Mariella Luz

Program Manager, Staff

Mariella (they/them) is a studio potter and ceramic artist, instructor, and owner of M. Bueno pottery. A graduate of The Evergreen State College, Mariella founded the Olympia All Ages Project and worked as general manager at K Records. She served on the boards of the Washington State Arts Commission and is immediate past-chair of the Artist Trust. Mariella is currently working on the Olympia Music History project to archive Olympia’s unique music history.

Danielle Ruse

Chair, Mural Committee, Creative District

Danielle (she/her) co-owns a communications & web design agency, August Creative, and is a longtime resident and arts advocate in Olympia. Danielle holds a Masters in Public Administration in Public Policy and is past chairwoman for the Olympia Parking and Business Improvement Area. She coordinates fundraising and program development, and is inspired by Olympia’s resilient local micro-economy and arts sector.

Tracy Jameson

Vice Chair, Communications Committee, Storefronts Committee

Tracy (she/her) is a lifetime advocate for the arts and is a portrait and art photographer. Tracy works with each of OAA’s artists to take high-quality images of their work and often visits them at their studios and workspaces. As a board member and past-chair Tracy spearheads OAA’s communications team, facilitates each Storefronts installation, and lends her extensive experience in event planning to each of OAA’s artist mingles. She is an avid advocate for fair and equitable pay for artists.

Ryan DiCrescenzo

Treasurer

Ryan (he/him) is a longtime downtown business owner of Le Voyeur cafe, city employee, and decorated volunteer. Ryan DiCrescenzo joined the OAA board in 2023. Ryan brings his in-depth knowledge of accounting, fundraising and community engagement to our board leadership.

Robert “Rusty” Fallis

Secretary

Robert (“Rusty”) Fallis (he/him) has lived and worked in Thurston County for over twenty-five years. Professionally, he worked for the Washington State Attorney General's Office as an assistant attorney general, serving as counsel to multiple state agencies and statewide elected officials. Rusty is also a musician and songwriter. Rusty has played in many bands and participated in recording projects as a musician and vocalist. Among Rusty’s favorite musical activities have been his numerous performances at Olympia Arts Walk. Rusty has also been a volunteer for and/or subscriber to several Thurston County arts organizations.

Desiree Freeland

Past Chair, Director Olympia Downtown Association

Desiree (she/her) comes to the Pacific Northwest with years of experience with nonprofit event management and marketing. She has a particular fondness for arts nonprofits and the work that they do. Desiree has coordinated events ranging from weekend arts and crafts shows to managing logistics for multiple-day juried fine arts shows. Her passion for all things downtown is only rivaled by her passion for working with people who actively pursue ways to make the space around them better.

Kate Medred

Board Member

Kate (she/her) is an educator, writer, and philosopher that has recently returned to the South Puget Sound after fifteen years of living and teaching throughout the United States. Kate joins the OAA board in hopes of bolstering the careers of individual artists and supporting the development of the Creative District.

Kendra Hadlock

Board Member

Kendra (she/her) is a longtime resident of Olympia and member of the arts. She recently returned from five years abroad. Kendra is a supporter of the experimental music, film, and visual arts communities, and is a past board member of the Olympia Film Society. Kendra is passionate about increasing access to our developing arts opportunities and supporting individual artists.

Lucy Gentry Meltzer

Storefronts Committee

Lucy (she/her) is a renowned costume designer, artist, and curator. As a former public school teacher, Lucy is committed to creating opportunities for students to show their work in downtown Olympia. Lucy helped dream up and design the Storefronts program, lending her considerable experience to design an inclusive application process. As a past public arts teacher, Lucy has curated shows with local public schools through our Storefronts program, displaying many hundreds of student pieces and honoring their work. She served on the Oly Arts Commission and the board of Patrons of South Sound Cultural Arts (POSSCA).

Michelle Pope

Board Member

Michelle has been committed to Thurston County's innovation and artistic community for over two decades. Based in the Pacific Northwest, her career includes leading visual arts curriculum development at The Evergreen State College and advocating for sustainable building practices in Olympia. Since 2021, Michelle has been the Director of the Lacey MakerSpace, combining her artistic passion with community empowerment to support a thriving network of makers and entrepreneurs. Residing in Tumwater, Michelle continues to contribute actively to the region's creative and cultural development.

Aimee Schreiber

Board Member

Aimee Schreiber (she/her) is a visual artist, painter, and co-owner of Copper Wolf Tattoo Studio in Tumwater, WA. Copper Wolf is an active arts and community hub, with several practicing artists, ongoing events, and fundraisers to benefit the arts.

Danny Schreiber

Board Member

Danny Schreiber (he/him) is a tattoo artist, visual artist, and musician. A former software engineer, Danny graduated Summa Cum Laude from the Rocky Mountain Academy of Art & Design with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in illustration. His art is inspired by the human figure, music, and the impermanence of all things. He is co-owner of Copper Wolf Tattoo studio in Tumwater.

Kris Tucker

Past Board Member, Olympia Arts and Heritage Alliance Board Member

Kris is an arts advocate and community volunteer. She is on the board of OlyAHA! (Olympia Arts & Heritage Alliance), and is a reading buddy at Madison Elementary School. Kris was Executive Director of the Washington State Arts Commission 1999-2014, and previously was Executive Director of the Boise City Arts Commission.

Ron Hinton

Past Board Member, Advisor

Ron is a practicing artist, a member of the Olympia Arts Commission, and is past president of the Friends of Art, Spencer Museum of Art; the Lawrence Arts Center, Board of Directors; and the Kansas Artist Craftsman Association.

Jean Mandeberg

Past Board Member, CERF+ Board Member

Jean is a visual artist and an emeritus faculty member at The Evergreen State College. She has served on the Olympia Arts Commission and the Washington State Arts Commission, and chaired the Washington State Arts Commission for two years.