Briefly introduce yourself and explain your new position at P.S. ARTS.
My name is Gaby Palmadessa and I am the Advancement Assistant here at P.S. ARTS. I work with both Development and External Affairs to help out wherever needed. I recently graduated from UCLA with a BA in Art History and a minor in Study of Religion. Prior to transferring into UCLA, I received an AA in Art. Most of my experience revolved around museum work, but after serving as a K-12 Docent at the Getty Center I shifted gears a bit towards art education which led me to P.S. ARTS!
What book is currently on your nightstand?
I just recently checked out Simple Giving: Easy Ways to Give Every Day by Jennifer lacovelli, seems like it will be an inspiring little read!
What is currently the most played song on your iPod/Spotify/Apple Music account?
I tend to listen to NPR when in my car; however, my Spotify playlist is a confusing variety of music.
Where is your favorite place to view or take part in art in Los Angeles?
LACMA and the Hammer Museum will always have a piece of my heart when it comes to viewing art.
Which famous person, dead or alive, would you like to meet for coffee?
That is a tough question! I think it would be amazing to meet with Kevin Beasley, I love listening to him speak about his art processes as well as experiencing it.
Briefly introduce yourself and explain your new position at P.S. ARTS.
Hello! I’m Ratri Lertluksamipun, the Associate Director of Event & Corporate Fundraising. My role is to raise funds and awareness about P.S. ARTS’ vital programs. Whether it is sponsoring an installation at our heavily-attended Express Yourself event or trying your hand at creating art through various mediums at the pARTy, your support progresses access to high-quality arts education.
What book is currently on your nightstand?
A stack of half-read magazines is taking up a lot of my nightstand real estate, mostly The New Yorker. I’m finishing Death by Black Hole: And Other Cosmic Quandaries by Neil Degrasse Tyson and feeling more infinitesimal than my 5’1″ frame.
What is currently the most played song on your Spotify/Pandora/Apple Music account?
My most played on Spotify is Andra Day’s “Rise Up,” and it is always accompanied by my singing along, off-key, alone in traffic.
Where is your favorite place to view or take part in art in Los Angeles?
I was born and raised in L.A. but spent most of my adult life in sunny San Diego. Rediscovering L.A. has been a rich and invigorating art and culture experience. My favorite way to take part in art–avoiding traffic–is following multiple L.A.-based museums and artists on Instagram, viewing their Insta-Stories and posts about upcoming events. Thanks to occasional work perks, I’ve had the opportunity to see a few shows at the Geffen Playhouse and found a new appreciation for theatre.
Which famous person, dead or alive, would you like to meet for coffee?
Alexa Chung is my idol. Her impeccable comedic timing and out-of-the-box interview skills shine well beyond her unique fashion sense. We’d laugh and laugh together.
Briefly introduce yourself and explain your new position at P.S. ARTS.
Hi! I’m Stephanie McGrath, the Associate Director of Communications. I am working on increasing awareness of our organization on a local and national level and increasing the visibility of the amazing work everyone at P.S. ARTS is doing to make sure all children have access to high-quality arts education.
What book is currently on your nightstand?
So many books! I recently finished Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng and am now reading The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry by Gabrielle Zevin. Joining book clubs is one of my hobbies.
What is currently the most played song on your iPod/Spotify/Apple Music account?
Podcasts. I have a longer commute, and I spend the bulk of that time listening to podcasts or catching up with my family back in Chicago. The full list is way too long for this post, but my current rotation is: The Daily, Vox’s The Weeds, Reply All, Planet Money, How I Built This, Song Exploder, and Call Your Girlfriend.
Where is your favorite place to view or take part in art in Los Angeles?
I moved to L.A. three years ago, so I feel like I’m still catching up on checking out all the great spots. I’ve been to the Hammer Museum many times and love their programming, but I visited the Getty Center on my first trip to L.A., so that still holds a special place in my heart.
Which famous person, dead or alive, would you like to meet for coffee?
I would be interested in chatting with photographer Diane Arbus. But I’m not sure about meeting for coffee; she was known for her long phone conversations, so I would settle for a phone call where we could talk about anything and everything.
