Incoming board members bring years of experience, diversity, and a passion for the arts
The Washington State Arts Commission (ArtsWA) welcomes two returning board members and five new members recently appointed by Governor Jay Inslee. Also new to the Commission are two legislative members appointed by the House and Senate. Nineteen members of ArtsWA's board are appointed by the Governor for three year terms. Four are appointed by the Legislature with open-ended terms.
Returning commissioners
Rick Johnson (Port Townsend) - Rick lives in Discovery Bay, near Port Townsend, and refers to himself as a "Stone Sculptor-Lineman-Union activist." He is also president of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 77 and serves on the Governor's Industrial Safety, Health Advisory Board, the Washington State Labor Council, and the Northwest Stone Sculptors Association. He previously worked for 22 years in power line construction for Puget Sound Energy. Rick was first appointed to the Commission in August 2013 and will serve a second term to July 2019.
Diane Martindale (Friday Harbor) - Diane owns an art consulting business in Friday Harbor. She is a life-long supporter of the arts and currently serves on the Friday Harbor Arts Commission; chairs the Art Committee for the San Juan Island Public Library; serves as volunteer, advisor, and curator to the San Juan Islands Museum of Art. She is also a member of the San Juan County Arts Council, and is an avid supporter of 100 Friends of Old Island Barns. Governor Inslee first appointed Diane to the Commission in August 2013. She will be serving a second term and will co-chair the Commission's Advocacy Committee.
Appointed by the Governor
Lisbeth Cort (Coupeville) - Lisbeth is a professional artist and an exhibiting member of the Penn Cove Gallery in Coupeville. Her award-winning work has been featured in juried and solo shows, as well as galleries across Whidbey Island. She served on the adjunct faculty in the Master of Arts in Historic Preservation program at Goucher College (Baltimore, MD) for 13 years. In a career spanning nearly 30 years, Lisbeth was involved in leading and staffing nonprofits in the arts and various historic preservation and conservation organizations. Her work experience includes leadership positions with Grantmakers for the Arts, Washington Trust for Historic Preservation, the Utah Heritage Foundation, and the Western Regional Office of the National Trust for Historic Preservation.
Linley B. Logan (Bremerton) - Linley grew up on the Tonawanda Seneca Nation. He attended the Rochester Institute of Technology for Industrial Design and Fine Art, and the Institute of American Indian Arts, Santa Fe, NM. As a multi-disciplinary artist/designer/art and cultural consultant, Linley's employment and contract experience includes: program specialist at the National Museum of the American Indian, Smithsonian Institution; presenter on Native Art Marketing Strategies for the Native Arts and Cultures Foundation (NACF); and as emcee for the NACF's first National Native Arts Convening. Linley's contemporary artistic experience includes printmaking, painting, pottery, traditional beaded jewelry and
contemporary jewelry, three-dimensional arts, sculpture, and design work. His fine arts background includes industrial design and graphic design. He serves as the director of artists workshops for the Northwest Heritage Program at the Evergreen State College Longhouse Education and Cultural Center.
Monica Miller (Ellensburg) - Monica holds a Masters of Arts from Johns Hopkins University (Baltimore, MD) and a Bachelor of Arts from the College of William and Mary (Williamsburg, VA). She is the executive director for Gallery One Visual Arts Center in Ellensburg and a member of the Ellensburg Arts Commission. Monica has worked with arts organizations for over 15 years in fundraising, grants management, and professional development for artists. Among her many achievements, Monica and the Ellensburg Arts Commission successfully lobbied the City of Ellensburg, which recently voted in favor of a sustainable revenue stream to fund arts and cultural activities in the city. She is an active member of the Ellensburg Downtown Association and Punch Gallery. Prior to moving to central Washington, she oversaw artist grants and professional development at Artist Trust in Seattle and was a member of an artist collective called SOIL.
Faaluaina S. Pritchard (Lakewood) - Faaluaina is an experienced executive director in social services, community development, primary/secondary education, and food/nutrition education. She currently serves as executive director of Tacoma's Asia Pacific Cultural Center (APCC). APCC conducts multiple cultural and educational activities that showcase 47 Asia Pacific countries with over 50 cultures and hundreds of languages. Faaluaina also volunteers on several boards and commissions in Pierce County, including serving as chairperson of the Pierce County Asian Pacific Islander Coalition, trustee of Clover Park Technical College, board member of the Tacoma Urban League, and member of the Sound Transit Citizen Oversight Panel.
Justin Raffa (Richland) - Justin has been a professional singer since 2004. He received a Bachelor of Music in Music Education from Westminster Choir College (Ryder University, Princeton, NJ) and a Masters of Music for Choral Conducting from the University of Arizona (Tucson, AZ). Justin has led the Mid-Columbia Mastersingers as its artistic director since 2008 where he has worked to expand audiences and establish collaborations with many Tri-Cities organizations. The City of Richland Arts Commission honored him with its 2011 award for Outstanding Individual Contribution to the Arts. He also received the Washington State 2013 Outstanding Emerging Choral Conductor award and the Columbia Basin Music Educators Association 2014 Friend of Music award. Justin serves on the Arts Center Task Force, Columbia Basin Badger Club, Visit Tri-Cities, Washington Choral Directors Association, American Choral Directors Association, and Chorus America. He also chairs the City of Richland Arts Commission and serves as the chorusmaster for the Yakima Symphony Orchestra.
New legislative commission members
Rep. Teri Hickel (Federal Way) -
Following a 2015 special election in the 30th District, Rep. Hickel began her legislative career when she joined the House of Representative. A long-time resident of the 30th District, Teri is committed to creating and preserving good-paying jobs, fully funding K-12 public education, and providing the best possible learning environment for children. As the executive director of the organization Advancing Leadership, Teri has helped transform adults and youth into community leaders. More than 850 people have graduated from the program. Her career also includes 12 years with the Federal Way Chamber of Commerce and 20-years as a member of Citizens for Federal Way Schools.
Sen. Sharon Nelson (Maury Island) - Sen. Nelson represents the 34th Legislative District, which includes parts of Burien, North Highline, Vashon and Maury Islands, and West Seattle. She was elected to the Senate in 2010 and was selected leader of the Senate Democrats by her peers in 2014. She had previously served in the House of Representatives. In 1996, a failing septic tank at her home led her into politics and citizen activism, resulting in a consumer protection bill that successfully passed into law. Sharon has since championed many issues in the Legislature including bills to prevent predatory lending and a bill banning toxic chemicals in children's products. She was instrumental in securing funding for the Vashon Center for the Arts. Prior to coming to the Legislature, Sharon served as a vice president for Seafirst Bank, and as chief of staff for then King County Councilmember Dow Constantine.
