By Heather Myrick, Events Manager
As P.S. ARTS looks forward to the new school year, we would like to introduce some of our newest staff members: Development Officer Jennifer Leitch, Education & Programs Assistant Amy Knutson, and Advancement & Operations Assistant Chelsea Martell. Each of these ladies brings new ideas and energy to the P.S. ARTS office and we are so glad to have them on board! You can read their official bios here, but I thought it would be fun for everyone to get to know them in a more interesting way… what are they listening to, what are they reading, where do they like to take in artistic offerings, and who would they most like to share a cup of coffee with?
You can get a true sense of their personalities from their answers below. Each of them also debuts their first P.S. ARTS Staff Craft Day masterpiece.
Jennifer Leitch, Development Officer
Q: What book is currently on your nightstand?
A: This summer, I decided to brush up on some American Literature so I currently have Ken Kesey’s, One Flew Over the Cookoo’s Nest and Jack Kerouac’s, On the Road.
Q: Where is your favorite place to view art in Los Angeles?
A: I think the Santa Monica Museum of Art is a gem in Los Angeles. As a non-collecting museum, it has a certain amount of flexibility in its exhibition choices and I appreciate its dedication to emerging artists.
Q: What famous person, either living or dead, would you choose to take out for coffee?
A: The President (with the NY Jets coach, Rex Ryan, as a close second).
Jen’s first Staff Craft Day project:
Amy Knutson, Education & Programs Assistant
Q: What is currently the most played song on your iPod?
A: Lately I’ve been switching back and forth between Jackson 5’s, “I Want You Back” and The Beatles, “Got To Get You Into My Life”. Such great summer music and those two songs never fail to get me moving and singing along.
Q: Where is your favorite place to view art in Los Angeles?
A: Everywhere! Los Angeles is such a great city for artists — a lot of my friends are actors and musicians so I love getting to see them perform all over the city. Museum-wise, I adore the Getty. It’s such a beautiful space, and the exhibitions are always breathtaking, plus it’s got an amazing view of Los Angeles. I also love wandering downtown and in Venice, and catching glimpses of murals and street art. It’s incredible.
Q: What famous person, either living or dead, would you choose to take out for coffee?
A: So many different people inspire me that it’s difficult to choose (Heather will vouch, it’s taken me 5 hours to answer this question!). I would love to sit and talk to Jean Anouilh and Sarah Ruhl. Both of them are playwrights whom I love and am challenged by constantly as I grow as a director and dramaturg. But I’d also love to sit down and chat with Susan Cooper (author) and with Andrei Rublev (a film director)!
Amy’s first Staff Craft Day project:
Chelsea Martell, Advancement & Operations Assistant
Q: What is currently the most played song on your iPod and the book on your nightstand?
A: iPod is “Call Me Maybe” (obviously!) and on my nightstand is Freakonomics, by Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner.
Q: Where is your favorite place in Los Angeles to experience art?
A: Venice Beach! There are so many interesting people and there are always music and street performers.
Q: What famous person, either living or dead, would you choose to take out for coffee?
A: Tina Fey or Marissa Mayer because they are both very inspirational women. Or Kristen Wiig — I’d like to see if she was as entertaining in person and while on caffeine.
Chelsea’s first Staff Craft Day project:
In addition, we welcome Slu Zhang, our Chan Fellow from UCLA. Slu will be working with both the Programs and Advancement teams this fall and looks forward to learning about arts education and non-profit organizations during her time in America.
Welcome to P.S. ARTS Jen, Amy, Chelsea, and Slu!
P.S. ARTS also had two internal promotions: Megan Strawther moved from Advancement & Operations Assistant to Advancement Associate and Stephanie Kistner moved from Education & Programs Assistant to Education & Programs Associate. They are both excited for their new roles and have already brought some exciting ideas to their positions!
Lastly, P.S. ARTS would also like to bid a fond farewell to our former Development Officer Sara Straubel and our former Development Associate Brice Lovell. Both of these ladies are moving on to wonderful opportunities and we wish them the very best! You will be missed.
The P.S. ARTS office is buzzing with excitement as the 2012/2013 school year quickly approaches. We welcome our new staffers and send sincere thanks to those who have moved on from the P.S. ARTS office! Welcome fall!
