A Decade of Blazing Trails: The 10th Anniversary of NAIA

In 1995, the NAIA was born of the dreams of artists who had the foresight to predict how an organization of artists could better help and support one another, and who understood the impact that the collective voice of a strong membership could have on art shows.

Over the years, the NAIA has counted over 1,000 artists and 170 contributors among its supporters. NAIA opened lines of communication among artists and show directors in ways never done before through newsletters, forums, conferences, town hall meetings, surveys, mailings and person-to-person contact. It thrived on the efforts of volunteers who contributed their time, money, knowledge, expertise and sweat, to work for the betterment of artists everywhere.

Many members have contributed to the success of NAIA in varying capacities, but it is through the extraordinary efforts of a handful of members that the organization has truly thrived. Mostly working quietly behind the scenes, few people have known of the amount of work that they did to build NAIA and keep it running.

During this 10th Anniversary year, we express our heartfelt thanks to those unsung heroes - for the vision, for the progress and the promise for the future of artists and the art show environment.

To the unsung heroes, and to all of our members, we dedicate a new logo for this 10th Anniversary year that we feel reflects many of the unique elements of NAIA and its members. The logo originated from a design suggestion of NAIA's Director of Communications, Sara Corkery, that was refined by Ritchie Creative of Glen Allen, VA*. As you begin to see this logo on NAIA materials during the year, know that it was inspired by the recognition of the impact that artists and the NAIA have had on artists and art shows alike.

Some current and former Board members: Janet Parke, Sara Corkery, Sara Rishel, Cynthia Davis, Ardath Prendergast (ED), Woody Jones, Don Ament, Banister Pope, Michael Kopald, Toni Mann (back), Sally Bright (front), Rick Bruno, Suzanne Juneau, Bob Briscoe, Bonnie Blandford, Dick Carner, Bruce Meyer, Paul Germain.
Photo courtesy of Larry Berman.

10 Years of NAIA Leadership

NAIA Board

June 1995 - Initial discussion began about creating an artists' association following Old Town in Chicago.

1996

Initial Interim Officers:

President: Banister Pope
Vice-President: Larry Oliverson
Secretary: Kathy Eaton
Treasurer: Dan Gable

1997

Initial Board

Bob Briscoe (Interim Chair)
Gordon Bruno
Jody DePew McLeane
Kathy Eaton
Dan Gable
Aletha Jones
Lynn Krause
Larry Oliverson
Dale Rayburn
Celest Simon

President: Banister Pope
CFO: Barbara Pihos

1998

Bob Briscoe (Chair)
Aletha Jones (Secretary)
Gordon Bruno
Jody dePew McLeane
Kathy Eaton
Ray Hartl
Ginny Herzog
Lynn Krause
Dale Rayburn
Celest Simon

President: Banister Pope
CFO: Barbara Pihos

1999

Bob Briscoe (Chair)
Aletha Jones (Secretary)
Gordon Bruno
Kathy Eaton
Michael Hamilton
Ginny Herzog
Lynn Krause
Jody dePew McLeane
Bannister Pope
Dale Rayburn
Celeste Simon

President: Larry Oliverson
CFO: Barbara Pihos

1999 - 2000

Bob Briscoe (Chair)
Celeste Simon (Vice Chair)
Michael Hamilton (Treasurer)
Aletha Jones (Secretary)
Banister Pope
Woody Jones
Rick Foris
Pamela Hill
Toni Mann

President: Larry Oliverson
CFO: Barbara Pihos

2000 - 2001

Bob Briscoe (Chair)
Woody Jones (Chair)
Sarah Rishel (Secretary)
Michael Hamilton (Treasurer)
Don Ament
Cynthia Davis
Rick Foris
Pamela Hill
Mitch Lyons
Toni Mann
Lynn Whipple

President: Larry Oliverson
CFO: Barbara Pihos

2001 - 2002

Pamela Hill (Chair)
Cynthia Davis (Vice Chair)
Deborah Mae Broad (Secretary)
Don Ament
Bob Briscoe
Rick Foris
Michael Hamilton
Jon Hecker
Mitch Lyons
Toni Mann
Rick Nugent
Sarah Rishel

President: Larry Oliverson
CFO: Barbara Pihos

2002 - 2003

Cynthia Davis (Chair)
Sarah Rishel (Vice Chair)
Jon Hecker (Secretary)
David Greenbaum (Treasurer)
Deborah Mae Broad
Martha Giberson
Wendy Hill
Pamela Hill
Toni Mann
Rick Nugent
Mitch Lyons
Jon Michael Route

President: Larry Oliverson
CFO: Barbara Pihos

2003 - 2004

Cynthia Davis (Chair)
Sarah Rishel (Vice Chair)
Jon Hecker (Secretary)
Rick Nugent (Treasurer)
Bonnie Blandford
Sally Bright
Paul Germain
Martha Giberson
David Greenbaum
Michael Kopald
Toni Mann
Bruce Meyer
Janet Parke
Jon Michael Route

President: Larry Oliverson
Executive Director: Ardath Prendergast
CFO: Barbara Pihos

2005

Michael Kopald (Chair)
Bruce Meyer (Vice Chair)
Janet Parke (Secretary)
Bonnie Blandford (Treasurer)
Sally Bright
Richard Carner
Cynthia Davis
Paul Germain
Woody Jones
Suzanne Juneau
Toni Mann
Sarah Rishel

Executive Director: Ardath Prendergast
CFO: Barbara Pihos

*Our thanks to Paul Germain for donating a piece of his artwork in exchange for design work by Ritchie Creative.