La Center Arts Council
Bridging the Arts

Kirsten Peterson

A woman of the West, Kirsten Peterson spent her youth exploring the outdoors, camping and running rivers. Captivated by the intricate variety of the world around her, she wanted to be part of creation by photographing and painting what her eye could see. An important influence on her work is her uncle, Rick Wheeler, well-known for his exceptional artistic skills.

Academically, Kirsten dedicated herself to art through High School in Seattle and studied graphic design, photography, and theatrical set design at the University of Utah. At the Academy of Art University in San Francisco, Kirsten led the in-house ad agency and mentored other students. There she earned her BFA in Advertising Design with an emphasis on Computer Graphics, graduating with honors in recognition of her leadership skills.

Professionally, Kirsten was a senior graphic designer and art director in the advertising field, contributing to the remarkable evolution from sophisticated print media to the high-tech digital space. She worked on integrated campaigns for clients such as, Iomega, InFocus, Microsoft, and Intel. Valuing creative freedom, Kirsten launched her own graphic design business, A_Priori Creative Alliance, developing brands for clients such as ETC Group, RioTinto, Haynie CPAs, Progressive Construction, and Colorado River and Trail Expeditions.

The path through life takes turns for us all, and Kirsten returned to fine art in search of authentic connection with community and creation. In Salt Lake City, she taught oil painting in the Impressions Art Studio, and with the Women’s Organization for Building Community, she conducted Paint Nights in Acrylics. She painted several successful commissions for private clients, including “Blossoms” and “Slickrock.”

Currently, Kirsten is exploring the Northwest and continues to photograph and paint the world as she sees it. Though she loves working with a variety of mediums and materials, she prefers to perfect the process of oil painting, mixing color directly on the canvass with abstraction then focusing sharply on the subject. Kirsten values time to help improve the lives of other people and is a founding member of the La Center Arts Council with the purpose of “bridging the arts” in the community.

Krissy DuBois

Krissy DuBois started drawing at the age of 3, and Art and animals have always been the biggest, most important parts of her life. When she was a little girl, her favorite artist was Normal Rockwell, and the realism she tries to obtain in her paintings shows that. In 2005, she did her first Commission of a horse. In 2006, after taking Art classes at Clark College, Krissy started her business, Creations by DuBois, and did her first mural. Since then, between working as an Art teacher at Michaels, an Art Framer and a Petco partner, she has been creating a portfolio and doing commissions for her wonderful clients. Her favorite thing to do is bringing beloved animals back to life, with love and care, and spending time with her own well loved Dogs, and finding peace in nature.

Cristina Masterson

Cristina Masterson (Tina) was born in Manila, Arkansas and raised in the central San Joaquin Valley. The oldest of seven children in a family of Hispanic farmworkers, she was sent home from a public kindergarten after 2 days in school because there was no one to communicate with her. Her primary language was Spanish; she knew no English. Her mother did not accept this and enrolled her in a neighboring town in a Catholic elementary school when she was eligible for first grade. Here Tina earned no grades during the first semester and came home with all A’s and B’s for the second semester.

Tina went on to graduate from high school and worked her way through Fresno State College (now CSUF) as a typist-clerk on the Federal College Work Study program in the Secondary Education Department. She earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Liberal Arts and started working at Fresno City College as a Department Secretary. She worked her way through the ranks, from Department Secretary to Personnel Services Technician to Federal Work Study Coordinator to Financial Aid Officer to Madera Center Coordinator. It was during the role as Madera Center Coordinator that she returned to school and earned a Master’s Degree in Organizational Behavior. This allowed her to compete successfully for the Dean of Students position at the newly formed Clovis Center, now Clovis Community College. Tina was one of the first classified employees in the district to break the ranks and cross over from Classified to Certificated status.

Tina retired in 2008 after giving 34 years of service to State Center Community College District, the parent organization of Fresno City College, Reedley College, Clovis Community College, and Madera Community College. Dan retired at the same time as Tina. From 2008 to 2013, they co-chaired the Board of Directors of Art-By-Hand Gallery in Fresno, California. HandsOn Central California is the volunteer organization for Fresno County. Dan curated the art gallery and Tina provided cashiering, display, and numerous other services.

Tina’s background is in administration and student services. She is not an artist but she enjoys dabbling in paint by numbers, putting together picture puzzles, subscribes to the New York Times just for Wordle and Spelling Bee, bakes 3-layer cakes and a variety of desserts, has sewn pattern Renaissance dresses to wear at banquets, loves to vegetable garden, loves to preserve tomatoes and blueberries, loves to cook for large family gatherings, loves to babysit the great-grandkids, and loves to support her husband Dan in all his artistic adventures.

We appreciate all she does for us!

Sandra Pearson

Hello, my name is Sandra Pearson. I graduated with a BS in Business Management and set out to find my way in life. I worked for a few companies, and was the CEO of one, the Office Manager of others, but always had my hand in accounting. I worked many hard hours for several years, but it was not fulfilling in a standard business environment. During this time my mother took me to a few watercolor classes, and it was interesting, but I just didn’t have the time.

Fast forward… my son, husband, and I moved to La Center. We love this town and plan on staying here a long time; that was twenty plus years ago. After my son moved on to college, then the Air Force and my husband passed, I was looking for something to interest me. I had a business background, but not an art education. A friend asked me to go to the Medallion Art School in Vancouver. That was about two years ago, and I am still going. I started by just drawing, then went on to charcoal, pastels, colored pencils, a little mixed media, and I dabbled in acrylics. I am not great, but I get by, and I have a great deal of fun. It makes me happy! I love entering the Clark County Fair Art Exhibits. I have won several first and second places in my age group. This is very encouraging to keep me going with my education in art.

Learning of La Center Arts about six months ago, it was interesting. This is a non-profit Arts organization serving the La Center community. The people are wonderful, and we are starting to “Bridge the Arts in La Center”. Our first big event was the La Center Arts Fair the day before Mother’s Day 2024, and it was a success! We are on to something that La Center is in need of. We plan to work on murals, statues, and kid’s street art; the ideas are endless. We now have workshops at the Wheel Club Community Center at Holley Park here in La Center, WA. All are welcome for all different types of art; Performing arts, painting, drawing, glass, music, literary, collage and so much more, for all ages. We are also working with our City government, the schools, churches, the Historical Museum, local businesses and our community, with all ages and all forms of art included.

This is my evolution to art, my happy place with the Arts in La Center.

Shannon Cluphf

Shannon has a long-standing theatrical history within the Pacific Northwest. She has acted in film and on stage, produced, directed, and has held multiple positions through Theater productions. As a veteran of the United States Navy, she has had the fortunate advantage of traveling the world, broadening her views and understanding of the Arts. She is happy and honored to be a board member and Performing Arts Director for The La Center Arts Council. Shannon looks forward to Improv workshops and acting classes as we journey bridging the Arts of La Center. After all, “all the worlds a stage, and all the men and women merely players. They have their exits and their entrances; and one man in his time plays many parts.” our own Shannon Cluphf!

We’re very happy to have her!

Cindy Vajtai

Hi, I am Cindy Vajtai & I have done interior design for the past 35 years as well as being the buyer & salsesperson for multiple home furnishing stores. I began painting furniture before 1990 and upcycling used home goods. I enjoy creating with mixed media doing abstract art and also collage art. I love playing with watercolors & experimenting for myself & in my workshops. I am a quirky prophetic artist & create handmade one of a kind original art pieces, collages, metal keys, art boxes, trays & my own personal invention that I call “Creatve Adventure Bags” (consisting of upcycled fabrics, handmade books & tools to create with).

I enjoy photography of old vintage items & often use them in my collage work. I also enjoy teaching and gathering people for workshops and events.

I live with my husband in Lacenter, WA and together we have 5 children and 6 grandchildren. I enjoy the outdoors and anyplace by the water where I can relax & journal in my handmade books.

My slogan is “You hold the key to unlock possibilities!”

Cindyskeycreations.com
Cindy’s Key Creations

We are really happy to have someone so creative on our Council!

Dan Masterson

Dan is a big part of getting the La Center Arts Council Started, being a supporting member from the very start, along with his wife Tina.

Dan is an active member of the Society of Washington Artists and the Battle Ground Art Alliance. In February, 2023 he was appointed the La Center representative to the Clark County Arts Commission. His interest in art continues to this day as he participates in art exhibitions and as an active board member of the newly formed La Center Arts Council. He won “Best of Show” in the 2019 Battle Ground Art Alliance Spring Show and “First Place” in the 2021 Society of Washington Artists Show and Sale. Additionally, he volunteers as resident Art instructor for the Yosemite Conservancy in Yosemite National Park. His most recent post in Yosemite was as Artist in Residence for one week in August, 2023 where he taught an art course for one week to visitors from throughout the world.

Dan has had a continuous “Bristles and Nibs” workshop at the Wheel Club/Community Center at Holley Park for about 6 months now, and the community is always welcome to join in the Open Studio which it the 1st and 3rd Wednesday of each month.

We feel extremely honored to have Dan on our Arts Council and are looking forward to collaborating with him to bring more of the Arts to our community!