Board of Directors
Chairperson and Grant Writer - Lore Christopher
Lore Christopher is responsible for public
outreach and funding. She is currently our Facebook and Grants
Administrator. Lore has been a supporter of the creative community
her entire adult life. She is also the Chair of the City of Keizer
Public Art Commission who works closely with Keizer Art Association
on public arts projects. The latest one is the “Valley Treasures”
Mural located on Chemawa Rd at the Keizer Florist building. Lore is
the former Mayor of Keizer, Or. Her educational background includes
a BA in Human Resource Management from George Fox University and a
MPA from Portland State University.
Secretary and Education Chair - Carol Harris
Carol
Harris has been KAA Secretary and Education Council Chair since
2005 and is responsible for hiring instructors to teach classes and
developing the art program. She takes classes and teaches Colored
Pencil at KAA. Carol was born in Baker, Oregon, went to OSU and
earned a Bachelor's Degree in Education and Art, a Master's Degree
in Education at WOU, and then settled in Salem to teach elementary
school for 31 years. During 40 years of marriage to Keith, they
skied in the winter and sailed in the summer. She lives in the
country west of Salem and grows hay for horses, and is a 4-H Horse
Leader and Polk Country 4-H Horse Superintendent. Interests are
family, art, traveling, gardening, horses, dogs, volunteering, and
best of all -- playing with grandkids Ben (7) and Addilyn (5).
Gallery Host Coordinator and Statesman - Karen
Saleen
Karen Saleen is a
retired educator and colored pencil artist. In her spare time she
works at her art, takes classes in colored pencil and mentors high
school students interested in developing their colored pencil
skills. Occasionally, she teaches classes in colored pencil
drawing, hosts in the KAA Gallery and shows her artwork. She is
currently the Vice President in the Oregon Chapter of the Colored
Pencil Society of America and sits of the Board of the Keizer Art
Association.
Vice President, Membership, Newsletter, and Keizer Times
- Cheryl Manhire
Cheryl
Mohr Manhire first came to the Keizer Art Association when she
began taking colored pencil classes many years ago. She has been a
board member serving as membership and newsletter chair. She
retired in 2004 after spending 25 years working as a
counselor/administrator in the addiction treatment field. She lives
with her husband, Dick, in a condo in south Salem. They have two
children, Cara and Marshall, and four grandchildren.
Treasurer, Gallery K Gift Shop, Members' Wall, and Office
Manager - Julie Thoreson
Julie
is a native of California who came to Oregon to marry her now
husband of 37 years. She has no formal art training, just a love of
art ingrained in her by her creative and talented parents. “Being
on the board of directors of Keizer Art Association is an honor and
privilege I take seriously. The promotion of art in the community
is an important part of what KAA does by teaching different form of
art and providing a venue for artists to display their creations.”
As a member of KAA, Julie looks forward to many more years of
involvement in the art world.
Librarian - Vicky Vickery
Vicky
Vickery moved to Oregon about forty years ago. She grew up in
southern California, graduating from Pasadena City College with an
Associate Degree in Art, and from Cal State Fullerton with a B.A.
in Art History. She worked as a school librarian in Mt. Angel. Upon
retirement, she got back into art through the classes at Keizer Art
Association. “It is great to get back into art myself, but also to
help promote the arts in the community through the KAA.”
Webmaster, Historian - Bob Curtis
Bob was introduced
to the creative arts when he began painting landscapes in oils many
years ago. Wood carving and watercolor painting replaced his
interest in oil painting and have become the focus of Bob’s
artistic activity for the last eight years. As an active member of
KAA, Bob can be found hosting the KAA Gallery one day a week. Bob
also serves on KAA committees as needed. Bob is also an active
member of the Capitol Woodcarvers where he currently serves as a
board member. He is working to improve the acceptance of
woodcarving as an “art”. He is also a member of “Wild Over
Watercolor” (WOW), a dedicated group of watercolor artists from the
Willamette Valley.
Member-at-Large - Yita Harris
Yita
Harris was born in Santiago, Chile. She came to the USA as an
exchange student to California fifty years ago. Graduated from
Brigham Young University with a BA and University of Portland where
she earned her Masters in Bilingual education. She worked as a
bilingual school teacher in the Canby School District. Upon
retirement, she moved to Salem with her husband, Roger. She is the
mother of Steve, Katherine, and Cristina and a grandmother of six.
In the Salem area she found a wonderful group of artists at the
Keizer Art Association by taking colored pencil classes. “It was
love at first sight”. “I am honored to be part of such a special
group and looking forward to grow and learn from them”.