What is your occupation?
Barista
How long have you been a member of the Art Association?
One year
What is your art background and why are you involved with A!A?
“I’m not an art major but I enjoy seeing exhibitions and artist’s creations. I experienced a throwing class with instructor Dahee Kim that made me want to get involved with A!A.”
Favorite Art Association event or class?
“I like Art Fair and using Open Studio”
Fun Fact about yourself!
“After sending my two sons to college, I naturally had more time to focus on myself than as a full-time mother. So, I quit teaching preschool and became a barista related to coffee which I enjoyed and liked. After taking a Beginning Throwing class at A!A and using the ceramics studio for a year, with all the mess that came magically, now every morning I’m having coffee with my own coffee cups.”
How long have you been a member of the Art Association?
“I became an A!A member when we moved to Moran, Wyoming over twenty years ago. At that time, I participated in A!A’s open studio for figure practice where I met other attendees who became friends. This was my social introduction to the Jackson Hole community and the one hour drive each way to attend was well worth it! Later, these friends joined friend, Joe Branca and I as we practiced drawing and painting outdoors on a weekly basis. Eventually the group grew in number and A!A took charge. The Teton Plein Air Painters are continuing onward under its umbrella.”
What is your art background and why are you involved with A!A?
“I am a former educator who applauds those who help others achieve their goals. Although my university fine arts classes gave me a foundation, I feel it imperative to renew, refresh and engage in continuing education. Many other A!A classes helped me achieve art-making consistency.”
Favorite Art Association event or class?
“A favorite visiting artist instructor at A!A is Jeremy Morgan, whose encouragement prodded my confidence to explore modes of abstraction and to exhibit my artwork.”
Most comical art mishap
On one of Bobbi’s first plein air events, she was mortified to have left all her paints at home!
Fun Fact about yourself!
Bobbi was a private pilot who wants to share cockpit, photo-referenced artwork in her future exhibits.
Visit Bobbi’s Website
What is your occupation?
Christy is the head horticulturist at a local golf course.
How long have you been a member of the Art Association?
About 8 years.
Favorite Art Association event or class?
Whodunnit
What is your art background and why are you involved with A!A?
B.A. from Southern Oregon University with a Painting Emphasis. She is involved in A!A because it is filled with a wonderful community of artists and patrons who continually nourish each other and stimulate artistic growth.
Fun Fact about yourself!
OIF II Combat War Veteran
Christy’s pastel and charcoal on sanded paper works are currently on display and available for purchase in our A!A Gallery as part of The Artist Next Door Exhibition featuring our Guest Artist Program. Keep an eye out in Spring 2025 for Christy’s Guest Artist Workshop!
View and Purchase Christy’s Work
What is your occupation?
My husband and I are small business owners.
How did you get into art making?
Our family enjoys art in general and we are always doing craft projects at home. The goal of my artwork is to “make stuff my friends don’t hate”.
How long have you been a member of the Art Association?
About 3-4 years. We became members as soon as our son, Ryder, was old enough to attend camps.
Favorite Art Association event or class?
I love ceramics and our son, Ryder, loves the after school programs and summer camps, especially the Arts Sampler Camp.
Why do you choose A!A programming?
We believe in enrichment through the arts and like to participate in a variety of activities that promote cerebral work in our kids’ lives.
What is your occupation?
Professional photographer specializing in commercial and fine art photography. Specialties are landscapes, fly fishing, architectural and recreational photography.
How long have you been a member of the Art Association?
7 years
Favorite Art Association event or class?
The Art Fairs and Arts on the Green. These events give artist like myself the opportunity to showcase our work and share our visions with others; while we may not have the means or ability to do so otherwise.
What is your art background and why are you involved with the Art Association?
I formally studied fine art and commercial photography at UCLA in West Los Angeles and Art Center College of Design in Pasadena; studio manager and photo assistant to many well-known photographers on the West Coast. As mentioned before, the A!A gives artists like myself a platform and opportunity to share our visions and work with others.
Visit Ken’s website at: https://www.kentakataphotography.com/
What is your occupation?
Art Educator
How long have you been a member of the Art Association?
At least 10 years
What is your art background and why are you involved with the Art Association?
I received a BFA with a concentration in Fabric Design/screen printing & Watercolor. I have since expanded my art career to involve Acrylic and jewelry making. And anything else I can fit into my art studio! I decided to become an art educator at A!A because I wanted to offer my knowledge of art to those who needed any encouragement and want to expand their style development. I have so much fun teaching art and it has given me so much happiness and life being with others and seeing people more excited about art. The A!A has always been so supportive of me as a community member and as an artist, I am so privileged to be a part of it.
Favorite Art Association event or class?
Every class and event at A!A is so special, I love them all! It’s great seeing all the varieties of classes. It’s such an important resource for the community to allow our creativities to shine and come together.
Fun Fact about yourself?
I tend to lose track of how long I’ve been painting and will often paint through the whole night, which I think gives a lot of my work a very surreal and dream-like look.
View and purchase Shana’s work in the Practice of Art exhibit on display in the Art Association Gallery until July 12th, 2024.
What is your occupation?
My occupation: artist (and many different things.)
How long have you been a member of the Art Association?
I have been a member since 1996. (I used to go to life drawing sessions when the Art Association was located next to the post office on Pearl St.)
What is your art background and why are you involved with the Art Association?
Traditional education: Fine Art School in Grenoble, France. Master’s degree, cum laude, in Art History, University of Grenoble, France. I breath art and love to be surrounded by its many forms.
Favorite Art Association event or class?
My favorite class is life drawing and favorite events are various exhibits.
What is your biggest art mishap?
I was working on a small decorative mural, on a ladder. Getting tired, I came down the ladder with an open paint container in both hands. When I thought I was on the last rung, I stepped down as if it the floor was the next stop. The floor was not there. I missed a rung: down I went, and up and down went the paint, splashing on the wall and floor. It was a mess. It took me a while to clean everything up.
View Christine Meytras’ website
What is your occupation?
I am an emerging artist who moved to Jackson in December of 2021 with a desire to pursue fine art as a full-time career. I am currently working as a wildlife guide with Backcountry Safaris.
How long have you been a member of the Art Association?
I have been a member with A!A for just over two years now.
What is your art background and why are you involved with the Art Association?
I graduated from Walla Walla University with a BA in Art in the spring of 2021. Since then, I have taken workshops with multiple artists I look up to and have pursued continuing education in fine art. I got involved with A!A because I like its mission and I thought it would be helpful for making good connections in the art world.
Favorite Art Association event or class?
My favorite event so far has been the Whodunnit? event.
Fun Fact about yourself?
My favorite hydrothermal feature in Yellowstone is Beehive Geyser.
View Mitchell McClosky’s website
What is your occupation?
I work part-time as a bookkeeper for Rendezvous Engineering, where my husband is a partner in the firm. For the past few years, I also volunteered and work at Teton County Public Health’s Vaccine Clinics.
How long have you been a member of the Art Association?
I first joined sometime in the mid-1990s. Over the years, I have taken numerous classes, but have especially enjoyed several watercolor classes from Fred Kingwill and a series of oil pastel classes with Lucinda Abbe.
What is your art background and why are you involved with the Art Association?
I grew up in a “crafty” family and have dabbled in various forms of art off and on most of my life. I took an art class or two in college, but felt I needed to pursue a more “practical” career and obtained a masters degree in business administration. Over the years, as time and life allowed, I enjoyed creating with various craft and art mediums, focusing primarily on oil pastels, acrylics, and watercolors. A few years ago, I found that I had the desire and time to begin again with watercolors. Now, I am trying to be more intentional about making time for art in my life. This is just one of the reasons I rejoined the Art Association. Taking classes helped revive some lost skills, and interacting and volunteering with the staff and other artists has inspired me to keep going.
Favorite Art Association event or class?
It’s hard to pick just one class or favorite event, but as an aspiring artist, and Art Association volunteer, Whodunnit? ranks high on my list. For an amateur artist, it is gratifying to see your work hanging in a gallery, and not nearly as intimidating to do it anonymously. As a volunteer, I loved seeing the joy and enthusiasm of the other artists…especially some of the younger participants who were so excited to have their art displayed and admired by others.
Fun Fact about yourself?
I won a Fire Prevention art poster contest in 4th grade. That may have been what sparked (pun intended) my interest in art.
On the evening of September 22, 2023, the Art Association of Jackson Hole celebrated 60 years of being the oldest visual arts nonprofit organization in Jackson, Wyoming. The guests entered through a festive archway made of balloons that of course followed the identifiable hot pink color scheme. The theme was the 60s, so many adorned bell bottom pants and nostalgic jewelry. DJ Crayon played era music, and as the night progressed, more folks congregated on the dance floor. Delicious 60s themed hors d’oeuvres from Knotty Apron were shared throughout the evening, and the champagne sparkled like the sequins dotting the tablecloths. Conversation flowed throughout the night among guests. Attendees included artists, board members, parents of art students, staff, art lovers, long time residents of the community, and so many more. What joined everyone together was an immense appreciation for the arts and more specifically a shared excitement in celebrating the legacy and future of the Art Association of Jackson Hole.
Thank you to everyone who made this night possible, especially our largest sponsor Jackson Hole Jewelry Company. Also special thanks to our additional sponsors including Taylor Piggott Gallery, First Interstate Bank, National Museum of Wildlife Art, Graze Garden and Home (for their beautiful floral arrangements), and of course the beautiful venue of the Virginian Lodge. To continue supporting the Art Association and get your holiday shopping done at the same time, shop at Jackson Hole Jewelry Company this October and 10% of your purchase will be donated to our nonprofit if you choose the Art Association online or in-person at checkout.
Thank you to our event attendees, many of whom fill our classrooms, use our studio spaces, and most importantly – make art with us! The Art Association thrives because of our supportive and incredibly creative community that we have worked to serve for the past 60 years. Together we can continue this legacy so that the Art Association of Jackson Hole remains a place where everyone can feel at home. Making art makes Jackson whole!
