i love her work, which is why – when you enter my home, the first thing you see is one of her trees gracing the entrance and setting the tone. Beautiful energy in her trees.
Art In The Pearl
12 March 2019
Meet the Board
Kelli MacConnell
4 yrs
Registrar
Printmaking
Why I Volunteer: As I made my way to a full time artist a few years after graduating with a B.F.A. from Portland State University, I realized how important it is to stay connected to not only the Portland arts community, but to a community of professional artists. With a home-based studio and a small child in tow, keeping this connection became a little more challenging, but vital to my growth as an artist. So, when I was presented with the invitation to join the board, I was absolutely thrilled. Because of my lack of social time while running a business and caring for my daughter, volunteering on the board became and still is one of my main ways of interacting with other professional artists and the local artist community. It is an honor to be a part of this dedicated group of inspiring, kind, intelligent and fun artists, and to support such a remarkable show that celebrates some of the finest art and craft from across the nation and Canada. It also feels really good to give back to a community that has supported me and my family for many years. Having this invaluable opportunity will forever impact my path as an artist, and I hope this festival will continue to have a positive influence on not only the participating artists, patrons, the collectors, the aspiring artist and children, but on the colorful Portland community as a whole.