Our People
The Festival is produced by a very small professional staff augmented by our hard working Committee. The Committee is comprised of community members and exhibiting artists. As a non-profit organization, the Festival is governed by its Board of Directors who have fiscal and policy responsibility for all aspects of the Festival. The Staff, Board and Committee work all year long to prepare for our annual Fall Festival.
Our Staff
Steve Bajor
Executive Director
Executive Director
Erma Murphy
Artist Liaison & Publicist
Artist Liaison & Publicist
Our Board
Lisa A. Palter - President
Tom Silver - Vice President
Susan Nelson Kendall - Treasurer
Anne Taylor
Barry Toranto
Fred Crombie
Kerry Tusup
Naima Dean
Committee
Anna Abramson
Sylvia Barsky
Edwin DeShazo
Louise Dockstder
Brett Crawford
Phil Garratt
Zachary Gilmour
Lissa Herschleb
Tom Killion
Judith Lemmens
Karen Meadows
Nance Miller
Harald Nordvold
Evelyn Schaefer
Sarah Shirver
Sarah Suloff
A special thanks to our 2019 Jurors (who selected the artists) and judges (who will select the prize winners:
Jurors
Woodward Payne - painter
Alex Friedman - weaver
Susan Stover - mixed media artist
Beverly Mayeri - ceramicist
Michael Chaille - jeweler
Judges
Sol Hernandez - local businesswoman
Brenton Bostwick - painter
Belle Marko - painter and designer
We also wish to acknowledge other individuals who made special contributions this year.
Dan Gilbert - New brand and website designer
Don McCartney - Program designer
Special Presentation
Green Change
In this year's featured exhibit, Bay Area artists will explore the climate crisis through the lens of contemporary art, in collaboration with Green Change, a grassroots environmental network.
Community Speaks
Helen Russell - Co-Founder & CEO Equator Coffees
“The MVFAF takes place at the perfect time of year to usher in new and fresh perspectives through the portal of art and craft.”