Meet the Arts Commission Board Members:

Melonie Buchanan
Mesa State College, 1100 North Avenue, Grand Junction, CO 81501
W: 970-248-1390  E-mail: mbuchana@mesastate.edu    (Appt 3/09; term ends 2/12)
          Melonie Buchanan Murray is currently a professor of dance at Mesa State College.  She holds a BFA degree in Ballet from Friends University (Wichita, KS) and an MFA degree in Dance from the University of California, Irvine (UCI).  Melonie's performance experience includes dancing as a Radio City Rockette, as a principle dancer with Wichita Ballet Theatre, and as a featured dancer with Musical Theatre of Wichita.   In addition, Melonie sailed the seas with Norwegian Cruise Lines as dance captain for Broadway-style productions, and has performed with several musical theatre companies in Southern California.  Melonie performed as a featured dancer with Francisco Martinez Dance Theatre, a Los Angeles based award-winning modern dance company.  Most recently, she has been seen performing locally with the Beyond Boundaries Dance Collective.
          Melonie has experience teaching all levels of ballet and modern dance at institutions such as Friends University (Wichita, KS), Santa Ana College (Santa Ana, CA), Irvine Valley College (Irvine, CA), South County Classical Ballet (Orange County, CA).  In addition, she continues to guest teach and choreograph for regional ballet companies and summer intensives. Melonie is a member of the Society of Dance History Scholars and the Congress on Research in Dance.

Gisela Flanigan
359 Martello Drive, Grand Junction, CO 81507
H: 970-241-8822  Cell: 970-623-4420 E-mail:  brightmindspiano@msn.com (Appt 7/07; reappt 3/09; terms ends 2/12)
          Dr. Gisela Flanigan, pianist, is an experienced soloist and collaborative chamber musician. She has performed in Europe, the United States, and South America, and has presented guest artist recitals at DePaul University (Chicago) and Drake University. She has presented master-classes in both North and South America, is in demand as an adjudicator for Music Teachers National Association events, and has given lecture-recital presentations on behalf of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra Educational Department. As a scholar she was invited to lecture at the International Conference of the College Music Society in Spain. 
          Dr. Flanigan holds a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Piano Performance from the University of North Texas, where she was awarded the Mary M. Morgan Award for Excellence in Music Performance, a distinction granted to the best doctoral student in the performance area. After teaching piano privately for over 25 years and relocating to Grand Junction, Dr. Flanigan established the Bright Minds Music Studio. She has served on the Grand Junction Commission on Arts and Culture since 2007.

Jeanine Howe
Mesa State College, 1100 North Avenue, Grand Junction, CO  81501
W: 970-248-1452   Fax: 970-248-1159   E-mail: jhowe@mesastate.edu    (Appt 11/05; reappt 3/09; term ends 2/12)
          Jeanine Howe is a professional director, actress, administrator, playwright, and designer. Jeanine has a BFA in performance from Otterbein College and a MFA in Directing from Carnegie-Mellon's Professional Directing program. A transplant from back east, she has directed over 120 productions at 50 theatre companies, served as Artistic Director for three theatre companies, and also been the Executive Director for the Columbia Gorge Arts and Culture Council. 
          Jeanine has taught at Universities across the country including Carnegie-Mellon, Temple, University of PA, and now, Mesa State College where she was recently nominated for Distinguished Faculty of the Year. She serves as a consultant and is on various boards around the country, and is honored to be a Commissioner for the Grand Junction Commission on Arts and Culture. 
  
Jeanne Killgore
1891  J-6/10 Road, Fruita, CO 81521
H: 970-858-2058  C: 970-250-1228   E-mail: WSKillgore@msn.com    (Appt 4/07; term ends 2/10)
          Jeanne Killgore is an interior designer, ASID Allied, and was the owner of a retail and interior design store from1990 until her retirement in March 2008.  Prior to that time she apprenticed and worked as an interior designer for others.  Jeanne professes a constant love for the arts with little talent in any of them.  She is a strong advocate of improving the arts community for the Grand Junction area.

Lancer J. Livermont
LLa architecture, Ltd.
300 Main Street 302-C, Grand Junction, CO 81501
W/cell:  970-210-6799   E-mail: lancer@llaarch.com    (Appt 3/09; term ends 2/11)
          Lancer Livermont, AIA, LEED AP, has 15 years of experience in the architecture profession. He is founder and manager of LLa architecture, Ltd., a professional architecture and design firm based in Grand Junction. Before starting LLa, he developed his skills at a number of professional design firms around the country including firms in Colorado, Arkansas & Texas. Most notably, he had the honor of working with architect and AIA Gold Medalist, Euine Fay Jones in Fayetteville, Arkansas. During his tenure in Fay's office, Lancer was exposed to what are considered some of the most highly regarded works of architecture in America.
          Lancer studied architecture and urbanism at the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, and University of Brighton in Brighton, England. He holds a professional Bachelor of Architecture degree from the University of Arkansas where he also received the Edward Durell Stone Medal for design. 
         More recently, Lancer's design work has been exhibited at the Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art in Scottsdale, AZ and the Western Colorado Center for the Arts in Grand Junction. He currently serves on the Board of the Colorado West Chapter of the American Institute of Architects and the Grand Junction Commission on Arts and Culture.

Don Meyers
1048 Main Street, Grand Junction, CO 81501
H: 970-242-0426  C: 970-260-3487   E-mail: dmeyers@mesastate.edu   (Appt  4/07; term ends 2/10) 
          Don Meyers is Professor Emeritus of Art and Art Department Chairman, Mesa State College.  He taught at MSC for 28 years, was an adjunct faculty instructor for Adams State College, Metro State College, and Western State College, and also taught in the public schools.  He was an active volunteer at the Western Colorado Center for the Arts and a member of the Center Board.  He juried numerous regional art exhibitions and in 2002 was one of the recipients of the Colorado Governor's Award for Excellence in Art.  His art media include sculpture, painting, and glass and he has major works at Marillac Clinic, Colorado State Employees Federal Credit Union, Mesa State College, First Presbyterian Church, and Monument Presbyterian Church.

Vera Mulder
983 East Pabor Avenue, Fruita, CO 81521
H:  970-858-9008   C: 970-314-1245  E-mail: vmulder@acsol.net   (Appt 3/08; term ends 2/11)
          As a retired art teacher who really is not retired, Vera Mulder writes a blog about Fruita, Colorado, and teaches several kids art camp classes. Having taught art for the past 30 years at all levels, at the secondary level for most of that time, and as an adjunct art teacher at Mesa State, Vera says she actually misses the classroom. She enjoys working with students and with all kinds of people. She feels the arts, especially in these times, hold the power to teach, to inspire, and to heal the aches and pains of society.  
          Serving on the Grand Junction Commission of Arts and Culture and also the Fruita Arts Commission, keeps her connected with many forms of art, from the visual to the written, and with the individuals who create the arts. With a breadth of experience in writing, designing art curriculums, giving workshops and doing her own art work, Vera hopes to continue to be a positive influence about their importance. 

Lora Quesenberry
530 Lilac Lane, Grand Junction, CO 81505
H: 970-314-9857   E-mail: lquesenberry@bresnan.net   (Appt 3/04, reappt 4/07; term ends 2/10)
          Lora Quesenberry brings a passion for appreciating, creating, and teaching art to the job of Commissioner.  She holds a B.A. in Art Education and worked as a class room art teacher for many years.  She has also taught art to children and adults in a variety of settings in the U.S. and overseas.  In addition to teaching art, Lora is passionate about creating art.  She has worked in a variety of mediums.  Most of her current work is visual arts oriented including textiles, photography, and paper.  She has won many awards for her work and has occasionally dabbled in the commercial side of the art world.   Although she mostly works in the visual arts (and regularly takes classes to improve her skills), Lora has a deep appreciation for all formats and wishes she could spend more time attending arts events in and around Grand Junction.  Lora is nearly finished with her second three year term on the Commission.

 Kat Rhein
Vectra Bank Colorado, Assistant V-P
2394 Patterson Road, Grand Junction, CO 81505
W: 970-248-9761   C: 970-270-2096   Fax: 970-248-9770   E-mail:   kathy.rhein@vectrabank.com  (Appt 12/05; reappt 2/09; term ends 2/12)
          Kat Rhein has been involved in the arts for many years.  Growing up she spent most of her time around Linda Mason Lyle, an artist who painted General Patton and many other notable personalities.  She became involved in theater by the age of 17 and performed in innumerable plays and musicals.  She was a professional actress in Hollywood doing several films and many TV commercials.  After moving to Colorado she met her husband Jason - in the theater, of course - and they have been married 14 years.  
          Kat has served on the Arts Commission since 2005, and as the Committee Chair in 2008 and 2009-2010.  She is a great supporter of the arts in all its many forms, and loves being in Grand Junction (since 1998) because it is a community that fosters the arts and arts organizations.  Kat is the Assistant Vice President Branch Manager at Vectra Bank Colorado at 2394 Patterson Road in Grand Junction.

Tanya Smith
Grand Junction, CO 81504
E-mail: siebel69@hotmail.com   (Appt 3/08; term ends 2/11)
          Tanya Smith was born in the late 60's to hippie parents living in California who loved attending festive pot luck parties, and she reluctantly moved to Grand Junction at an early age.  She soon found Grand Junction to be a Mecca of artistic people and culture, and became enamored with the Grand Valley and the underground musical scene.   In high school Tanya began playing in bands and working in music stores to fuel her need for music.   She attended Mesa State College, majoring in Mass Communications, where during her stint working in radio, she launched her own concert promotions and productions company at the age of 22. 
          Tanya went on to write for a time as a professional reporter for several local and regional newspapers as a business/entertainment reporter.  Currently she is a journalism teacher at a local high school and spends her spare time welding found art sculptures with her mentor and collecting Day of the Dead artwork.  Tanya was honored to join the Arts Commission in the spring of 2008, and enjoys having the opportunity to share and celebrate art with Grand Valley residents.