Washougal Arts Commission finds its members

It took some time, but the Washougal Arts Commission, founded in May 2018, finally has commissioners.

Established by the city council to identify and actively encourage the development and sustainability of arts in the city, the Commission suffered from a lack of interest during its first year and city of Washougal leaders had trouble finding volunteers to serve as commissioners.

More than one year later, the commission finally has commissioners.

“It’s very exciting,” said Washougal parks and cemetery manager Suzuanne Grover, who is heading the Commission. “We have been a growing art community, and the Commission will add to the efforts that have already been made.”

Washougal Mayor Molly Coston introduced the nine commissioners during the Jan. 13 city council meeting.

The Commission will identify and actively encourage the development and sustainability of the arts in Washougal by serving as the city’s primary resource in matters of public art and culture, according to the city’s website.

“Art is coming whether the Commission exists or not, and the Commission provides structure so the city has a process for accepting that art,” Grover said. “It provides a tool for Washougal to expand its arts in publicly owned spaces. And the city will have more control over what art is provided or gifted to the city. It also enables the city to offer some financial assistance to the arts, which is a nice bonus.”

The new arts commissioners are Washougal residents Kaylyn Schmidt, Jeffree White, Jim Cooper, Jon Dewey, Linda Dalton, Christy Caplan and Annice Attoe; Camas resident Alena Guggemos; and Vancouver resident Melanie Poe.

Attoe, Caplan, Schmidt and White attended the Jan. 13 city council meeting.

White, a musician, owns and operates the Washougal School of Music, which offers private instruction in piano and a variety of string instruments.

“I (have served) about 100 students, and I’m proud to be able to do that for the community,” he said. “I’ve also been a performing artist for years, and I’ve worked with hundreds of different artists, and I’ve seen first-hand how (the arts) can bring communities together, not just on the artists’ side but on the audience side. I’m happy to help promote that endeavor in Washougal.”

Caplan is a freelance writer and author of “Wag and Cluck,” a blog about health and wellness with an emphasis on alternative techniques, enrichment ideas for dogs and outdoor tales.

“I’m just thrilled to be able to add as many values as I can to the Commission,” she said. “It’s going to be so fun.”

Attoe owns Tumtum Pilates in Washougal, where she works as an instructor.

“I’m excited to represent Washougal,” she said. “My previous career was in the arts, and I shifted gears, and now I teach pilates. I’m happy to be here.”

Schmidt, 18, is a homeschool student and lifelong Washougal resident.

“I’ve lived in Washougal all my life, and I really enjoy arts, so when the city opened up this opportunity, I thought, ‘That is so cool,'” Schmidt said.

Cooper, a retired college professor, is a member of the Washougal Arts and Culture Alliance (WACA); Poe works as an urban designer and landscape architect; Dewey is an artist and architect; and Dalton and Gueggemos are artists.

“We wanted people that touched all of the arts, whether it be media or paper or sculpting or performance,” Grover said. “We captured quite a diversity of people that cover all of the arts.”

The city received 15 applications, two of which were later withdrawn. Coston, Grover, Washougal City Councilwoman Alex Yost and WACA member Chuck Carpenter interviewed 13 candidates for the nine positions.