Shey Khandro
“I’m a sculptor, a jewelry designer and a pointillist painter, and I imbue a prayerful intention into everything I create. Ordained as a Buddhist nun in the Tibetan tradition for 15 years, I was formally trained in the sacred arts and philosophy of Tibetan Buddhism. I’ve come to believe each thought, word and action has creative power. My art is my voice. Through my work, I speak of kindness, compassion and peace. Each piece embodies a wish for each of you to know the best life can bring.”
Shey Khandro painting
Lori Reinhart
“For the past 11 years, I have served as the executive director of the Sedona Arts Festival. I also manage the box office and memberships for the Sedona International Film Festival (SIFF). I’ve worked with SIFF for over 20 years. I’ve enjoyed a variety of jobs in the arts community since moving to the area in 1997. In between managing events, my husband (who is a documentary filmmaker) and I love to travel and enjoy the great outdoors. We’ve raised two kids, and we’re crazy about our two dogs, Daisy and Clover. Our newest interest is raised-bed gardening.”
Sonia Luedke
“I am a lifelong artist and the creative director of the Sedona Artist Market Gallery. I have the pleasure of supporting and guiding over 100 local Arizona artists on their creative journey. Together, we make the world a better place by sharing the magic of creativity one piece of art at a time.”
Julie Richard
“My name is Julie Richard, and I am the new executive director of the Sedona Arts Center. I’ve been on board since late January and am getting the lay of the land. I’ve been following the Sedona Arts Center for many years, and it has been an educational experience to know the inner workings of the organization. And it has certainly been interesting starting a new job in the time of COVID. I am an expert in strategic and cultural planning and have a reputation for taking organizations to the next level. I look forward to expanding our programming and events and becoming part of the community.”
Renee Taylor
“Growing up I was always interested in the arts, but I didn’t realize you could make a living at it seeing as I come from a family of scientists and engineers. As a kid, I dreamed of owning my own art gallery, but I thought of it as something I’d do in retirement for fun, not something I could make a serious living at. I worked hard in school, got my master’s degree in hydrogeology then worked as an environmental hydrogeologist for three years before realizing I was miserable. I yearned to be a part of something more creative, exciting and people-oriented. So I founded Renee Taylor Gallery along with my husband Mike 21 years ago. Every day I have opportunities to learn and grow while being surrounded by what I love. The things I love most about this business are the people I get to work with, the artists and the other like-minded business people that come together with common goals. I work with dozens of very talented and successful women artists, and I absolutely love being a part of their success stories.”
Connie Frasca & Karen Halliday
“We’re a creative duo that handcrafts compositions from hand-carved inlaid woods and are represented by Exposures International Gallery of Fine Art in Sedona. At one time, we owned an aerospace machinery facility that made parts for the United States military, and our work is influenced by our backgrounds in engineering and architecture. No two pieces of ours are ever the same because nothing is machined or turned. We travel all over the country searching for materials. One of our current objectives is shaping exotic woods such as buckeye, redwood, maple burl, lacewood, marine, manzanita, cottonwood, ironwood cocobolo, Russian pine and mesquite.”
Linda Goldenstein
“I’m the founder of Goldenstein Gallery, celebrating its twentieth year and known for its innovative approach, interactive experiences and sense of community with its mission of ‘life enhancement through art.’ I’m a professional art curator and consultant known for visionary exhibits. I’ve worked with hundreds of artists, respected museums, national exhibits and commissioned installations including the 31-feet tall ‘Christ of the Holy Cross’ bronze sculpture by James Muir inside the iconic Chapel of the Holy Cross in Sedona. In 2015, I partnered with L’Auberge de Sedona to bring a unique fine art immersion experience to the acclaimed resort through changing exhibits in all styles of paintings and maquette, lifesize and monumental sculpture by renowned local and regional artists, shown throughout the resort. In warm weather, I host a thriving Artists in Residence program where guests can watch and interact with artists as they paint and sculpt works in progress.”
Camilla Ross
“I’ve been on this quest to feed the souls of people via my role as president and chair of Emerson Theater Collaborative and the Sedona Arts Academy and Community Center in the Village of Oak Creek. Feed them with love, wealth and education through a medium I only come to touch the surface of. There are so many ways to create when you have a vision, and I have a vision: To see Sedona as a true arts and culture destination. To be a catalyst for social change is really where it’s at for me. I believe theater should always be a venue for social change. I love the art of live theater and love what it does to the human soul and spirit. It moves us to look at life differently, to leave off the rose-colored glasses and really see the human condition.”
Camilla Ross
Sedona Chamber Ballet
Winnie Muench
“I am the founder, chairman and director of the Sedona Chamber Ballet, which is run by an all-female board of directors. I also serve on the board of the Sedona Arts Academy and the Sedona Conservatory. It is my goal to present world-class performing arts onstage and offer artistic immersion in the most significant cultural achievements in the performing arts to all members of the local, national and international performing arts community in the form of classroom offerings and participation in world-class live performances while maintaining financial stability. I see myself as a producer whose goal is to assist in establishing the greater Sedona as an internationally-recognized and valued learning community for arts and culture while enriching Sedona and Northern Arizona’s cultural life.”
