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Grace Art Camp Staff

Abi Rodriguez is a Portland native who grew up in choir and theater. She earned her bachelors in science and teaching degree, but due to the pandemic spent the first years homeschooling her daughter. She has been a small business owner for the last 2 years working with mixed media, resin and sewing projects. This will be her first season at Grace Art Institute and is excited to join the team!

Amel Tafsout is an inspirational first source master dance artist, choreographer, instructor, frame drummer, singer, energy worker and one of the finest exponents of North African traditional and contemporary Maghreb Dance of our time. With research in dance anthropology, and long training in various healing practices, Tafsout’s knowledge of her culture and her experience in many dance styles and music make her very unique. Raised in Algeria among the finest traditional dancers and musicians, Tafsout was fascinated by dance and music since childhood. In her early twenties, Tafsout moved to Germany where she founded the Pan Arabic dance company ‘Banat As Sahra’. In the late 80s, she moved to London, U.K. where she taught and performed at various dance and music festivals and founded ‘The Tafsoutettes’ Dance Company. While currently living in the U.S.A. she is still performing and teaching worldwide.

Ashley Klump  is a painter and multimedia artist who finds inspiration in the natural world and scientific drawings. Passionate about providing access and knowledge with a variety of new art materials, curating a fun and creative space for people of all ages and experience levels, she earned her BFA and MA in Art Education. Ashley has worked to create inspirational art experiences for over 15 years.  She has been a studio artist at Grace Art Camp since 2018, and a teaching artist with the Right Brain Initiative and Young Audiences since the fall of 2013. During the school year she does large-scale mural residencies where she helps students put together collaborative murals for their school walls, or smaller scale projects like multimedia book arts residencies where students create an art book to share illustrations and creative writing.

Barb Welty has been making art in Portland for many years.  She earned BFA & MFA degrees in painting and drawing; her current work is inspired by still life works made up of decorative patterns and plants and flowers.  She has taught kids and adults, in Portland schools and from her home studio, as well as at Grace Art Camp, Saturday Academy and the Art Institute of Portland.

Becky “Slice” Schroeder is a fourth generation Oregonian. They graduated from Western Oregon University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Illustration in 2017. Their love of being outdoors and working with students fuels much of their artwork. They have worked at Camp Bishop, Camp Namanu, and now Grace Art Camp for the past 9 summers, while working as a Program Leader for Outdoor School during the rest of the year.  When Becky isn’t teaching kids, they can be found painting, playing guitar, or knitting.

Christian J. Barrios  was born in Mexico City where he learned the art of ceramic painting in the historic Talavera tradition at a young age through his family’s business. At the age of 16 he moved to the United States and later studied under master marquetry artist Gene Zanni. During this time he also studied painting, paper mache and photography. Christian is an active participant in the Oregon and Washington Latino art scene, with exhibitions at the Portland Art Museum, Portland State University, The Dalles Art Center, Concordia University and many others throughout both states. Christian’s work can be found in private collections in Mexico, Canada, California, Oregon and Washington. He currently works with the Regional Arts and Culture Council’s Right Brain Initiative and the Hombres Honor Program at Hillsboro High School.

Daniel (Granias) Gyu is a native Midwesterner now living in Portland, whose focus is teaching clay and creative processes.  His experience of working across a wide range of age levels and social backgrounds has taught him how making art unifies peoples’ experiences with themselves and each other.  Daniel first joined Grace Institute in December 2016 for Peace camp. Currently Daniel is also a teaching artist for the Right Brain Initiative and Young Audiences of Oregon and SW Washington, which serves public schools across the Portland Metro area. He received a BFA in Fine Arts and a Teaching License in K-12 Art Education from the University of Iowa in 2009 and a Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Ceramics from the Oregon College of Art and Craft in 2012. His personal work focuses on soft and hard forms, internal anatomy, touch and intimacy, and social engagement across all age levels.

Debra Galaty has enjoyed teaching at Grace Art Camp and Grace Institute for since 2004.  She has taught glass art in Portland Public schools for Saturday Academy and worked at Jennifer Wells Design Studio. Debra has a Master’s in Education with an emphasis on English Language Learners. She has a Spanish degree and works at Alder Elementary Dual Immersion School.  Art is a wonderful tool to provide a bridge for children new to English.  She is thankful to be involved in this joyful camp that provides an inclusive, creative environment which celebrates diversity.

Eva Haykin is a printmaker and multimedia artist from Portland, OR. They received a BA in Studio Art and Environmental Studies, and they enjoy making visual artwork that explores the intersections of these topics. Eva is passionate about arts and equity in education, storytelling, and her community. 

Gerardo Calderon is a composer, teaching artist, producer and multi-instrumentalist. Born in Mexico City. He grew up surrounded by music, dance and culture. Gerardo is the musical director of Grupo Condor and Nuestro Canto, and has pursued his interest in learning about traditional Mexican music, Latin American folk music and Pre-Colombian music. He has performed with folk music ensembles in Mexico, Canada, New England, and the Pacific Northwest, and He has also toured with choir and world music ensembles through out the USA. Gerardo has composed music and designed sound for contemporary Ballet companies, documentaries, short films, commercials, theater companies, and cultural organizations. Gerardo has been sharing his talent as a teaching artist for over 25 years and has continuously served the northwest community.

Habiba Addo  is a native of Ghana, West Africa.  She holds a degree in Theater and a Certificate of Dance from Portland State University.  She has performed and taught in the United States and internationally for over fifteen years.  She teaches and performs dance, rhythm and stories from Ghana, Guinea, Gambia and Senegal.  She also shares the rich African cultures present today in Cuba and Brazil. A guest teacher and performer for Portland Public Schools for over fifteen years, Habiba has also performed and taught the community in dance, storytelling and theater through organizations such as Young Audiences, White Bird, Oregon Ballet Theater, Interstate Firehouse Cultural Center, Tygres Heart Shakespeare Company, Mambo Queens, Northwest Afrikan American Ballet, Montessori Schools, Cedarwood Waldorf School, Oregon Episcopal School, Miracle Theater, Milagro Bailadores and Portland State University’s World Dance Office. She is a recipient of the Lila Jewel award (2000), an Arts Alive grant (2000) and multiple technical assistant grants from Regional Arts and Culture Council (1998, 2002 and 2012).

Hannah Bohart has been teaching glass art for over 14 years at Grace Art Camp, Jenny Wells Glass studio, and with Jenny in the Portland Public Schools. She holds a MA in Gender and Peacebuilding from the University for Peace in Costa Rica, and has an undying love of travel and learning. She works as a mental health coach and a life coach when she’s not helping young artists create amazing glass projects

Jenny Wells has been working with glass for 20 years. She holds a degree in special education from Radford University and found her love of glass art when she moved to the Pacific Northwest in 1997.  She studied stained glass, mosaics and glass fusing from local glass studios, and after 5 years in public education, Jenny followed her passion for glass and was hired to create the glass studio at Grace Art Camp in 2001. She has taught glass art as well as other art forms at Grace Art Camp, Oregon Episcopal School, The French American School, Saturday Academy, her own studio, as well as in many schools throughout Oregon. She has also sold and displayed her glass work in Portland and Virginia. Jenny currently teaches glass art at schools and in her home studio when she’s not busy being a mom. See her website for classes and other information.

Kailee McMurran spent her formative years in Alaska, the last frontier, as a pint-sized pixie whose happy place was being in a handstand. After training & competing as a gymnast for 11 years, Kailee switched to ballet full-time until the Northwest beckoned. She holds a degree in Graphic Design from Western Oregon University where she also danced nationally & internationally as a Principle with Rainbow Dance Theatre under the co-direction of former Pilobolus dancer Darryl Thomas & former Merce Cunningham dancer Valerie Bergman. These days she is not only dancing with SubRosa but also molding young spirits doing acrobatic school shows with Do Jump! Kailee founded and is festival director for the Annual Portland Dance Film Fest. Often upside down is where she is happiest. She’s also the leading lady of her design firm Design by Goats.

Kelly Campbell declared at a young age “I want to be a puppet!” When she realized there were actually people who operated the puppets, she agreed “I guess I could be a puppeteer instead.”  Kelly has a BA in Theatre and Gender Studies at Sonoma State University. She studied puppetry with San Francisco’s Lunatique Fantastique, and joined Tears of Joy Puppet Theatre in 2009. Kelly launched KCPuppetree in 2013 with a dream to produce and create original puppet plays out of re-used objects. KCPuppetree shows have toured throughout Washington and Oregon, visiting libraries, schools, Festivals and street fairs. Kelly Campbell currently teaches in-school residencies, workshops and summer camps with Tears of Joy Theatre. During the summer, KC regularly teaches theatre and is also a Storyteller at Grace Arts Camp. In 2014, KC joined fellow Grace Arts Camp artists to design and lead a week-long art camp experience for children in Peru. Kelly is also a trained Teaching Artist, advocate and mentor. She began working with children while in high school, volunteering at a shelter for survivors of domestic violence in Southern California. This passion then led to a 4-year internship (and eventual job) with United Against Sexual Assault of Sonoma County, leading workshops to students in grades Kindergarten through College in Child Abuse Prevention and Teen Sexual Assault and Safe Relationships. Kelly has additional training in Theatre of the Oppressed and Forum Theatre, leading workshops for children and adults with Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities. Recent collaborators include Robert Randall (Trashanalia, TrashMan and the Noise Band) and Summer Olsson (TrashMan and the Noise Band).

Kristin Koop has been involved with Grace Art Camp for an impressive 20 years!  She has studied at San Francisco Art Institute, Portland State University, and Oregon College of Art and Craft. Currently, she is the church school coordinator and teacher at Grace Memorial Episcopal Church. Since January 2017, Kristin has been an assistant teacher at St. Gabriel Episcopal School, which is based on the Reggio Emilia philosophy. From her years of experience teaching children, Kristin has come to believe that children are more capable than most adults think and that making art is crucial to a child’s development in learning and self-expression. Outside of teaching, Kristin continues to work on her art practice when she is not a “cat-couch” for her two cats. A painter at heart, she currently focuses on the figurative and abstract in her work using mixed media techniques.

Kurt Conroyd is an actor and writer, known for Wild (2014), Lean on Pete (2017) and An American Masquerade (2021). Kurt is also a gifted storyteller and theatre arts teacher, and joined Grace Art Camp in 2021.

Loey Hargrove is a lifelong observer of pattern and connectivity, motivated to explore ideas about the unseen and how it manifests into being, into Life. At an early age she  found self expression and refuge in both the visual arts and dance, and completed a BFA in painting and printmaking with the University of Texas at Austin in 1994. She then took a circuitous exploratory path to the Pacific Northwest, making Oregon her home in 2007. Along the way she found herself being a barista, a park ranger, a graphic designer, a custom painter, and a muralist, and a gardener, among other things. In 2009, through the grace of a friend, Loey began teaching art to children at Grace Art Camp. She’s found designing kids’ art projects through various mixed media to be a delightful suit, and grows in gratitude for how the children remind her of the value of maintaining Beginner’s Mind in all life endeavors. Residing again in Portland after being away for a few years, Loey is still unpacking things. Her art making currently involves drawing, painting, paper cutting, geometric assemblage, taking endless pics of her beloved cat, and infinite inspirations from our poetic cosmos.

LuAnn Rukke has a love of art and textiles began as a child. When she was thirteen she started her own wearable art freelance business. Her love of fashion and design brought her to study in Montreal, Quebec. She graduated from College LaSalle with a degree in textiles, marketing and design. After spending time in Montreal she returned home to her native Oregon to peruse her career. Her resume includes Chanel, Rose City Textiles and her own business Fibers in Motion which was located in historic Multnomah Village. The store was filled with contemporary and international fabrics. Fibre Classes were offered for children and adults…creativity thrived! After 10 years she closed her store and set off to travel the world teaching art quilting and studying yoga. When she settled back in to life in Lake Oswego she taught a variety of classes and has participated in local art shows. For six years she taught kids art camps at Luscher Farm in Lake Oswego. In 2020 she joined Grace Art Camp and loves sharing her creativity and inspiring children in the world of Fibre Art.

Melissa Romeo who usually teaches in the clay and sculpture studio at Camp, received her Bachelor of Arts in Art History from the University of Illinois and has since worked with students in museums, schools and camps.

Mike van Liew is a freelance musician living in Portland. He studied trumpet with Dr. George Hunter of Denison University, taught himself to play piano and flute, and studied with Bart Bartholomew, who encouraged him to compose. He eventually formed his own eight-piece horn band and began arranging. He played with the Flying Karamazov Brothers, including an appearance at the Ritz Theatre on Broadway, NYC. He has written and played music with modern dance choreographer Mary Oslund, collaborating with composer Steve Koski. At Jefferson HS he toured with the acting ensemble, composed a score for the Jefferson Dancers, and conducted and wrote for the Jazz band. Mike did a long stint with DoJump Movement Theatre, playing with Courtney Von Drehle and Brian Davis, including shows at the New Victory Theatre in NYC, the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., and Geffen Theatre in L.A. He toured Holland with Klezmorim, and orchestrated and conducted music with 3 Leg Torso. He recorded an album “Polyglot” of original tunes with his nine-piece jazz band. He created two soundscapes for the Portland Metro Zoo. He has been musical director for shows at Artists Repertoire Theatre, PSU, Clackamas Community College, and Lakewood Theatre. Recently Mike’s focus has been arranging commissions for professional, college, and high school Jazz bands. He recently wrote and conducted a piece with the Pacific Crest Symphonietta.

Miranda Garcia Karson is an interdisciplinary artist living and practicing in Portland, OR. Being young and coming of age in a community where both the play of making and the products of making were valued is something she carries with her as an artist and teacher. Her practice ranges from painting and drawing, to video, movement, and ceramics, often culminating in multimedia installation works. She has a strong love for process and material, play and experimentation, and the understanding and connection art can bring forth between individuals and communities.

Paula Benjaminson, Fiber Artist and Printmaker crossed over into the world of art after her education in International Relations and a long career in the US Foreign Service. Exploring color and shape as a quilter, Paula began printing her own fabrics in Africa, which led to a fascination with surface design on fabric and paper. Paula has taught quilting, surface design, and printing in Europe, Africa and North America. Her current work often features her hand-printed fabrics and paper sewn together into artist books, as well as art quilts incorporating her own painted and printed fabrics.

Robert Randall started working in education at the age of 12 as a volunteer at OMSI. That same year his stop-motion animation was featured in a commercial for the Imperial Hotel Christmas window. Robert’s video work has also been featured in the Microsoft Mediaroom campaign. For the last seven years Robert has with Portland’s own Tears of Joy Theatre as an educator, videographer, and performer. Each year he works with hundreds of students in residency programs all over Oregon and Washington. He is also an artist, luthier, and maker of things fine and semi-fine. His wood inlay work is just lovely!

Sharyn J. Smith is a Portland-based painter, printmaker, and ceramic artist with many years of teaching and making art.  She earned a BA in Fine Arts followed by 3 years of study at the Academy of Art University in San Francisco, and studied at Lill Street Studio in Chicago.  Sharyn has taught printmaking to countless children and adults, as well as creating and leading mural projects in Portland Public Schools.  She’s excited to be a part of Grace Art Camp to help young people find their artistic voices for lifelong experimentation, creativity, and self-expression.

Susanne Leolani Fuller is the founder and Kumu Hula of The School of Polynesian Dance in Portland, Oregon, where she teaches Hula (both kahiko / ancient and auana / modern), Tahitian, and Maori styles of dance. Susanne has been in the performing arts all of her life—first training and performing in the disciplines of Hula, Tahitian and Maori, then later into ballet, tap, and jazz. Dancing naturally led  to acting and theater. She received her BA in Theater from Notre Dame de Namur University, trained at the Eugene O’Neil National Theater Institute, and attended the American Conservatory Theater’s Advanced Training Program. Her career has taken her throughout the USA and eventually to the United Kingdom, touring with the New Vic Theatre Company of London and choreographed Lord Richard Attenborough’s film Chaplin starring Robert Downey Jr.  In 2011, Susanne moved to Portland, Oregon, reconnecting with Hula and other forms of Polynesian dance.  Susanne founded The School of Polynesian Dance in 2015. In 2017, her group placed 2^nd in the Wahine Division at the Hapa Haole Hula Festival and in 2018 her troupe won 1^st Place in the Combined Division. For class information, email: shwellness@hotmail.com

Will Hornyak is a soulful storyteller, creative teacher and dynamic performer. Will weaves world myths, local tall tales and original creations into unique, well-crafted and engaging performances, workshops and keynotes. A life-long traveler he has worked as a newspaperman in South America, a fisherman in Alaska, a carpenter, farm hand and university instructor. Stories, poems and songs of work and labor find common ground with Irish myths, Mexican fables, Grimm’s fairytales and Oregon tall tales in Will’s highly imaginative performances. Will taught storytelling in professional communication at Marylhurst Univ. in Portland, Oregon and performs throughout the United States.

In the past:

Alton Chung who wonderfully tells two or three stories at Grace Art Camp each summer, is a Japanese-Korean storyteller, who grew up with the superstitions and the magic of the Hawaiian Islands.  He tells stories of Hawaii, of the Japanese-American experience of WWII, and Asian folktales, and has performed at the Timpanogas and the National Storytelling Festivals, and at international storytelling festivals in the Cayman Islands, Singapore, India, Vietnam, and Thailand.  He also is a former Chairman of the Board of Directors for National Storytelling Network, the national organization for US storytellers.

Anne Rutherford is a gifted, professional storyteller who performs regularly at festivals, libraries and community events locally and throughout the Northwest. She also teaches school residencies in writing and public speaking and performs for senior audiences (including memory care.) Anne performs with her husband Norm Brecke as “Storytellers Northwest.” They teach storytelling for adults at Portland Community College and in workshops for caregivers and members of church, civic and community groups.

Barb Griggs has been a practicing artist for a long while. She has a degree in Art History and is a lifelong Oregonian. She has two children and a dog and loves to travel. She has expressed herself in various creative endeavors; painting, jewelry design, mixed media collage, sewing, fabric, textile arts, etc. She has taught home economics and shop classes in Japan. She possesses an acerbic wit, love of vintage wares and mid-century architecture. She enjoys home improvement projects and power tools, sewing, and embroidery, which she has enjoyed since her grandmother taught her when she was young.

Brent Follis started his musical career when wooden spoons found him tapping out rhythms on popcorn tins while growing up on a Southern Illinois farm. His musical journey has led him cross country and around the globe. With his degree in Advertising and music performance from Southern Illinois University, he transplanted himself to the fertile soil of the Pacific Northwest.  Befriending Ghanaian master drummer Israel Annoh, Brent’s style and voice took shape. Needing to fulfill his yearning for diversity, culture, and thin crust pizza, he moved to New York City for a decade of performing, traveling. Now back in the Rose City, Brent records and performs, and can be found backing up many talented singer-songwriters, jazz and pop artists. He believes his role on the drum set is to provide a great feel, uncover the nuances of each song, and create a unique and supportive drum part.

Donna Cloud is a Portland based artist, educator and certified Speech Language Pathology Assistant. She has taught a variety of subjects to people of all ages and abilities in several different settings. Artistically she specializes in Non-Toxic Printmaking. After earning her BFA in Printmaking from PNCA, Donna began working with youth and realized that many of the processes she studied were far too toxic and costly to teach in many youth programs. This is when she focused on non-toxic methods of printing using recycled materials without a press. Making printmaking accessible to everyone is her passion, creating a unique class that brings color, texture and humor to camp since 2009. During the academic year she works for David Douglas School District as a Speech Language Pathology Assistant and teaches a variety of creative classes through their S.U.N. program. In her free time she enjoys her pets, traveling, gardening and exploring nature.

Elsy Dinvil is originally from Jérémie, Haiti. Elsy loves to cook and owns the business Creole Enterprises, LLC. She recently published a book, Cooking With My Mother, which is filled with over 100 easy-to-follow popular Haitian receipts. Check out her website for more information….

Gerardo Calderon is a composer, producer and multi-instrumentalist. Born in Mexico City. He grew up surrounded by music, dance and culture. While living in Mexico, Gerardo studied classical guitar at the Escuela Superior de Música in Mexico City. Visit his website to learn more…

Gia Whitlock lives in Portland with her husband Trevor, and two art campers, ages 8 and 5. Outside of camp, Gia’s work always includes collage and paint, on canvas or panel. If you wish to see Gia Whitlock art beyond toilet paper tubes and tennis balls, come to First Cup Coffeehouse, Art in the Pearl, Local 14 Art Show and Sale, or Wild Arts Festival. Come on, you know you’re curious.

Jem Pritchard came from a family of creative people, so it was not a surprise when he attended Savannah College of Art and Design to study painting. He graduated in 1991 with honors then moved to Seattle to pursue painting on his own. Over the years he has shown his work in several group and solo shows. He’s taught private art lessons, helped start a non-profit arts organization called SCOPE, and he also followed his love of Jazz by teaching himself to play the trumpet. Jem now primarily makes his living as a woodworker, but still loves to paint and draw in his spare time. His newest project is a house to remodel! He is excited to spend a fourth year with Grace Art Camp and looks forward to teaching art to kids in the future.

Julie Akers – This is Julie’s second year of teaching at Grace Art Camp and she couldn’t be more pleased! She has been teaching acting, directing and theater history at the university level for the past twenty years. She received an MFA from University of British Columbia and has worked as a Professor at New Mexico State University, Willamette University, Portland Community College, and Lone Star College. She is currently teaching theater at Portland State University. In addition, Julie has been recognized for her work with young adults throughout her career. She has been nominated for an Emmy for the collaborative work she did with Teens and Company, in Portland, Oregon. She has run summer long theater camps for high school kids in Las Cruces, New Mexico. And, she recently worked with kids at risk in Austin, Texas, through the Creative Action Project. Her commitment to educational theater, at all levels, is absolute.

Jonathan Steele grew up in the greater Seattle Area. He took his first ceramics class in 2008 as an elective at Whitworth University where he earned a BA in Physics. After graduating, He knew he wanted to dive into ceramics and took the roundabout path of going back to community college to earn my acceptance into a Post-Bacc program in Art at University of Puget Sound. He earned his MFA in Craft from Oregon College of Art and Craft in 2016 and is currently Resident Artist at Pleasant Hill Pottery in Pleasant Hill, OR. He has accepted an offer for spring 2018 to be Sabbatical Replacement Professor at University of Puget Sound and looks forward to the opportunities that will unfold for him from there.

Jude Cornwell (aka Judee Moonbeam), earned her degree in apparel design from Bassist College, the precursor to the PDX Art Institute. She works out of her NE Portland studio, designing colorful wearable art consisting of piecework and cultural silkscreen motifs which she sells through juried art shows, festivals and galleries. Her line of “NW Native Tree Leaf” purses, historical identification endorsed by the OSU Horticulture Department, is sold in the Vista House Gift shop at Crown Point. The Pittock Mansion offers her line of bags silkscreened with the mansion’s best-known architectural motifs. Other commissions include chasubles for clergy and custom ordered graduation stoles for several colleges. She sells her work through juried art shows, festivals and galleries. Jude teaches during the arts weeks at the French American International School  and has led the Fibre Arts Studio at Grace Art Camp since 2000.

Kanani Miyamoto is a passionate printmaker. Her training in printmaking is rooted in tradition, but she pushes the standards of printmaking in the form of large-scale mixed media original prints, and installation. Kanani uses traditional eastern painting and scroll mounting techniques, materials and tools within her contemporary printmaking and installation practice. Her work is inspired by her personal experiences as an individual of mixed heritage. Her work is often composed of symbolic and personal imagery influenced by Chinese and Japanese philosophy, superstition, and religion. Kanani holds an MFA in print-media from Pacific Northwest College of Art. She is an adjunct instructor at Portland Community College, and Pacific University. Miyamoto also works with RACC’s Young Audiences and Right Brain Initiative as a teaching artist. Her work has shown in Hawai`i, Georgia, Washington, Idaho, and Oregon. Kanani Miyamoto is originally from Honolulu, Hawai`i and now lives and works in Portland Oregon.

Nancy Judd creates couture fashion sculptures from trash through her business Recycle Runway. She exhibits her work in high-traffic public locations around the US to inspire action around conservation of resources. Her traveling exhibition called ReDress: Upcycled Style is touring museums around the United States, and one of her pieces, the Obamanos Coat, is in the Smithsonian Museum’s permanent collection. Nancy’s work has been featured on the front page of the Wall Street Journal, in the Huffington Post, and in media outlets around the world. Companies and organizations such as Delta Air Lines, Toyota, and The Nature Conservancy have sponsored her sculptures and exhibitions. Currently she is creating work for a 2nd exhibition in the Atlanta International Airport in 2019. Nancy is also a Teaching Artist, providing Arts Integration (exploring curriculum via creative experiences) in schools and gives presentations and workshops to audiences of all ages around the globe including two TEDx talks.

Norm Brecke is a spirited storyteller who revels in telling a good story. He is also known to mix music and humor into his programs. Norm spent many years as a primary school teacher. While teaching he developed and implemented after-school programs where he guides 3rd-5th grade students learned to tell and perform stories. He now works as a professional storyteller; performing for festivals, libraries, senior citizens, and community events locally and throughout the Northwest. Norm often performs with his wife, Anne Rutherford, as “Storytellers Northwest.” They teach storytelling for adults at Portland Community College and in workshops for caregivers and members of church, civic and community groups.

Shelley Stoffer has a BA in Art Education from the U of O. She is a practicing artist working in glass (mosaic and fused). She was a Lower School Art teacher at Oregon Episcopal School for 25 years, and is now retired. Previous to that she was an artist in residence in Portland Public Schools, an arts administrator and a teacher at The Children’s Museum. Shelley and her husband live in Irvington and have 2 grown sons and 2 darling grandchildren.