Meet the Staff
Elisabeth Setten
executive director
415.451.8119 x702
elisabeth@artworksdowntown.org
Elisabeth is passionate about the visual arts and is committed to the vision that creative cultural environments are essential to society’s well-being. Elisabeth has 25+ years of experience managing diverse real estate holdings and communities and is currently a board member with the San Rafael Business Improvement District, the Downtown San Rafael Arts District, and the Dia de Los Muertos Organizing Committee. Elisabeth spent her childhood in San Francisco with her artist family and later attended high school, college, and graduate school in Boston. She is an avid gardener and currently resides on a 3-acre organic farm.
Stan Gibbs
program manager
415.451.8119 x701
stan@artworksdowntown.org
Stan Gibbs, has been a cornerstone of Art Works Downtown since 2001, where he manages office operations, exhibits, events, and programing. Having had a decade-long studio practice, Stan has painted murals and contributed various albums, alongside serving as president of the Business Improvement District and volunteering for AlterTheater. He finds creative solace in both music and painting, and cherishes moments with family while appreciating the vibrant offerings of the San Francisco Bay Area.
Kieran Strahan
gallery host
Humanity’s ability to communicate before written language was first done through visual story telling. Everyone has a story to tell and it takes work to create it. Artwork in the modern day is sometimes questioned for its value in society. Yet if you talk to artists, thinkers and creatives, it is a driving force that empowers them and others to keep telling their stories. Art came first before cities and farms, it is necessary to have as a species to bring up hard topics or show the truth of beauty in nature. It is a way to circle back to the meaning beyond our day to day lives, or just a whimsical take on imaginative creativity.
A painter and Illustrator, I create from life, drawing from nature and portraits. In staying current, I study animation in 3D and 2D digital art, as well as make my own masks, sculptures and 3D prints! My website is: www.kieranstrachan.com
Meet our Board
Will Toft
interim president, treasurer
Will Toft is a portrait and fine art photographer, who has devoted himself to the arts following a career in technology that started at the National Geographic Society in Washington DC. He managed technology and engineering for over a decade at First Republic Bank in San Francisco, and most recently was CIO of the Asian Art Museum. He has also worked as a barista, a carpenter, helped build theater sets, raced bicycles and motorcycles, volunteers with the SF/Marin Food Bank and is a nationally-known roller derby photographer. His work has appeared in the San Francisco Chronicle, California Adventure Sports Journal, the Castro Valley Advance, marketing posters, annual reports, websites, and of course all forms of social media.
Tobi Lessem
vice president
Tobi Lessem is owner of Body Wise Massage in downtown San Rafael. Tobi’s healing expertise, business acumen, and background in community building helps Art Works Downtown maintain its mission to provide an environment to thrive for the well being of community. Tobi in an active community volunteer, she also sits on the Downtown Business Improvement board of directors. www.bodywisemassageinc.com
Rachael Staudt
Secretary
Rachael is a multiple media artist and the founder of Project Squeeble, which combines her love for creating monsters with her support for sustainability of all kinds. She is also working to create a community space for artists at her studio space in Sausalito.
Rachael grew up with an arts-focused childhood, but in her adulthood has broadened her analytical and business skills by acquiring a BS in Applied Mathematics, and then attending the Presidio Graduate School for a dual MBA and MPA.
Rachael is delighted to be a member of the Art Works Downtown board and is excited to support their mission of creating a sustainable environment in Marin where artists can thrive. www.projectsqueeble.com
Irene Bee Kain
Irene Bee Kain Bay Area Artist / Curator who happily fell head over heels with AWD a year ago. As an artist that wants everyone to be a successful artist AWD feels like the right fit and outlet for much success for all involved.
www.irenebeekain.com IG: @irene_beekain
Terry Lofrano
Terry Lofrano has served on the Art Works Downtown board for over a decade. He is principle of Lofrano Architecture Sculpture Design and a 43 year resident of San Rafael. Terry has been constantly involved with art from the earliest age. He is passionate about all art forms of art which lead him to begin his architectural practice before graduation from UC Berkeley. Terry works in the artistic media of sketching and sculpture as an adjunct to his architectural design practice. He created the epic Starry Night metal and cast glass sculpture for the past AWD fundraiser Starry Night. Terry leads the AWD building committee, has deep knowledge of our historic 1880’s building, and provides valuable expertise with all building related issues.
Advisors
Judy Gum, CFO
Harry L. Caldwell IV
Donna Seager
Kala Venugopal Shah
Phyllis Thelen
Jay Yinger