MEET THE CHEWELAH ARTS GUILD BOARD MEMBERS
President - Indigo Kennedy
I was born and raised in Alaska. In my twenties I decided to move out of state and started what would be over 15 years of exploring parts of the US. I have lived in several states and visited all but a handful on my travels. After several years in the Tennessee area I decided it was time to get back to the Pacific North West and through serendipity located a home for rent on Waitts Lake. I still remember the first time driving north on 395 and cresting the hill above the valley. It is one of my favorite views. I live in Chewelah now and have greatly enjoyed the small town with big dreams. Being part of a community that celebrates its citizens passions is something I have learned to appreciate after living many places where such support is hard to find.
As a quilter I have been an active member of Cabin Fever Quilt Guild of Southern Stevens County since 2013. I also had the opportunity to co-chair the committee that plans the annual Chewelah Quilt Show presented by the Art Guild starting in 2017. As someone who wants to support the arts and our community joining the Art Guild was an obvious decision. I have appreciated working with the Art Guild and helping support our efforts to see our community flourish.
I was born and raised in Alaska. In my twenties I decided to move out of state and started what would be over 15 years of exploring parts of the US. I have lived in several states and visited all but a handful on my travels. After several years in the Tennessee area I decided it was time to get back to the Pacific North West and through serendipity located a home for rent on Waitts Lake. I still remember the first time driving north on 395 and cresting the hill above the valley. It is one of my favorite views. I live in Chewelah now and have greatly enjoyed the small town with big dreams. Being part of a community that celebrates its citizens passions is something I have learned to appreciate after living many places where such support is hard to find.
As a quilter I have been an active member of Cabin Fever Quilt Guild of Southern Stevens County since 2013. I also had the opportunity to co-chair the committee that plans the annual Chewelah Quilt Show presented by the Art Guild starting in 2017. As someone who wants to support the arts and our community joining the Art Guild was an obvious decision. I have appreciated working with the Art Guild and helping support our efforts to see our community flourish.
Vice President - Tom Bristol
Thomas Bristol is an architect and owner of Purple Flat Top Ltd Architecture in Chewelah WA. Purple Flat Top Ltd. Architecture provides architectural services for projects ranging from consulting small remodels, developing construction details to additions/remodels, residential and light commercial building design services. He has been on the Board of the Chewelah Arts Guild for 20+ years, served as president for 7 years and as vice president in 2018. He designed, supervised and assisted in the building of the Children’s Pavilion in City Park and was Chewelah’s Citizen of the Year in 2011. He is active in many community pursuits and most recently has focused on the development of the Chewelah Performing Arts Center (PACA) and serves on their Board. In the Arts Guild Tom is Chair of the Highway Clean-up Committee, Co-Chair of the Chataqua Children’s Pavilion Committee, acts as the Arts Guild Liaison to PACA and actively participates on the Music Committee which includes the Music on the Mountain and Joy to the World Winter Concert events. He lives with his wife, Susan Bristol, on 200+ acres of land just outside Chewelah in the shadow of Purple Flat Top Mountain. They have grown children who also love and appreciate the Chewelah area: Joey Bristol who lives in Washington DC (Currently in Beijing, China), Peter in Seattle and Daphne in Spokane.
Thomas Bristol is an architect and owner of Purple Flat Top Ltd Architecture in Chewelah WA. Purple Flat Top Ltd. Architecture provides architectural services for projects ranging from consulting small remodels, developing construction details to additions/remodels, residential and light commercial building design services. He has been on the Board of the Chewelah Arts Guild for 20+ years, served as president for 7 years and as vice president in 2018. He designed, supervised and assisted in the building of the Children’s Pavilion in City Park and was Chewelah’s Citizen of the Year in 2011. He is active in many community pursuits and most recently has focused on the development of the Chewelah Performing Arts Center (PACA) and serves on their Board. In the Arts Guild Tom is Chair of the Highway Clean-up Committee, Co-Chair of the Chataqua Children’s Pavilion Committee, acts as the Arts Guild Liaison to PACA and actively participates on the Music Committee which includes the Music on the Mountain and Joy to the World Winter Concert events. He lives with his wife, Susan Bristol, on 200+ acres of land just outside Chewelah in the shadow of Purple Flat Top Mountain. They have grown children who also love and appreciate the Chewelah area: Joey Bristol who lives in Washington DC (Currently in Beijing, China), Peter in Seattle and Daphne in Spokane.
Secretary- Anita Talbott
My husband, Brian, and I moved to Chewelah in 1999. We had often remarked how charming Chewelah seemed as we passed through on trips to British Columbia and decided to move here after retiring in Spokane. We have never regretted it. We have raised three wonderful children who thankfully reside in Washington State and they have given us ten amazing grandchildren. My hobbies include reading, gardening, snow shoeing, hiking, fishing, painting, collaging, sewing and enjoying nature.
Over the years I have held a number of secretarial and administrative jobs:
-I was the secretary and credit manager at Spokane Petroleum for 7 years.
-I was the executive secretary to the Vice-President at the Bank of Spokane for four years.
-I was President and Founder of AMT Enterprises Inc. traveling nationally giving presentations at trade shows for 15 years.
-I was the administrative assistant for The National Association of Educational Service Agencies for 15 years.
In the 2 years I’ve been the Arts Guild Secretary, I’ve learned how valuable the Chewelah Arts Guild is to our community. In addition, I’ve gained new friends and feel a stronger relationship to my hometown – Chewelah.
Treasurer- Diane Evans
My name is Diane Evans. I have lived in Chewelah since December of 1979. I have been involved in the community, as a business owner and community volunteer for over thirty five years. In 1999, I was asked to help form, along with a handful of others, what became, the Chewelah Arts Guild. These people were motivated to create an organization with and for the artists in the community, to support the creative expressions of art that were already in existence, and to share in the vision of making the arts accessible to more members of the greater Chewelah community. We’ve come a long way since that first meeting in the then, what was called the “blue restaurant” across from the School District building.
Memorial Day weekend, 2000, the Chewelah Arts Guild partnered with the Chewelah Historical Society to present our first fundraiser in the Chewelah museum. I chaired that event then and have chaired, along with some co-chairs, since then. Memorial Day weekend, 2016, the Chewelah Arts Guild will present their seventeenth (17th) Quilt Show at the Jenkins Middle/High School.
I am particularly encouraged and excited to serve on the Board and be actively involved with the Chewelah Arts Guild again. I am choosing to get more actively involved in the Chewelah Arts Guild because I believe in its mission statement and am so proud that it has endured, slowly and with intention, making it a strong, viable, vibrant organization in Chewelah.
My name is Diane Evans. I have lived in Chewelah since December of 1979. I have been involved in the community, as a business owner and community volunteer for over thirty five years. In 1999, I was asked to help form, along with a handful of others, what became, the Chewelah Arts Guild. These people were motivated to create an organization with and for the artists in the community, to support the creative expressions of art that were already in existence, and to share in the vision of making the arts accessible to more members of the greater Chewelah community. We’ve come a long way since that first meeting in the then, what was called the “blue restaurant” across from the School District building.
Memorial Day weekend, 2000, the Chewelah Arts Guild partnered with the Chewelah Historical Society to present our first fundraiser in the Chewelah museum. I chaired that event then and have chaired, along with some co-chairs, since then. Memorial Day weekend, 2016, the Chewelah Arts Guild will present their seventeenth (17th) Quilt Show at the Jenkins Middle/High School.
I am particularly encouraged and excited to serve on the Board and be actively involved with the Chewelah Arts Guild again. I am choosing to get more actively involved in the Chewelah Arts Guild because I believe in its mission statement and am so proud that it has endured, slowly and with intention, making it a strong, viable, vibrant organization in Chewelah.
Board Member- Tabitha Baugh
My family and I moved to Chewelah in April 2018. I got involved in community events to make new friends and to get to know the area. I have served on the committees for Light Up the Park, Chewelah's Quilt Show and the Children's Summer Art Camp. My hobbies include hanging out with my daughter, quilting, sewing, mix media, and any DIY crafts. I graduated from Lewis and Clark Community College in Godfrey Illinois with an Associate in Radio Broadcasting. One day I hope to get involved with the local station.
My family and I moved to Chewelah in April 2018. I got involved in community events to make new friends and to get to know the area. I have served on the committees for Light Up the Park, Chewelah's Quilt Show and the Children's Summer Art Camp. My hobbies include hanging out with my daughter, quilting, sewing, mix media, and any DIY crafts. I graduated from Lewis and Clark Community College in Godfrey Illinois with an Associate in Radio Broadcasting. One day I hope to get involved with the local station.
Board Member- Gail Churape
I have lived here in the beautiful Chewelah mountains since 1985 on land I purchased in 1976, when I first visited the area and fell in love with the natural beauty. I have supported the arts throughout my life doing a lot of work with my brother, Carl Smool, an artist from Seattle working on large installation pieces. I’ve always found that the Arts nourish and inspire us and I always tried to keep that in mind as I raised my children. Locally I got involved with Community Celebrations when I moved to Chewelah re-energizing the Children’s pavilion in 1986 when my daughter was just a baby. I was so happy when the Arts Guild took over that responsibility. I help with Stage Time Theater in the costume department and currently teach Art K-8 at Valley school. My students have benefited from the Arts Guild Rainbow Grants every year! I love all the ways the Arts Guild promotes and supports the Arts in Chewelah and am happy to join the board of this busy organization.
I have lived here in the beautiful Chewelah mountains since 1985 on land I purchased in 1976, when I first visited the area and fell in love with the natural beauty. I have supported the arts throughout my life doing a lot of work with my brother, Carl Smool, an artist from Seattle working on large installation pieces. I’ve always found that the Arts nourish and inspire us and I always tried to keep that in mind as I raised my children. Locally I got involved with Community Celebrations when I moved to Chewelah re-energizing the Children’s pavilion in 1986 when my daughter was just a baby. I was so happy when the Arts Guild took over that responsibility. I help with Stage Time Theater in the costume department and currently teach Art K-8 at Valley school. My students have benefited from the Arts Guild Rainbow Grants every year! I love all the ways the Arts Guild promotes and supports the Arts in Chewelah and am happy to join the board of this busy organization.
Board Member- Susanne Griepp
I’m one of several Chewelah Arts Guild founding members. I serve as Co-Chair of the Community Arts Show. I’ve been a professional singer, a shopkeeper, nurseryman, florist, secretary, and waitress. My husband, Winston and I, moved to Chewelah from California in 1977. Our four sons were born and raised in the Chewelah-Valley communities nestled in this beautiful landscape. I also have two step-children and nine grandchildren. Winston and I are founding members of the Brown’s Lake Recreation Association and I continue to serve on its Board of Directors. In the late 1990’s, I worked with Community Celebrations, in charge of Chataqua’s CenterStage entertainment for three years. In both student and adult life, I trained in university settings as a singer. I was a member of the Spokane Symphony Chorale for over a decade. I’ve taught singing, and more recently, taught K-5 Music at Valley School for several years. I enjoy collage and writing, and have created Self-Portrait Poems and Collages with Valley School students. I’m honored to be a Creekside Writer. I believe we are all creative beings. I believe that a vibrant Arts community enhances community health and quality of life, and supports economic development. Over twenty years with the Chewelah Arts Guild, I’ve found that supporting the Arts in schools, supporting the many artists in our community, and collaborating with area businesses, is meaningful community service. The Arts inspire and bring people together.
I’m one of several Chewelah Arts Guild founding members. I serve as Co-Chair of the Community Arts Show. I’ve been a professional singer, a shopkeeper, nurseryman, florist, secretary, and waitress. My husband, Winston and I, moved to Chewelah from California in 1977. Our four sons were born and raised in the Chewelah-Valley communities nestled in this beautiful landscape. I also have two step-children and nine grandchildren. Winston and I are founding members of the Brown’s Lake Recreation Association and I continue to serve on its Board of Directors. In the late 1990’s, I worked with Community Celebrations, in charge of Chataqua’s CenterStage entertainment for three years. In both student and adult life, I trained in university settings as a singer. I was a member of the Spokane Symphony Chorale for over a decade. I’ve taught singing, and more recently, taught K-5 Music at Valley School for several years. I enjoy collage and writing, and have created Self-Portrait Poems and Collages with Valley School students. I’m honored to be a Creekside Writer. I believe we are all creative beings. I believe that a vibrant Arts community enhances community health and quality of life, and supports economic development. Over twenty years with the Chewelah Arts Guild, I’ve found that supporting the Arts in schools, supporting the many artists in our community, and collaborating with area businesses, is meaningful community service. The Arts inspire and bring people together.
Board Member- Leslie Kristiansen
I spent much of my first year in college in the library paging through books of art. After completing each of my required assignments I'd treat myself to a new book. That interest has continued throughout my life and now that my children are grown and I've retired from teaching, I'm pleased to be involved in promoting and celebrating the arts through the Chewelah Arts Guild.
I spent much of my first year in college in the library paging through books of art. After completing each of my required assignments I'd treat myself to a new book. That interest has continued throughout my life and now that my children are grown and I've retired from teaching, I'm pleased to be involved in promoting and celebrating the arts through the Chewelah Arts Guild.