.
Jon’s passion for visual arts and all his added skills
gave him access to the local Movie and Television industry and achieved some
involvements as Production Designer, Character actor, Fight
Choreographer/Instructor and Stunt Coordinator in more than a dozen movies
and a TV commercial. He was a member of Philippine Cinema and Television
Actors Guild prior to relocating to the United States. He now lives in
Phoenix, Arizona with his wife and kids. Jon is a working artist, interior
designer, a performing artist and an arts advocate.
Crystal Achey
Advisor
Crystal
Achey, mother of two fabulous boys and President of Phoenix Body Mind and Soul
Media and Events. Crystal considers herself to be a pre-destined, uncertified,
refried hippie who envisions spreading refried hippie knowledge, opinions and
stories through her holistic, entrepreneurial endeavors which includes a variety
of networking events, the quarterly Phoenix Body Mind and Soul Magazine, the
annual Living on the Earth Celebration that benefits AZ Homegrown Solutions and
is currently planning to host an annual benefit for Arizona Consortium for the
Arts. >
Why does Crystal call herself a
refried hippie? The term refried hippie is a term that her muse, Tere B.
came up with... other than that "refried" is just for effect, but Crystal's
spirit truly embodies the hippie attitude. It all started during (not at)
Woodstock, 1969 when the energy of all that Peace and Love traveled west to
Santa Barbara, California where they reached the reproductive organs of her
parents and nine months later, she was born on May 30, 1970. From birth
she lived in complete bliss and virtual harmony, spending her childhood on
roller skates only to be removed when collecting polly wogs in the creek that
ran through her neighborhood.
Now a long term
resident of Phoenix, her favorite place to travel with her boys is Oak Creek
Canyon and Sedona of course! Although she does hope to make it to
Arcosanti for an overnight visit soon!
Deborah Kay
Project Manager
Sherry Finzer
Advisor
Jack Howell
Advisor
Jessica Dimino
Project Manager
Dr. Trish Dolasinski
Literary Advisor and Community Ambassador
Capacity Building Unlimited, LLC
As a 30 year + career educator, she has taught elementary and middle school students and served as an elementary school principal for fifteen years. She currently teaches in the online doctoral program at Grand Canyon University.
Trish earned her doctorate in educational leadership from Northern Arizona University. She is married to her college sweetheart and has seven grandchildren under age ten.
Carla Pritchard
Carla was born and raised in Lima, Peru, has a daughter and has lived in Arizona since 1996.
“Prior to moving to the United States, I found myself painting and writing compositions involving real life events in my life and family, I tried to capture the feeling I have and transfer it to paper.
I have found events in my frequent trips to Peru to be inspirational. I am passionate about life and family. I try to reflect that in my paintings”
Nuha Azad Sarraj
Cultural Programs
Nuha was born in Hemedan, Kurdistan. After years of facing oppression from Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein, her family moved to the United States. They were taken to Guam and finally brought to Arizona in 1997. Nuha is currently a Junior at Arizona State University majoring in Political Science with a minor in Religion. She is also an active member of a Kurdish Youth Club with branches in 5 states: Tennessee, Georgia, Virginia, Arizona, and DC. Nuha loves reading books and believes that one day she will have her own library! Nuha rarely watches television and can't remember the last time she watched a movie. On Friday and Saturday nights, you'll find her at home under her covers reading about Kurds and Kurdistan; Nuha is not your average teen. The most important thing anyone should know about her is that she is deeply in love with her country - Kurdistan and dedicates her life to its cause. Also, learning about other cultures is extremely important to her, which is why Nuha is the Director of Cultural Programs; she will dedicate ample time to organizing various cultural activities and events. Nuha finds it to be quite significant to educate others about the many beautiful cultures there are.
Francis Musselman
Advisor
Elena Mitchell
Program Manager
Anne Wallace
Benjamin Kern
Community Development and Administration
Ben previously served as the artistic assistant at the NY Off Broadway
theater Primary Stages where he helped produce the readings of new
plays by Daniel Pearle, Margaret Hunt, Jessica Hinds, and Adam Krarr as
well as the Dorothy Strelsin New American Writers Group which featured
playwrights David Caudle, Tommy Smith, Cheri Magid, Adam Szymkowics,
Rogelio Martinez, and Bekah Brunstetter. While at Primary, Ben
also served as the stage manager for the ESPA: Detention Workshop
series of world premier 10-minute plays. Ben has served as an
assistant director Off Broadway and educationally under Matt Shakman,
Tyler Marchant, and Tim Howard. Favorite directorial and stage
management credits include: Peter Pan, Death and the Maiden, RENT, The
Mystery of Edwin DROOD, Floyd Collins, and A Wicked Parody. Ben
served as the artistic director of PLAYERS Theatre Organization at the
University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point and is the director of art and
photography for Kacie Mischler Photography. Next summer Ben will
be assistant directing under Casey Childs on the Primary Stages NY
premiere of The Morini Strad.
Effie Bouras
Architect
Effie Bouras, PhD, principal of mechanik design office llc, received a doctorate in urban planning
in 2010- the first ever awarded for the study of Landscape Urbanism in North America- from Arizona
State University, following bachelor’s degrees in both civil engineering and architecture, from
McGill University and Dalhousie respectively, and a master’s in architecture from the University
of Nevada, Las Vegas. During tenure in Las Vegas the MDO principal worked on the Guggenheim
and Hermitage Museums with Rem Koolhaas, Frank Gehry and The Stubbins Associates. MDO continues
to work in the architecture and planning fields, both as principal designer and collaborator.
Design work has included collaborations with various designers as well as renovations and ground
up structures. Recently, MDO was the project assistant for Hanny’s restaurant (2010) in downtown
Phoenix, Arizona; a 15,000 square foot renovation of a historic registrar property and a new
lounge space for the Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art, which was headed by Janis Leonard
Design Associates, LLC.
MDO compliments design work with freelance writing, lectures and artistic pursuit; projects and
writing have been featured in several national publications including Modernism Magazine,
Architectural Record, Canadian Architect Magazine, the Phoenix New Times, +plusmood online,
City Magazine in New York, Coastal Living, and as architecture and planning editor of Hearsight
(online) Magazine. Art created by the design office has been featured throughout the United
States and Europe and is represented by Perihelion Arts based in Arizona. Most recently MDO/MAO
was invited as a lecturer and guest critic at the Frank Lloyd Wright School of Architecture,
Taliesin West (2011).
Jennifer Frere
Marketing Advisor
Jennifer grew up on a farm in Western Illinois. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Advertising from Iowa State University where she earned awards for several projects. She moved to the Valley in 2010 and thoroughly enjoyed her first snowless winter. She has worked at Staples for several years and in varying capacities, currently as a Customer Relationship Specialist coordinating marketing efforts and maintaining customer reports. Jennifer also takes on small freelance graphic design projects. She has done several logos, brochures and even some scrapbook paper. In her spare time, she is an avid scrapbooker and reader. “I know I would not be where I am today had I not been involved in band and art and writing classes. As schools continue to cut these programs and resources, the Arizona Consortium for the Arts becomes even more important and I look forward to finding new ways to spread their message.”
Colleen Bivona
Grants Advisor
In addition to her volunteer work with the Arizona Consortium for the Arts,
Colleen Bivona is the Program Manager for the School of Arts, Media and Engineering at Arizona State University.
She provides support for research and grant development and administers their graduate programs.
She has also held numerous volunteer positions in museums and galleries and is an enthusiastic supporter
of the arts. A transplant from Washington State, she loves the desert southwest and Arizona’s unique environment.
Colleen is a graduate of Tufts University (BA, Anthropology and Media Studies),
Arizona State University (MA, Anthropology and Museum Studies),
and Northern Arizona University (Graduate Certificate, Professional Writing).
Jasmine Blanchard
Advisor
James Thornton
Founding Member
IT