Art Haven is a nonprofit mobile art education program created to bring art opportunities to as many children as possible.

We built this program with the idea of creating more affordable opportunities for children to participate in art programs throughout the state.

Bret Peterson- President of the Board

 

Kirk – Vice President of the Board

 

Cori Flanders – Treasurer of the Board

 

  Kimberly Flynn – Board Member/ Curriculum

Kim has been working with children for the past 15 years as an educator, photographer, party planner, and therapist. She obtained her Master’s Degree in Art Therapy specializing in children and family and has since worked with many populations including community mental health, special education, and private practice. One of the most personally rewarding experiences was her art instruction of cancer patients at University of Washington medical center. Kim’s goal is to help others develop a passion and appreciation for the arts, utilizing different media and activities as a positive outlet to express themselves.

 

   Taska Williams – Executive Director

Taska has a degree in Computer Graphics and Art Design. She enjoys several different elements of art including computer graphics, painting, drawing, and refinishing furniture. She has held leadership positions involving art and personal growth with children through school and religious organizations. Taska was the manager in the state of Utah for an art company, Smart with Art for two years prior to venturing out and becoming a founder of her own organization. She is convinced that art plays an intricate roll in the educational development of children. She believes art, in all of its mediums, is a great way for individuals to express themselves.  As a mother of three children, Taska is always looking for a great art project to expand her children’s love of learning.

 

  Teresa Young – Chief Financial Officer

Teresa has been a business owner for 40 years, but she is an artist at heart! She has had a fascination with faces since childhood when she began using markers to paint make-up on her dolls. She won numerous awards in Junior and Senior High Schools for drawing and painting. She started her college experience with an Art Talent Award to BYU. The Art Department’s focus on commercial and graphic arts did not suit Teresa then, since she just “wanted to paint!” She painted a few family portraits in those early days, but eventually changed her major.  Through the years, however, she used her artistic skills to enhance her involvement in various fields: Painting scenes on the walls of her Daycare Center; Creating art projects for her Preschool students; Painting hundreds of faces as a Make-up Artist; Creating original artwork for training presentations; Illustrating for sales promotions, training manuals, and educational posters; Teaching art classes in both private and public schools; Creating renderings for interior office designs. 

Teresa is a graduate of Brigham Young University with a bachelor’s degree in Child Development, a minor in Psychology, and an Associate’s degree in Family Studies. Over the years, she has been the Administrator for 4 private schools and has served on the Day Care Advisory Council for Utah.  Part of Teresa’s life mission is to help children on their way to becoming confident, capable, and creative adults.

 

  Britta Schugk – Educator

 

  Garrett Schugk – Educator Assistant

 

   Terran Eagar – Educator Assistant

I am for all things art!  I love creating and assisting kids with their art!  It has been so fun to learn how to teach and see how creative the kids are!

 

Rachael Cox – Trainer/Educator

Kylen Laws – Supplies/Inventory

  Maddie Christensen – Educator

Hi! My name is Maddie. I’m an artist, seamstress, photographer and entrepreneur. One of my favorite things to do besides working on all my passions is teaching them. That’s what brought me to Art Haven! I’ve been working with Art Haven  since January 2019 and it has been an awesome experience. Whether you’re 5 or 105, I believe art should be about the process and then the product. I strive to provide a positive, friendly, fun, relaxing atmosphere for a successful, creative and rewarding experience. I believe art is both powerful and empowering. It’s a form of therapy; a stress reliever and that the-doing-of-art is healing. A side from working at Art Haven I hold private art lessons, photograph memorable moments for clients and run my business, Country Eyes . Ocean Heart. 

 

 

  Lily Gertler – Educator

I grew up around the Seattle art scene. I started to become artistically involved with ceramics and would design pottery. Then I became interested in contributing ideas of mine into other miscellaneous things such as; album covers, stickers, short books and abstract drawings. I am currently an art student at the U. I am very experimental in my mostly contemporary art and have enjoyed learning how to utilize lots of different mediums. I love teaching and have incorporated my knowledge of art into my work with people for the past three years.

 

Dorene Thomas – Educator Assistant

 

 

  Samantha Morford – Educator

My name is Samantha Morford, I am a student at UVU working towards a BFA with an emphasis in painting, drawing, and printmaking. Since I was little, art has been a massive part of who I am. Everything I do seems to revolve around it and I wouldn’t have it any other way!! I hope to inspire and teach my classes to adore the arts as much as I do.

 

  Chelsy Terry – Educator

Chelsy has always been interested in art ever since she was a young child. She graduated from Utah Valley University with a Bachelor of Science in Art and Design. Though she emphasized ceramics and sculpture through her education, she has the knowledge and ability to work with many other mediums. She uses the skills that she has learned to teach children and to repair and restore dinosaur bones.  She has worked with children often through most of her life as a daycare provider and as an art teacher. When she is not working, she enjoys quiet evenings with her husband, son, two dogs, and two cats. Camping, hunting, and fishing are just a few of the activities that she enjoys.

 

Cori Bronicel – Educator Assistant

 

  Rosalyn Payne – Educator

Rosalyn has been involved for over thirty years with coordinating and administering children’s art activities in various capacities through art museums, library programs, school clubs, drama groups, youth camps, scouting organizations, preschools, local fairs, and community events. She has worked as an Art Specialist for the last eight years teaching up to 750 students each week in Nebo elementary schools, and she currently serves on the Statewide Art Partnership board.

Her interests include exploring digital photography techniques, textile design, ceramics, dramatic storytelling, hiking, rock climbing, scuba diving, geology, ecology, and history. She has traveled to visit museums and experience cultural treasures of many countries throughout Europe, the Mediterranean, North and Central America.

Her mission is to provide children with opportunities to enhance self-efficacy, creative thinking, effective decision-making, collaborative synergy, and promote a growth mindset through artistic experiences that integrate cultural and environmental awareness.  She is always excited to see the incredible creativity of children; how they extend the concepts they are taught and come up with such amazing ideas!

 

   Lori Volmar

I was always the child that hurried up to get school work done, so I could start on an art project. It brings me great joy to work with children and see them create, explore, and discover their uniqueness.  My background is in Fashion Merchandising and  I graduated from FIDM in Los Angeles in which I pursued a career involving children’s clothing.  I have been active in teaching sewing to youth in Orange County until my recent move here to Utah. My favorite thing to do is make a creative mess.

 

  Margarita Papakosta – Educator

Mrs. Papakosta is from Athens, Greece. She organized and hosted many art & craft seminars for adults in her community and also the elementary and high schools in which she taught. How did Mrs. Papakosta end up in Utah? Her life’s adventures provided opportunities like participating in Greece’s poetry translation symposium, translating and creating cooking art in New York City, and meeting the love of her life who happens to live in Sandy, Utah. Mrs. Papakosta continues her creative flair in Utah by creating art & craft events, face painting, and posting her recipes on Instagram. She continues her scholastic interest by teaching at the American Preparatory Academy in Draper, Utah.

 

  Rylee Brown – Educator

Hello, my name is Rylee! I’ve always loved art, all types of it! I tried learning many instruments, danced for 11 years, and my favorite medium of art is acrylic paint. I love to paint bugs and nature in particular. I am the oldest of three siblings, my sister being 15 and my twin brothers just turned 3, so as you can see I love to play and still have a child-like spirit. I love Art Haven as well as teaching!

 

  Shelby Shields – Educator

Shelby is a working artist based in Salt Lake City and has been teaching art for the past few years. She received her Bachelors of Art with an emphasis in painting and drawing in 2016 from the University of North Georgia. She has apprenticed and learned under numerous nationally and internationally known and accomplished artist.  Having been a student in the past, Shelby uses her experiences to help others achieve their goals and grow as artists. Shelby loves to teach art and is excited to share her knowledge and experiences with you as you continue to learn and grow as artists.

 

   Jill Cook – Educator

The only thing Jill loves more than making art is teaching! She is passionate about sharing her love of art with others and feels that anybody can learn to draw and paint and enjoy the process. Jill has a BFA with an emphasis in painting and drawing and a degree in art education from BYU. She has taught art in the Jordan and Canyons school districts and has presented numerous elementary school assemblies about art history.  She is also a working studio artist. Jill believes strongly in art’s healing power. She feels that helping young people find a voice through their art is the most rewarding part of teaching. Her classroom is a safe, relaxed and sometimes goofy place where students feel comfortable expressing themselves artistically while developing confidence in their skills.

 

Kelly Zopes – Educator