MEET THE CHEWELAH ARTS GUILD BOARD MEMBERS
President- 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 forty years. In 1999, I was asked to help form, along with a handful of others, what became, the Chewelah Arts Guild. All of us 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 people of the greater Chewelah Community.
Memorial Day weekend, 2000, the Chewelah Arts Guild partnered with the Chewelah Historical Society to present our first fundraiser in the Walt Goodman Historical Museum.
I choose to be 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 forty years. In 1999, I was asked to help form, along with a handful of others, what became, the Chewelah Arts Guild. All of us 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 people of the greater Chewelah Community.
Memorial Day weekend, 2000, the Chewelah Arts Guild partnered with the Chewelah Historical Society to present our first fundraiser in the Walt Goodman Historical Museum.
I choose to be 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.
Vice President- Susanne Griepp
I’m grateful to be a Chewelah Arts Guild founding member. I believe in its mission and purpose. It is rewarding to work to sustain the health and vitality of the Arts and our wealth of local Artists, and to make the Arts accessible to all community members. In 1977, my husband and I moved to this beautiful landscape as part of the back-to-the-land movement. We’ve lived here ever since, raising a family, running a health food store, and later a small nursery and floral business. I’ve been a singer since early childhood, and a sometime-writer since my early teens. I’m honored to be a Creekside Writer. It’s rewarding to be an Arts advocate, to promote and support our vibrant Artists, Arts events and programs.
I’m grateful to be a Chewelah Arts Guild founding member. I believe in its mission and purpose. It is rewarding to work to sustain the health and vitality of the Arts and our wealth of local Artists, and to make the Arts accessible to all community members. In 1977, my husband and I moved to this beautiful landscape as part of the back-to-the-land movement. We’ve lived here ever since, raising a family, running a health food store, and later a small nursery and floral business. I’ve been a singer since early childhood, and a sometime-writer since my early teens. I’m honored to be a Creekside Writer. It’s rewarding to be an Arts advocate, to promote and support our vibrant Artists, Arts events and programs.
Secretary- Loretta Nielsen
I was born in Portland but raised in Sandy, Oregon. I lived at the base of Mt. Hood where I explored photography with my father’s hand-me-down Nikon camera. I studied at Mt. Hood Community College and Clark College. My career choices led me to become a freelance photographer, Wedding Coordinator, ordained minister, Editor-and-Chief of Tweenz Talk Magazine, Preschool Teacher for eight years and an Administrator which led me to become manager of the Chewelah Motel and RV Park along with my husband.
We discovered Chewelah about eight years ago and fell in love with the town so when the opportunity arose, my husband and I relocated our family from Palouse and have enjoyed every minute of our decision.
Moving to Chewelah has rekindled the spark in me to work on my recycled arts projects that I love to create.
I was born in Portland but raised in Sandy, Oregon. I lived at the base of Mt. Hood where I explored photography with my father’s hand-me-down Nikon camera. I studied at Mt. Hood Community College and Clark College. My career choices led me to become a freelance photographer, Wedding Coordinator, ordained minister, Editor-and-Chief of Tweenz Talk Magazine, Preschool Teacher for eight years and an Administrator which led me to become manager of the Chewelah Motel and RV Park along with my husband.
We discovered Chewelah about eight years ago and fell in love with the town so when the opportunity arose, my husband and I relocated our family from Palouse and have enjoyed every minute of our decision.
Moving to Chewelah has rekindled the spark in me to work on my recycled arts projects that I love to create.
Treasurer - Traci Manley
I currently work as a tattoo artist creating custom pieces for my clients. I have been doing this for over 15 years, and I enjoy the combination of collaboration and puzzle solving that my work involves. I also enjoy working on independent creative projects such as painting, collage, graphic design, book illustration, jewelry design and metalsmithing.
I currently work as a tattoo artist creating custom pieces for my clients. I have been doing this for over 15 years, and I enjoy the combination of collaboration and puzzle solving that my work involves. I also enjoy working on independent creative projects such as painting, collage, graphic design, book illustration, jewelry design and metalsmithing.
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 be a part of 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 be a part of the board of this busy organization.
Board Member- 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 Arts 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 Arts Guild and helping support our efforts to see our community flourish.
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.
Board Member- Cynthia Sierchio
I was born and raised in Colville Washington. My grandparents homesteaded there in the late eighteen hundreds. I've lived in Chewelah since 1978 and have taught private piano lessons all of those years. I graduated from Whitworth University with a bachelors degree in music and a master's degree in education. I taught 4 years in the Valley School District, teaching K-5 general music and 7, 8, 9 band and choir. I taught 3 years at Chattaroy Elementary School, in the Riverside School District, K-4 general music. I then taught sixth grade for the past 13 years also in the Riverside School District, retiring two years ago. I am certified level III Orff Schulwerk. I currently have 21 private piano students and love the combination of being partly retired and teaching! Mike and I have been married 16 years. I have 2 children, 2 step children, and 7 grandchildren! I love living in Chewelah!
I was born and raised in Colville Washington. My grandparents homesteaded there in the late eighteen hundreds. I've lived in Chewelah since 1978 and have taught private piano lessons all of those years. I graduated from Whitworth University with a bachelors degree in music and a master's degree in education. I taught 4 years in the Valley School District, teaching K-5 general music and 7, 8, 9 band and choir. I taught 3 years at Chattaroy Elementary School, in the Riverside School District, K-4 general music. I then taught sixth grade for the past 13 years also in the Riverside School District, retiring two years ago. I am certified level III Orff Schulwerk. I currently have 21 private piano students and love the combination of being partly retired and teaching! Mike and I have been married 16 years. I have 2 children, 2 step children, and 7 grandchildren! I love living in Chewelah!
Board Member- Nondis Taylor
I was born at St Joseph’s Hospital in Chewelah. My family was, and still are farmers in the valley. I have very fond memories of packing up my sketch books and water colors and hiking the mountains behind my house to paint the landscape. I was always involved in art in some way. One of my early ventures was a macramé booth in the 70’s at one of the first Chewelah Chataqua festivals.
After turning 18 I decided to go see the world, which was a physical thing being it was prior to internet, cable TV and cell phones. During my wanderings I got a BA in Fine Art, got married and raised 4 children, had several careers and then decided it was time to head home to Chewelah.
Currently I live in Chewelah at the family farm and work full time for the Department of Natural Resources and when I can, assist my husband with the Trails End Gallery in Chewelah on Main Street. I am still making art and at this time I am focused on ceramics, sculpture and painting.
I was born at St Joseph’s Hospital in Chewelah. My family was, and still are farmers in the valley. I have very fond memories of packing up my sketch books and water colors and hiking the mountains behind my house to paint the landscape. I was always involved in art in some way. One of my early ventures was a macramé booth in the 70’s at one of the first Chewelah Chataqua festivals.
After turning 18 I decided to go see the world, which was a physical thing being it was prior to internet, cable TV and cell phones. During my wanderings I got a BA in Fine Art, got married and raised 4 children, had several careers and then decided it was time to head home to Chewelah.
Currently I live in Chewelah at the family farm and work full time for the Department of Natural Resources and when I can, assist my husband with the Trails End Gallery in Chewelah on Main Street. I am still making art and at this time I am focused on ceramics, sculpture and painting.