The Duvall Foundation for the Arts promotes creativity, diversity and cultural awareness by supporting the arts and art education in the lower Snoqualmie Valley of Washington State.

Participate

You can be a DFA Volunteer like the folks below.  To volunteer, email info@duvallarts.org

Mary Crane
   Occupation: Registered Nurse
   Avocations: Homeschooling Meredith and Brendan, Conga drumming, herbalist, writer
   Activities: Assistant chair of Sandblast Art Walk and Entertainment committees
   Why volunteer?
  "I love Sandblast. I didn't always. It grew into what it is. … Duvall has had a total music renaissance, because it has an accessible venue (Pumps & Grinds) and a recording studio (Top of the Hill), but it's really hard for visual artists to get seen. … I joined Sandblast to see if there's more we can do with the art show … to successfully reach out to the fabulous artists out there, get 'em to come and turn it into a first-class art show. …
   "I like people. Volunteering for this sort of thing gives me a chance to work with some fine, fun folks. And, we really need to take control of what our community's going to turn into and what it's not. If the Valley is going to explode in population, let's make it the kind of community we want it to be."
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Houston Barclay
   Occupation: Certified Public Accountant in Duvall
   Activities: Treasurer and past president, Duvall Foundation for the Arts; chair, Sandblast Committee; former member Duvall Arts Commission, etc. Houston is also a director and an instructor at the Traditional Taekwon Do College of Duvall.
   Why volunteer?
   "It exposes you to interesting, creative, progressive people. There's so much creativity and talent here, it cuts across socio-economic boundaries. People are on the same level - judged by their art and mind.
   "I like to support local stuff. That's how you define community: people supporting each other in what they've got going. Sandblast's sand sculpture is an opportunity to create community with art."

http:/www.duvalltkd.com
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Lori Varosh
Occupation: Newspaper reporter
Avocation: Basking in others' artistic accomplishments (on my wall, in my garden, etc.)
Activities: Former Editor, Duvall Foundation for the Arts newsletter.
Why volunteer?
I want to make sure Duvall remains a vibrant place for artists.
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Gerry Kollman
  Occupation: Production Manager, Radiant Imaging, a high-tech optical engineering firm
  Avocation: Music, including playing mandolin and singing with the now-defunct roots group, Stillwater Hillbillies
  Activities: Chair, Sandblast entertainment committee
  Why volunteer?
  "Sandblast provides an opportunity for us to play; we don't get many of those, so I want to take part. … For me, personally, the fun thing to do is perform.
  "It's important to let people have outlets. And it provides a good example. People can make their own music if they want to. It's a participatory thing, not a consumer product."
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Ken Irish

Occupation: Cabinet maker (D'Irey's Cabinet Makers, www.direys.com)
Avocation: Building community
Activities: Co-chair, Duvall Foundation for the Arts' Thayer Barn fundraising campaign
Why volunteer?
I want to be part of something that encourages people getting together. (The Thayer Barn) is about people coming together and getting to know each others' souls before they determine their differences. Then when you find out they're at the opposite end of the spectrum, you can't write 'em off anymore.

The barn is kind of an old man sitting in an easy chair, saying, 'Come have a sit. No false pretenses. You're welcome here.'
It's our story together. Come and be a part of it. I want to maintain an identity that comes from having distinct stories.
As Jonathan Sacks says, "The single greatest antidote to violence is conversation."
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Marie and Eric Nelson

Occupation: Dairy farmers (Eric is King County Agricultural Program manager)
Activities: Donated their Cherry Valley Barn for DFA Barn-Raising Bandits; Raise the Roof, Save the Barn auction; and other events.
Why volunteer?
So many families around here are so far removed from agriculture. If people are going to know where their food comes from, farmers are going to have to open their farms.
When our kids turn 5, they get to see the Nutcracker. It would be cool to see it in Duvall in the barn, instead of having to go to Seattle.
We want to get into having barn dances.
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Jim Hallas
   Occupation: Freelance photojournalist, formerly employed as a shooter by the Oregonian, the Journal American and the King County Journal.
   Avocation: Hiding behind a Nikon, Internet philosopher and holy man, author, Lori Varosh's caretaker and the dog Doodle's companion.
   Activities: Former Photo editor and photographer for the Duvall Arts newsletter; designer and manager of the Duvall Foundation for the Arts Web site.
   Why volunteer?
   "Why not?"

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Lin McBride
   Occupation: Gallery owner  Avocation: Raising Morgan horses, framing art, entertaining
   Activities: Founding board member of Duvall Foundation for the Arts; chair of Thayer Barn task force
  Why volunteer?
   "I really love the passion I see in art and artists. I don't do any myself, but I want it in my life.
   "We're all responsible for our community. We all should try to make it a better place.
   "I like people. That's one thing that makes me who I am. … I'm happiest when I'm in a big crowd of people.
   "That's what I see in the (Thayer) Barn. I see a lot of activity going on that fulfills people. … I see an opportunity for the community to have a space unique to it. ... I want to have a gallery and workshops, where people can come and learn from artisans. … It can really serve the community in so many ways.
   "It's not the past; it's the future. If the past can transcend to the future, that makes it twice as good, twice the prize."

McBridefrm@aol.com
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Paula McDonald
   Owner, P&G Speakeasy Cafe; member, Duvall Arts Commission, Foundation for the Arts Sandblast Committee, etc.
   Why volunteer?
   "It's really a good feeling to support other artists. It's a way of giving back for what people have given me. … I wish I had time to do more."

Pandgspeakeasycafe.com
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Hilarie Cash
   Occupation: counselor
   Activities:  president, Duvall Foundation for the Arts; member, Sno-Valley Chorale, Public Art selection panel, etc.
   Why volunteer?
   "It makes me feel like I'm helping local artists and bringing art and a fun experience to the Duvall community. I'm also into ecology things, but that's work. This is fun."
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Judi Byrne

   Occupation: Children's art instructor, muralist, faux and décor painting
   Avocation: Working with children, seeing them blossom in artistic ability
   Activities: Duvall Foundation for the Arts board member, Barn committee, Design committee, created life-size cow cut-outs for Thayer Barn, volunteered at Sandblast, silent art auction, Cowlapamooza
   Why volunteer?
   Because the barn really interests me, because it involves children, it involves art, not just visual arts but all arts. Art has to do with the soul and expression. It brings people together, forms community.
   The silent auction was like an old-fashioned barn dance. It  was a fabulous feeling, seeing the community together having fun, feeling free, enjoying each other. How many communities do this?  It's becoming lost.  I'd like to preserve the small-town feeling and sense of community where people know each other, they're not just strangers.
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Carey and Diane Tremaine
   Occupation: Carey is president of Tremaine Investment Advisors in Carnation. Diane works for a caterer and home schools their three children
   Activities: Carey is a former vice president of the Duvall Foundation for the Arts, as well as a poet, guitarist and past president of Tolt Historical Society, who works out of an office in their partly restored 1913 hotel. Diane plays cello with the Trio Val di Luna (Valley of the Moon Trio) and the Chamber Ensemble.

   Why volunteer? "Art adds a lot to the flavor and fabric of a community," Carey says. "It helps counter the emptiness that can develop in a suburban setting, where you don't know your neighbors and go to everything in your car.
   "Plus it enables us to enjoy and experience the arts without having to drive to Seattle or Issaquah or Ashland, Ore.
   "There are lots of examples of communities that have active arts programs and those that don't, and it's pretty clear who's better off. What we have here is a beginning. We may have more theater and more music locally. The Foundation wants to do it with local artists and musicians."
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