Aidyn has been a theatre artist for many years and has a passion for creating community through story telling. She received her BA in Theatre and Music from Western Washington University. Since then her work has been focused on teaching, directing, and social service. Aidyn cares deeply about intergenerational connection and arts access through participation for those who have been historically underserved. She is very excited to be working for SilverKite arts for the first time this year. 

Art has always played a huge role in my personal story. I went through a lot of trauma and abuse as a child and had very few safe outlets to process my trauma. One of the only safe spaces was the art room and the amazing art teacher I had all through high school who held that space for me as a student.

After high school I went to college at WSU and received a Bachelors of Science in Nursing in 2009 with the intention of helping others and promoting people's health. In 2014 I began working as a nurse in community and home healthcare settings. In these settings I frequently worked with children and young adults with physical limitations and neurological challenges. I found ways to involve my personal love of art into my nursing career and would work with people to put together art peices for art shows in their community. 

I have helped and worked with clients who have submitted and shown art at the Brain Injury Alliance of Washington's annual art shows.

In 2022 and 2023 I started to develop some serve health issues of my own and could no longer safely work as a nurse. Taking a break from my nursing career allowed me a lot of free time to dive back into art. A lot of my health issues were related to PTSD from abusive people in my life, past and present. Through art and working in therapy I was able to find who I was again and process what had been done to me.

It is with great joy I step into a job incorporating my experiences as a healthcare provider and love for serving others, as well as my love for art.

My intention behind any setting I work in is for everyone to be celebrated and encouraged at whatever level they are at and to hold space for people to be vulnerable with themselves and use art to explore and discover who they are and what they are capable of, as well as facilitate a space where people can process loss and trauma and create visual peices to tell their story.

Anne-Joelle Tan is a Chicago based painter and sculptor. She received her B.F.A. from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago in 2023. Interested in materiality and semiotics, she works with a wide range of materials such as oil paint, deer antlers, steel and silk to name a few. Drawing from her personal histories with the digital and occasionally her international background, she aims to document the ephemeral, frivolous and sentimental. Anne-Joelle recently completed a six month residency at Agitator Gallery in Chicago. Her work has been displayed in multiple group exhibitions in addition to a solo exhibition in August 2024.

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!

Ashley McEneny (she/her) is a filmmaker, stylist, DJ and activist living in Seattle. Originally from North Carolina, Ashley brings a passion for people and storytelling into everything she creates. She is a graduate of the School of Media and Performing Arts at the Savannah College of Art and Design. She has directed many short films and music videos and earns her living as a freelance filmmaker and personal stylist (working in productions and with individuals). Ashley's work is dedicated to the exploration of the vulnerability of the human experience through visual storytelling.

Benjamin Holroyd (he/they) is a SilverKite Teaching Artist specializing in Movement & Dance, Music, Poetry, and Storytelling. Outside of SilverKite they are a student in the Clinical Mental Health Counseling program at Antioch University Seattle, a Licensed Massage Therapist, and are working on a Personal Trainer Certification. They are an avid academic, spending most of their time learning about all the different areas of science that play a role in joy, happiness, and fulfillment (especially the science of art!).

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.

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

​

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.

Ileyana Mabone is an interdisciplinary artist; which includes digital and physical illustrations, photography, and jewelry-making, which ties in Ileyana's work as a social justice advocate. Her passions and talents have led her to earn her BA in Visual Arts and Social Justice/ Cultural Studies at Seattle Pacific University. Ileyana's work centers around social issues and creating safe spaces for children and communities in need. Ileyana is the owner of, and currently runs Dreamer Ice Cream located in Tacoma WA, where she interacts with the local community and manages her team. Within Ileyana's work as an entrepreneur, she implements social work by partnering with local schools and giving children of the community incentives to stay amazing!

Ileyana's artistic practice is diverse, encompassing multiple mediums such as paint, ink, beads, and more. Her work often explores themes of identity, community, and social justice. She is committed to using her art to positively impact the world.

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.

Dr. Karen R. Echols has an extensive background in education and healthcare. She worked as an Assistant Professor for over 30 years at Chicago State University, where
she first began teaching professional level courses in the radiation therapy program from which she graduated. Subsequently, she taught subjects such as Medical Terminology,
Introduction to Health Professions, Medical Ethics, and Health and Wellness to pre-professional health sciences students. Additionally, while at the university, she served in
administrative roles including Program Director and Recruitment Director. Dr. Echols also worked part-time in a variety of healthcare settings as a Radiation Therapist,
providing treatments to patients in need of such services, at various times during her career. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Radiation Therapy; a master’s degree in
Curriculum and Instruction; and a doctoral degree in Professional Studies in Education. Dr. Echols retired from the university in June of 2014 and has been an avid traveler as
well as a practitioner of mindfulness, meditation, and movement exercises. Her current interests are focused on creating and facilitating joyful activities which promote mindfulness, movement, and well-being in older adults, particularly seniors, which
relates back to her experiences as an educator and healthcare professional. Dr. Echols also takes pride in serving, in a volunteer capacity, as the Recording Secretary for The Strivettes, a group of Christian charitable women, striving for excellence to grant scholarships to worthy students; provide services to the community; and promote
wholesome fellowship among Christian women.

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.

Sally (she/her) received her BA in Anthropology/Sociology from Saint Olaf College, studying drum and dance in Ghana, West Africa and dancing with Saint Olaf Dance Company.  Since then, Sally has served as an AmeriCorps WA Service Corps Leader, co-created and danced with Random Acts of Dance Collective (RADCO), Wild Grace Dance Theater and Samba OlyWA, worked as a paraeducator in special education, earned a Master In Teaching graduate degree and National Board Teaching Certificate, educated middle schoolers for a decade, became a mom, became a teaching artist, taught creative dance and hip-hop, and supervised teacher candidates of the Master in Teaching program at The Evergreen State College. Sally is the granddaughter of eastern Washington farmers and grocers, daughter of musicians and educators, sister of entrepreneur and conservationist, partner of adventure, and mother of two. Sally finds power, belonging and community in dance and sees the possibilities in dance for people to inhabit their bodies with compassion, becoming ablaze with genius, joy and love.

Samara is a poet, performer, artist and alchemist who explores how text interacts and reacts with the body. She embeds language into hidden parts of handmade quilts, tapestries, and garments. Alongside women in her family, Samara weaves, knits, embroiders, dyes, and stitches stories of ancestry, ecology, grief and healing.

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. 

Teddie Bernard is a cartoonist, writer, and teaching artist based in Chicago. He first started sharing their passion for art via teaching in 2017 and to this day is inspired to help people create mindful work. Teddie's art practice explores connection, queer identity and history, and health explained through art. Their editorial comics have been recognized by the Associated Collegiate Press and the Society for Professional Journalists. They hold a BFA from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago.

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!