MEET THE CHEWELAH ARTS GUILD BOARD MEMBERS
President- 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.
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.
Treasurer- 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.
Board Member- Melissa Allerdings
As a daughter of an Air Force officer, international travels have taught me how to find beauty everywhere, especially in the smallest of places. Born in Abilene, Texas, my exposure to art began in my formative years with my earliest classes beginning in the 2nd grade. I have enjoyed dabbling in all media and favor sketching nature. During college at Xavier University of Louisiana my biology books provided easy objects to bring to life.
I joined the Chewelah community in 2020 when my husband and I married and built our home here. Currently, I work remotely for a clinical research company and take pleasure in getting involved in as many community activities as possible. Living in the Inland Northwest has surrounded me with more nature than those college biology books ever could. It is so wonderful to live in a community that thrives on lifting each other's talents and I am so pleased to sit on this board.
As a daughter of an Air Force officer, international travels have taught me how to find beauty everywhere, especially in the smallest of places. Born in Abilene, Texas, my exposure to art began in my formative years with my earliest classes beginning in the 2nd grade. I have enjoyed dabbling in all media and favor sketching nature. During college at Xavier University of Louisiana my biology books provided easy objects to bring to life.
I joined the Chewelah community in 2020 when my husband and I married and built our home here. Currently, I work remotely for a clinical research company and take pleasure in getting involved in as many community activities as possible. Living in the Inland Northwest has surrounded me with more nature than those college biology books ever could. It is so wonderful to live in a community that thrives on lifting each other's talents and I am so pleased to sit on this board.
Board Member- 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.
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- Greg Schmitz
I am from Wakita, Oklahoma, home of the movie “Twister.” I started farming after graduating from Oklahoma State University in 1972. I moved to Kansas in 1976 to take over my uncle’s farm.
In 1990, I decided to quit farming and was offered a job in Southeastern Nebraska as a Golf Course Superintendent. I met my wife Julie there in 1993, since she had moved back to her hometown.
Her daughter lived in Deer Park, Washington during this time. On a trip out to visit our new grandson we fell in love with the area. I checked around about job openings in the area and heard about a job in Colville. We moved to Arden in 2005. I worked at Dominion Meadows Golf Course until 2020.
After retirement I started to work in metal to make yard art. Julie worked in a variety of mediums like used glass dishes, windows and resin. We work together on our projects. We came out at the Annual Chewelah Arts Guild Show a few years back, thanks to Leslie Kristiansen. We joined the Arts Guild and started showing our work in different venues in Chewelah and Colville areas. We were accepted in Chewelah like we had lived there forever. We are so thankful for the people we have met. I like showing my work at the Farmers Market where I am known as the Metal Man.
I am happy to be serving on the Arts Guild Board. I look forward to giving back to the Arts Guild and the community of Chewelah.
I am from Wakita, Oklahoma, home of the movie “Twister.” I started farming after graduating from Oklahoma State University in 1972. I moved to Kansas in 1976 to take over my uncle’s farm.
In 1990, I decided to quit farming and was offered a job in Southeastern Nebraska as a Golf Course Superintendent. I met my wife Julie there in 1993, since she had moved back to her hometown.
Her daughter lived in Deer Park, Washington during this time. On a trip out to visit our new grandson we fell in love with the area. I checked around about job openings in the area and heard about a job in Colville. We moved to Arden in 2005. I worked at Dominion Meadows Golf Course until 2020.
After retirement I started to work in metal to make yard art. Julie worked in a variety of mediums like used glass dishes, windows and resin. We work together on our projects. We came out at the Annual Chewelah Arts Guild Show a few years back, thanks to Leslie Kristiansen. We joined the Arts Guild and started showing our work in different venues in Chewelah and Colville areas. We were accepted in Chewelah like we had lived there forever. We are so thankful for the people we have met. I like showing my work at the Farmers Market where I am known as the Metal Man.
I am happy to be serving on the Arts Guild Board. I look forward to giving back to the Arts Guild and the community of Chewelah.
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- Monica Voltz