Who we are
In the autumn of 1998, a group of Port Townsend teachers, school administrators, and community members, concerned about the loss of arts opportunities for students, joined together and applied for a grant from the Washington State Arts Commission. The group, which came to be called the Port Townsend Community Consortium Arts in Education Program (PTCC), wanted to increase the level of collaboration between arts specialists and classroom teachers in order to integrate arts lessons more fully into the curriculum. The PTCC won the grant and, in the eleven years since, has been able to place one to as many as three diverse teaching artists in the schools in each academic year. PTCC changed its name to PT Artscape in 2007.
Advisors
PT Artscape Advisory Committee
Michele Soderstrom Co-Coordinator, PT Artscape
Michele is the art teacher for Port Townsend High School and professional artist. She brings experience as both an artist who shows work publically and certified K-12 Visual Arts teacher. Teacher certification is with Central Washington University and includes minors in Studio Art and Middle Math. Michele is PT Artscapes co-coordinator with Margie McDonald. She brings her knowledge of art curriculum as means to support creation of documented lesson plans. Artists world-wide may access these art lesson plans through the website. Michele’s work may be seen at Northwind Arts of Port Townsend, Washington.
Visit Michele’s Website
Mari Mullen
Executive Director, PT Main Street Program, Business-Community Partner, public relations community events and activities, Non-Profit umbrella organization.
Kim Nunes
Kim is the PT Artscape Program Advisor. She has worked with the PT Artscape team members since 2007 on fundraising events. Previously Kim was a technology project manager.
PT Artscape Ad hoc-PTSD Administration- Advisory Committee
Linda Rosenbury, Ph.D, Superintendent, Port Townsend School District
Lisa Condran, principal, Grant Street School
Amy Khile, Business Manager, Port Townsend School District
Parent/Volunteers
Helen Gunn- Volunteer, arts advocate, events
Christie Boyd - Artwave coordinator for PT Mainstreet’s Downtown Association during the month of May. Christie is the art teacher at Blue Heron Middle School. She facilitates student voice through projects such as painting murals with her students and on their school wall.
Margie McDonald, Co-coordinator PTArtscape.
Teaching Artist- volunteer, professional sculptor. A founding member of The Port Townsend Wearable Art Show as well as exhibitor in each show since its inception in 2010. She has shown work at The Bainbridge Island Museum of Art, Northwind Arts, and The World of Wearable Art in New Zealand. She teaches with NorthwindArt and Centrum. Margie leads the SWATCH team in working with students on wearable art at Quilcene school to prepare the student to participate in the Port Townsend Wearable Art Show.
Brett Navin – Dean of Students, Blue Heron school, arts advocate.
Jesse Joshua Watson, Teaching Artist-Jesse has traveled extensively, developing a deep passion for soaking up and sharing the beauty of the world's cultures. His paintings and stories reflect that passion.
Ann Welch-Website/Technology consultant
A big thank you to Susan P. Hill-Doyle. For many years until 2017, Susan ran the PT Artscape program while teaching grades 6, 7, 8 at Blue Heron Art. Susan was instrumental in the success of the program. Susan now lives in Florida and continues to teach Visual arts to students.
Partners
Port Townsend School District
Washington State Arts Commission
Centrum
Port Townsend Main Street
Port Townsend Arts Commission
Port Townsend Education Foundation
Northwind Art
Teaching Artists
Jesse Watson
Whether hammocking in Brazil, exploring in Hong Kong, dodging taxis in Russia, studying art in Europe, dancing in Jamaica, or raising kids in Port Townsend, Washington, Jesse connects with people. He loves both the differences and the similarities that are so colorfully displayed across our diverse world. Jesse's passion and appreciation of people is voiced through his brush and on his canvas.
His illustrations have been featured in magazines, art publications, CD covers and children's books.
Jesse has illustrated the NY Times Best selling Hank Zipzer series by Henry Winkler and Lin Oliver, the Ziggy and the Black Dinosaurs series by Sharon Draper and These Things I Wish by Lee Pitts. Jesse's most recent book is Chess Rumble by G. Neri with Lee and Low Books. He is currently working on writing and illustrating several other picture books.
Visit Jesse's Website
Margie McDonald
McDonald grew up in Newfoundland, the oldest girl in a family of seven children. From an early age, she helped out at her father’s sawmill learning to use industrial tools. She earned a degree in Fine Art and Art Education from the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. Besides creating metal sculptures, Margie is also accomplished in weaving, spinning, felting, dyeing, knitting, and papermaking. Margie completed an apprenticeship in yacht rigging in Port Townsend. Her work has been exhibited in Nova Scotia, Newfoundland, Bainbridge Island, Port Angeles, and Port Townsend, Kansas City, Atlanta and New Zealand.
Visit Margie's Website