AshaAung Helmstetter (She/Her) is an oil painter and mixed media artist who was born and brought up in Seattle’s Central District, where she is still based today. In 2017, AshaAung realized that she would dedicate very much of her life to art, and she has spent the years since actualizing that reality for herself. Through her work, she amplifies community-connection and finding freedom from within; which she also explores through teaching and participating in community spaces. Her paintings reflect her imagination, and perseverance: two things that are difficult to miss when encountering her person, or any of her creations.

In February 2021, AshaAung was SOIL Gallery’s Young Artist in Residence, and she was a 2023 cohort member of PrideFest’s Artist Retreat at Rockland Residency. She participated in Wa Na Wari’s 2021-2022 (extended to 2023) Artist in Residence cycle. Asha’s work has been featured in the Northwest African American Museum, on the cover of Real Change News, and she was recipient of the 2021 Foundry10 Young Artist Grant.

When she isn’t painting, you can find Asha around town under her burlesque persona, Ms. Kitschy Kupid!

Bertha Marselis is a Creative Expressions of Health and Wellness Facilitator who specializes in classes that reduce stress and promotes mindfulness. She creates art classes
that participants can use as a tool for self-expression, self-care, relaxation, and healing. She has facilitated workshops to aid those in their grief journey at EvergreenHealth Hospice Center, has taught classes at UW Women’s Center and other various venues. She does classes focusing on the Mandala using collage and Creative Mask Making for self-expression.

I started working at a nursing facility as a volunteer in the 1990’s, and found myself so connected to the residents that I went on to earn an MA in Therapeutic Recreation from New York University in 1999. Creative expression offers us many opportunities to communicate with ourselves, with our peers, and with the world around us. Whether working with groups or individuals, I turn to the same modes of expression that have long sustained me in my personal life — music, visual art, and writing — in my work with older adults. My goal is for them to experience the joy, freedom and satisfaction that come with creative engagement, at whatever level best suits their interests, and their physical and cognitive abilities. 

Cooper is a graduate student at Antioch University Seattle, getting their Master’s in Mental
Health Counseling and Art Therapy. Cooper believes in the value of a ‘process over product’ mindset. She encourages those around her to lean into their own unique processes with curiosity and kindness, while recognizing the internal and external challenges present in any given artmaking project. Cooper’s favorite mediums are painting, collage, and multimedia sculpture. Her favorite style of artmaking is surrealism. In addition to being a visual artist, one of Cooper’s undergraduate degrees is in Creative Writing and poetry remains very important to them. Cooper explores creativity, symbols, and metaphors in her artmaking and loves to share these (often) existential experiences with other life learners.

Dez’Mon Omega Fair is a teaching artist and a writer living in the Seattle Washington Area. Their visual and video poetry work, as well as immersive installation and performance work has been shown all over The U.S. and abroad: as far away as The Williamsburg Brooklyn Public Library in New York City and La Galleria in A Coruña, España to as near as, Langston Seattle, in the annual Seattle Black Film Festival, and Wa Na Wari. He-they are a member of The Film and Video Poetry Society, leading expressive art workshops at its bi annual symposium; sat on the board of Carnegie Picture Lab, a nonprofit providing art based programming for Walla Walla county, where he-they facilitated Art Scholars at Davis Elementary, a social emotional learning course using art to navigate one's inner life.

Blue Jay Feathers,

Dez'Mon

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See more here.

Gloria Gonzáles García has over 25 years of experience teaching visual art in public schools from the gifted, to the alternative, and to special education; and out-of-school
for community arts and cultural organizations from the underserved to incarcerated youth. García is also Adjunct Faculty at Heritage University, Fine Arts Department. García’s has worked with individuals to teaching hundreds at community events. García has mentored educators in art integration. García specializes in instruction that represents the artworks of Black Indigenous and Persons of Color artists and artforms
that are culturally relevant to her students’ heritage. García earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from The Evergreen State College. Since
2001, García has been on the Washington State Arts Commission, Arts In Education, Roster of Teaching Artists. García has had several prints juried in national exhibitions and selected for public art collections, and received an Artist Trust Grant for Artists’ Projects Award.

Jill Meyers MA, CCLS is a certified Child Life Specialist having joined Providence Hospice of Snohomish
County in 2020 after a decade of providing support to Children and Teen’s with Providence Hospice of
Seattle’s Grief Support Program: Safe Crossings. Prior to working at Safe Crossings, Jill worked as a Child
Life Specialist at UCSF Children’s Hospital in San Francisco, CA. During her time at UCSF, Jill supported
pediatric oncology patients and their families throughout their hospitalizations and end-of-life
experiences. She was also in charge of developing and implementing Creative Arts Programming for all
Pediatrics at UCSF Children’s Hospital.
Before working at UCSF Children’s Hospital, Jill taught theatre and creative expression to Middle School
and Upper School International Students at The Northwest School in Seattle, WA. Her classes focused on
self-esteem building, communication skills and ensemble development culminating in original performance pieces developed and performed by the students. Jill gained her Child Life Certification in 2005, holds a Master’s degree in Psychology/Drama Therapy
focus from Antioch University, Seattle WA. Jill has developed numerous creative expressive programs
throughout the United States as well as internationally. Her passion is using theatre and the creative arts as a form of healing, community education and bridging communities.

Meredith has a passion for creative collaborations of all sorts.  She is an actor, director and writer with experience in dance, choreography and muti-media arts.  She believes that every interaction, be it with a student, co-worker, or fellow birdwatcher on a walk, can be a joyful experience and an artistic inspiration.  Meredith has performed on stages from Washington State to Washington DC. Her written expression includes plays, poems, and a book for young readers.  Each day of teaching (40 years and counting) brings laughter, light, and surprise.  A daily practice Meredith enjoys is taking the time to appreciate, photograph, sketch and write about the trees in her neighborhood.

Merri Ann Osborne (she/her) received her first passport at 4 years old, when she lived with her family in West Africa and then travelled to Europe before heading home to the US. She's been travelling ever since. Merri Ann has worked in the travel industry at an international hotel chain, as a destination sales manager for international clients for a convention and visitors bureau and as a tour manager for an international tour company. As a multi-disciplinary artist, she loves exploring the intersection of art, culture and travel. Especially how we can connect with each other cross-culturally through music, dance, and performance. Merri Ann holds a BA in Political Science from UCLA and an MA in Conflict Resolution from the Dept. of Peace Studies, University of Bradford, Bradford, UK.

Nani holds a BA in humanities for teaching from Seattle University. She has helped facilitate intergenerational workshops with SilverKite since 2018. She has particular interest in exploring sustainable art created by repurposing recycled materials in hopes of fostering creative expression and collaboration that is accessible to all. In her spare time can be found painting with Bob Ross and cooking meals for friends and family.

Pearl Klein started writing poetry at nine years old and she's never stopped playing with words. For her, words, language and formal containers are the sensual starting point for poetry; image and narrative thread almost always follow sound and shape. Pearl holds a hard-earned MFA in Poetry Writing from the University of Washington.

Sandy has taught dance and dance fitness to both adults and children.  She grew up dancing on competitive dance teams.  Her specialty is Bollywood Folk dance.  She also enjoys baking and cooking.  She likes sharing traditional South Indian recipes that she grew up eating and teaching people how to use Indian Spices and make their own spice blends.  She holds a BBA from Baylor University in Journalism and Marketing and an MBA in Marketing from Southern Methodist University.

Susan Wickett-Ford is a lifelong dancer and dance teacher.  She began her career focused on choreography and performance and founded a modern dance company.  In the 90’s her focus shifted to dance education for every student.  She was trained by Anne Green Gilbert, and developed a specialty in folk dance. Susan taught for 17 years at The Northwest School.  

My whole life has been dedicated to art.  Growing up, my parents and I spent much of our free time creating; whether it was my dad teaching me to draw, cut glass, or woodwork; or my mom teaching me to sew, paint or craft.  Through the years, I’ve developed my own love of art through many mediums, such as painting, mosaics, glasswork, crafting, etc.  While it all helps me to get in touch with my past, center myself, relieve stress and relax, I find my fulfillment in life through using my art degree to help others and therapeutically educate many adults and children while creating.  I’ve owned an instructional art studio and have volunteered my time to teach thousand of all ages through the years. 

Valencia is an enthusiastic teaching artist specializing in classical oil painting techniques. With a passion for sharing visual art, she has participated in numerous exhibitions, presentations, and teaching engagements at museums, community centers, schools, and public spaces in western Washington. Valencia's dedication to accessibility is seen in her diverse range of artistic materials and approaches, creating an inclusive experience for all.

In her painting practice, Valencia embraces exploration, pushing boundaries with lighting, color
harmony, and composition. Her current work delves into American history, using realism to bring historical narratives to life. Through her artistry, Valencia invites viewers to reimagine the past, offering a visually immersive experience that bridges art and history.

Véro is an avid fan of theater and story creation. She's worked on many, many theatrical projects in the past twenty-plus years -- mostly acting, but also stage managing, company managing, lighting designing, and translating. Offstage, Véro loves working in the mediums of poetry and visual arts. She earned her M.A. in drama therapy from Antioch University in 2023, and she's excited to be bringing the impact of artmaking to the multiple contexts where she works!