There's a wealth of artistic talent in the Villages.  Maybe that talent lives right next door to you.  Recognize this person?  Meet Diane Finley, Vice President of our Villages Arts and Crafts Club and an EPC Co Chair.

Diane is quite the fixture in the Arts and Crafts Club where she creates and manages the Ceramics Lab.  Raised in Hawaii, she tells us that in Jr. High she was introduced to ceramics and fell in love with “all things clay.”

Moving here 5 years ago, Diane immediately befriended Val Smith in our Ceramics Lab.  Val generously shared her knowledge about clay, glazes and most fun of all, the potter's wheel.  Now you can't pry her away even in the face of our shut down.  Diane now works from home producing clay flowers, hand painted ceramic vases and glass bottles readying for the chance to showcase again.

She teaches ceramics to other artists, sharing her enthusiasm with all the possibilities that come from hand building, wheel throwing, glazing and firing.  It's Christmas every time the kiln is opened after a firing.

What else?  Diane and her husband Kyle have five children and nine grandchildren and they owned an Outdoor Lighting Co. in San Diego.  Diane is also proficient with graphics, sign language, volunteering for A & C events -  and she can solve a Rubiks's Cube in less than 2 minutes which all helps to round out the person she is.

Stop by when the Lab reopens and say hi.  

Getting to Know ...

A series of articles and photos to introduce you to our new officers and Advisory Board members will be on this page in hopes of inducing you to join us on the Advisory Board for Arts & Crafts.  

We are also offering articles and photos of artists, in the hope that you will participate in our Art Challenges and on line classes now and in all our events and classes, once we come out on the other side of this pandemic.

Walter Howald, Baker turned Artist

Baker turned Artist

You may have seen 91 year old Walter Howald at his daily swim or admired his pumpkin-rolling skills in Olivas, but did you recognize him as a mostly-unknown Villages artist?

I first met Walter in 2007 when Clyde Stout was teaching a drawing class.  Walter said he had no experience in drawing, but he knew how to decorate cakes.  He did take Clyde's drawing class and later on two classes with Jane Hink.

As for that cake decorating:  he immigrated from Switzerland to the US in 1966, answering an ad in a Swiss newspaper for a pastry chef at a small  Walnut Creek bakery.  When he retired, he and Hanna traveled to many different countries to help poor communities set up their own bakeries.  This was with the International Executive Service Corps, funded by David Rockefeller, who paid the expenses but with no salary for the volunteers.

As for that drawing, Walter says that drawing a Villages scene becomes a life within itself because there is an excitement about art creation which is sometimes as good as sex.  Hanna and Walter have 3 sons, 7 grandchildren and 13 great grandchildren.  They moved to The Villages in 2002 from Los Altos because their friend here assured them that they would never be alone.

Walter made a calendar of his Villages scenes and from that, greeting cards which he still sends to friends.

Which is best of Walter's creations  now?  The huge gingerbread house at the downtown Fairmont lobby?  The smaller one in the clubhouse restaurant lobby?  His unsurpassed French macaroons?  Or his pen and ink drawings of the Wehner Mansion or Montgomery Pond?

Walter moved on from drawing to acrylics and encourages all Villagers to try something new in Art, as he did.

Diane Finley, Vice President

Arts & Crafts Profile:  Kathy Warren

Arts and Crafts introduces one of our newest board members Kathy Warren.  She is a transplant from New York and is a Business degreed graduate from SJSU with an emphasis in accounting, adding a Master's in Public Administration leading to work in finance for over 30 years.

Kathy retired in 2011 and has lived here with her husband Richard for 22 years.  Her participations at the Villages include being in the Hiking club, Swingers Golf and the VMA.  She Joined the Arts and Crafts Club in 2017.  Now Arts and Crafts has the pleasure of having Kathy as our Treasurer.

Some time ago on a whim, she started taking a class in Ceramics with Diane Finley.  There was the hook, too much fun.  She volunteers her time being a room monitor in the Ceramics Lab and she benefits from sharing what she has learned and what she can offer to others in the world of clay.  She loves the slab work, rolling out clay like dough and then fashioning a desired piece.  Next she wants to tackle the potter's wheel.

Kathy and her husband have 3 children. conveniently living close by.  She tends a garden up on the hill year round and loves of travel, having been to more than 43 countries and counting.   During these times. she has much more time to read a wide variety of fiction, nonfiction and science fiction.  There is enough here to converse with her, so engage with her anytime you see her.

Kathy Warren, Treasurer

Arts & Crafts Profile:  Margaret McNelly:  From Moosejaw, Saskatchewan to The Villages

     Left by the side of the road, Margaret McNelly  was often the last person to leave her Plein Air groups.  The others would make a sketch, take a few photographs, socialize and leave to paint at home.   Margaret often completed a full sized watercolor on site.  McGill University's immersive studio art program taught her that as she earned her MFA.  

      Born in Moosejaw, Saskatchewan, Margaret taught Art and English in Canada.  She and her husband lived at Lake Tahoe for many years, with six months a year at The Villages.  They had three sons with six grandchildren, all nearby.  The son on San Felipe Road constructed a model's platform when his mother was participating in Karen La Roche's Life Drawing Class and donated it to Arts & Crafts.

     After her husband's death in a windsurfing accident, Margaret moved to The Villages full time in 2007.

     Margaret's expertise in art did not preclude her from taking other art classes here - outdoor drawing with Jane Hink and Watercolor with Karen Honaker - because even an experienced artist can learn from a new teacher and a new class.

     “Focused”  is the word which best describes Margaret as an artist.  Only one of her large, magnificent watercolors has been exhibited at The Villages:  “Pumpkins and Watermelon” was on view for a month in the clubhouse lobby.

     Margaret at 91 encourages anyone during this lockdown to “Start.  Certain objects, scenes will speak to you and demand your attention.  Anyone can draw – you just have to learn to see.”

Arts & Crafts Profile:  Wendy Ledamun

If you've lived in the Villages for any amount of time, you've probably met Wendy Ledamun or participated in the many activities that she actively supports including coordinating afternoon and evening Bingo for the VMA, organizing social events for the Hiking Club, and lending a hand at Community Activities Events.  Recently Wendy became a member of the Verano DAC and she currently works with the Sustainable Villages Club on a household battery disposal program in Verano!

Wendy grew up in Connecticut and moved to California in 1981 as part of GE's new business acquisition/integration team.

In 2011, Wendy moved to The Villages from Willow Glen for an interim stay before permanently retiring to Florida.  Fast forward to 2013.  Newly retired, Wendy decided on The Villages and bought a condo in Cribari.  She joined the Swingers Long-9 golf group and VACA, Villages Arts and Crafts.  If you ever attended our Tuesday Night Coloring Parties, VinoPaint , Cardmaking with Brenda, Paint Your Pet with Stacey or Mosaic Workshops with Nancy Meyer just thank Wendy!   She coordinated these events for several years.  Wendy enjoys all things “artsy crafty” be it watercolor, acrylics, coloring, finger-painting, glass mosaics, needlework, knitting, copper foil, or card-making.  Her true passion, though, is cooking and entertaining!  View this artistic food presentation.

Wendy and her partner, Rich, met at The Villages and moved to Verano in 2017 where they enjoy life with their cats, Ella and Charlie, mixing in a little Bocce, Hiking, and Biking.  Seek her out as she is a wealth of knowledge to talk with.

Wendy Ledamun, Secretary

Margaret McNelly, Artist

Kathy Tanaka, Ceramicist and Photographer

Arts & Crafts Profile:  Kathy Tanaka, Ceramicist, Photographer and Poet

What did Kathy Tanaka do a few months after she moved to The Villages six years ago?  She read The Villager and saw the schedule for the Ceramics hobby room! That changed her life.  Jim Paradis met with a few people on Mondays, and gave Kathy a lump of clay and helped her squeeze a little bowl.  Soon, Jim was giving her lessons on the wheel and told her said that Centering is necessary in pottery and in one's person.  Pottery was and is meditative to her, so peaceful and creative.

She also learned from Jim to center and make an almost-perfect piece, then create a flaw to make it yours alone.  Kathy's favorite piece is a slab-built box which was an assignment from Jim.  She made a tall box with Jim making the neck piece and base on the wheel.  She added handles and a design with slip.  The piece stands on her mantle even today.

Kathy grew up in Amarillo and earned her math degree from the University of Texas – Austin.  She taught math in three states, but the job she is most proud of is building houses for Habitat for Humanity.  She spent 10 years helping build homes and managing the Women Build program in New Jersey.

She moved back to her husband's native San Jose  with him to be near their two daughters and two grandkids.

Since the pandemic, Kathy has renewed her interest in scenery photography; but now uses a phone camera instead of the SLR and the darkroom.  She has taken amazing clear photos of our hills and writes haiku to go with them.  Her first effort was published in the San Francisco Chronicle on March 27, 2020.  It was also an entry into our first Art Challenge.  She also enjoys hiking, swimming and golfing with The Shonis.

Kathy has visions of community art:  one person starting a piece and passing it on for another to create an addition, imagining some really wild art from our outstanding Villages ceramicists when the Ceramics hobby room re-opens.

Programs Leader Marcy Boyles

Husband Ceramicist Rob

Arts & Crafts Profile:  Program Leader Marcy Boyles

Many Villagers know 5 year residents Marcy Boyles and her husband Rob.  Married almost 30 years she met Rob at Willow Glen Parent Club.  You may have missed them at times due to their extensive travel.

At 19, Marcy, bit by the travel bug, spent 6 months traveling and living in Europe.   Having visited all 7 Continents (some many times), her favorite adventure was Africa and her favorite big city is Paris.  She's not an artist but she collects pieces on their travels.  Since Marcy does not create art she appreciates some of Rob's work shown here.  He is the ceramics nut.  

Marcy has a daughter, Michelle, and 3 wonderful grandchildren.  She was a K-6 teacher for 31 years and continues to substitute, test and teach newcomers.  Her myriad interests  includes golf, note a hole in one on #11 November 10th, swim aerobics, hiking with the Wednesday morning group, bocce, walking Bella her 2 year old Jack Russell rescue.  

There is more.  Marcy is the Bocce Publicist and recently joined our Arts and Crafts as Program Director.  She rounds out those extra hours she has left over as a member of EPC, the Sustainability Club and Senior Academy as well as High 12 duties every couple of weeks.  With her vibrancy you might mistake her for an east coaster.  Not so.  She is a California native, her formative years in Paso Robles.   So, there's a lot to absorb.  Want to know where to travel in this world or just say hi?  Marcy is your gal.

Rob's Ceramics

Arts & Crafts Profile:  Karin Bogliolo

Karin Bogliolo began painting several years ago by taking watercolor classes on three world cruises.  She has also taken on-line courses and two claases here at The Villages.  But Karin has developed her own inimitable style,  primitive like Grandma Moses.  Her favorite medium is acrylic because she can cover up her mistakes.  “Cosy Cottage” is her latest favorite.  She also likes bright colors and watercolor for the sensitive and delicate subjects.

Karin was born in Germany and educated there and in England. She went into the hotel business  and married a co-worker as her first husband.  Her daughter Tamsin was born there.  She and her husband moved to Spain and started an international restaurant and a scuba diving centre.  A spiritual and ecological community, Findhorn, in Scotland called to her and she lived there for 25 years, married her second husband, a Frenchman who lived in Findhorn,  and had her son Michael.  Together they took over Findhorn Press, moved to Florida and quickly returned to Europe to live in France.

Many years later, in 2018, she and her partner Judy Rickard, moved to another friendly community – The Villages – after Karin became an American citizen and they were able to marry.

Karin has two children, (one of whom Michael still lives in Findhord community), seven grandchildren and two great grandchildren…and hoping for more soon.

Karin's advice to artists during this lockdown is to keep going with painting, even when feeling depressed, and to try different things.  She enjoys being home, being 80, but cannot wait to use her four languages on the next world cruise.

Karin Bogliolo, Global Resident and Artist

Arlts & Crafts Profile:  Christine Zinn

Arts and Crafts recently welcomed Christine Zinn to our board as our Historian.

This position is very important to us as it would be for any club.  It represents progress over time with articles, photos and event information.  Christine has some exciting attributes that go well beyond that documentation.  She enjoys creating and drawing cartoon characters and she found a love for ceramics after a class with Diane Finley.  There she found out that she could make cartoon characters like Booba, her nephew's favorite from TV.

She was born in Oklahoma and grew up in Southern California, attending and graduating from Cal State L.A,  receiving an MS in Psychology and BS in Physical Ed.  She inherited courage, creativity and much more from her father an Airline test pilot, master craftsman and woodworker.  Christine is also a pilot, a woodworker, a Poker Champion, a Professional Handwriting Analyst, Entrepreneur, and a Golfer with a killer drive.  Three years ago,  she moved to the Villages with her partner and wife of 18 years, Rita Marcojohn.  They love their home and our community.  Christine is also a member of the Villages' EPC, Sustainable Villages Club, Sector Chief for Del Lago, and a board member with the Swinger's Golf Club.  So if you add in being on our Board, that at least nets some time for sleep.  We are sure there is more to Christine, so ask around,  and you will find people who know her and enjoy her company.

Christine Zinn, Historian

Ruth Keiser, Needle Artist

Colleen Mirassou,  Greeter

Artist

Our featured Arts and Crafts board member, Colleen Mirrassou, is the first person to

welcome new Club members.  Colleen was raised just down the street on Aborn, and she belongs to the Mirassou winery family created 150 plus years ago.   Only her grandmother's house and part of the winery still exist.  That area is where she spent her early years playing and hiking behind the Villages.

Colleen worked in the business world returning to college at age 38 to study art.  She earned a Master's degree in Art Therapy, learning more about the healing and psychological self-exploration aspects of art.  In private practice, as a Marriage and Family therapist, she continued to further explore her personal art.  Moving to Los Angeles, she worked with UCLA in a pilot program to research the validity of art for the homeless suffering mental illness.  In a specific group, she fused poetry with painting to create another dynamic for expression.

During her art school years, Colleen studied representational drawing and oil painting.  Later, she branched off into collage with paper and occasional objects on canvas creating more of adisparate feel for assemblage and the 3D effect.  Seeing her work, you can feel and relate to the poetry and expression versus an emphasis on technique or skill.  This is what makes assemblageextra interesting and leaves imagination to the viewer.  Colleen has shown at many of our Arts and Crafts events, and she has tutored in a mask making workshop.  Look for her Eclectic work in the future.

Arts & Crafts Profile:  Barbara Gottesman

Our biggest mainstay and most knowledgeable Board memberfor Arts & Crafts is Barbara Gottesman.  Without her we would not exist today.  Enjoy the following snapshot.

Oil paintings were difficult to dry where Barbara grew up in North Carolina; so after a 40 year hiatus, she turned to other art mediums.

She retired in 2007 as Educational Leadership Department Chair at San Jose State and immediately plunged into watercolor, Chinese Brush Painting, Chinese calligraphy, acrylics and drawing. Life Drawing with Karen La Roche was the most intensive art learning; but collage, charcoal and pastels classes at The Villages enlarged her skill.  Barbara's favorite art work is this charcoal drawing she did of her son Kevin.

Her favorite class was with Jim Paradis who collected six advanced students to study Abstract Expressionism with him.  Jim explored artists such as Picasso and Matisse with his students, critiqued their work and assigned students to produce a work in the style of….Matisse, Picasso, Dali and others.  It was an exhilarating experience for all those who participated!

Barbara moved to The Villages in 2005, two years before she retired from her academic career.  She served as Arts & Crafts secretary and then as president for eight years.  She has co-chaired and assisted with many Arts & Craft events:  Art in the Park, Sidewalk Art Sale, Home Studio Art Tour, New Members Reception, Juried Show and Holiday Faire.  She is currently the club's Webmaster and manages the on-line Art Challenges. Her job as Class Scheduler is sparse right now with only two on-line classes going, but the normal 53 classes a year is her goal as soon the pandemic is contained.

Barb Gottesman, Class Scheduler, Exhibits Chair and

Webmaster

Artist

Arts & Crafts Profile:  Terri Ford

Terri was born in Santa Maria and moved to San Jose when she was four.  Her family traveled between the two cities when she was growing up and always had lunch at the Paso Robles Inn.  Now she has been invited to paint in the plein air event called “Impressions of the Middle Kingdom.  The exhibit is May 4 – June 28 of this year.

She began drawing when she was four and did acrylics in high school. She attended the Academy of Art College in San Francisco as an illustration major with strong emphasis on life drawing.  She worked as a graphic designer for 25 years; and during that time, she began working with pastels, self-teaching and honing her skills.  For five years, she juggled graphics and fine arts; but gave up her day job to devote full time to pastels.

She has been teaching workshops since 2006 for Pastel Societies all over the country.  In 2005, she did her first workshop in Paris.  Then she and her sister rented a houseboat on the Seine for plein air pastel workshops.  The Lot Valley in southern France was her next plein air workshop.  Now she is teaching Zoom workshops using photos from southern France.

Terri moved to The Villages in 2018, and has contrasting thoughts about art and the pandemic:  “The pandemic lockdown isolates a person, but it can also take an artist away from that very feeling because art is created in isolation which is very conductive to focus and immersion.”  Terri is an artist who gets lost in her art and loses track of time.  

Terri Ford

Pastel Artist

Michael Sunzeri

Arts & Crafts President and Artist

Arts & Crafts Profile:  Michael Sunzeri

Michael Sunzeri is serving a two year term as President of Arts & Crafts, with a steadying hand on operations during this pandemic.

He was raised in Santa Clara, always having his fingers in something to do with Art.  Why?  No rules.  He started assembling model cars at age 8.  He sold his first artwork at age 12, a design on a bass drum. In high school he became interested in Drafting.  After a stint in the Navy, he landed work as a draftsman and later in design, mainly in Circuit Board Technology.  

He spent 35 years in that field, leaving as a manager shortly after 9/11.  Then, having maintained 4 acres in Boulder Creek for 31 years, he and his wife Susan started a home maintenance business, before finally retiring to the Villages.

He attended almost every local college in Santa Clara County, graduating from San Jose State with two Art related degrees.  Michael was tutored by some of the best local artists.  Robert Strini, Dave Ogle, Clayton Bailey, and Kathy McBride, to name a few.  Michael's  biggest inspiration is Dali; and like Dali, he has a minimalist and asymmetrical mindset, straying from both at times.

Trained in Pottery, Painting, Photography, Calligraphy and Sign Painting, his concentration now is Assemblage, spending an inordinate amount of time thinking about his next piece. After they moved to The Villages, Michael joined the Arts & Crafts and the Advisory Board at the encouragement of Barbara Gottesman.

He was amazed at how many artists we have, let alone the great work they turn out.  He is happy to support our art club and appreciates all the opportunities to showcase our work here.