facebook pixel

Watch Executive Director Lori Forshee-Donnay with “Erik the Travel Guy” on PBS (Watermark at mark 6:08) →

Watermark Art Center is a member-supported organization made up of hundreds of artist and art patrons throughout the region who give and volunteer to help make art programming possible. The organization is run by a Board of Directors and small group of staff.

Watermark Art Center Staff

 

General Assistance – watermark@paulbunyan.net

Lori Forshee-Donnay, Executive Director – lforshee@watermarkartcenter.org

Leah Grunzke (not pictured), Outreach Coordinator – lgrunzke@watermarkartcenter.org

Karen E. Goulet, Program Director – Miikanan Gallery – kgoulet@watermarkartcenter.org

Nokomis Paiz (not pictured), Artist Liaison – Miikanan Gallery – npaiz@watermarkartcenter.org

Jill Neumann, Art Education Program Director – jneumann@watermarkartcenter.org

Lisa Seter, Communications Director – lseter@watermarkartcenter.org


Watermark Board of Directors

Join us! Volunteer and Board Member Application Form →

WAC Executive Board/ NMF Fund Grant Selection Committee:

Lorie Yourd WAC Past President, Retired k-12 Educator, Artist and Writer, WAC Committees include: Executive Board Spoken Word Committee, and Board Recruitment Committee

Marilyn Miller WAC President Retired WAC Committees include: Executive Board, Board Recruitment and WAC Festival Commitee

  • Member, Bemidji Noon Rotary Club – Co-chair,
  • Capital Campaign for Watermark Art Center
  • Past President, Bemidji Area Arts Endowment Advisory Committee
  • Past President, North Country Health Services/Sanford Health Foundation
  • Past President, Health Care Auxiliary of Minnesota

Mike Ohl – WAC Vice President Retired Art Educator, ISD 31 WAC Committees include: Executive Board, Exhibit Committee and Exhibit Install Committee

  • 1994-2018 Art Educators of Mn
  • 1999-2003 AEM Northwest Rep
  • 2004-2018-Perpich Center for Arts Education
  • Served on all three writing teams in the development of Mn State Arts Standards
  • Co-Chair 2018 Mn State Arts Standards Writing Team

Ann Gorman – WAC  Secretary / Interim Treasurer- recently retired from IHS, pharmacy, WAC Executive Board, Exhibit Install Committee, WAC Festival Committee and Outreach through community collaborations.

WAC Board Members:

Patricia Kelly Retired Professional in healthcare industry -Employment: Vice President of Development – North Country Regional Hospital (prior to Sanford Health Services) – 25 years.

Organizational Affiliations:

  • Member and past Secretary of Bemidji Symphony Orchestra
  • Member and past Secretary of Bemidji Senior Center
  • Bemidji Chamber of Commerce – Past Board Member and Vice-President – Chamber Ambassador
  • Bemidji State University – Member and Past President of BSU Foundation
  • United Way – Past President – and Campaign Chair
  • Watermark Art Center – Board Member – Past Secretary of Board
  • Bemidji Rotary – Co-Editor of Weekly Newsletter
  • Sanford Health Foundation – Member and Co-Chair Community Relations Committee

Eric Carlson Assistant Professor of Technology, Art and Design – BSU, WAC Board and Exhibit Committee

  • MN Teacher of the Year Semifinalist MN Education Association 2018
  • MREA Profiles of Excellence Award Fabrication Arts Lab (Fab Lab) 2017
  • First Robotics Coach – Kelliher Public School 2017 – present
  • KEA President – Kelliher Education Association 2019 – 2020

 Gillian Bedford Artist, BFA Painting – Tyler School of Art and Architecture, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA WAC Board and Exhibit Committee

  • Adult teacher of Expressive Landscape Painting Class at Headwaters School of Music and Art, present
  • Head Florist for Leukins North 2019
  • Member of Orchard Artworks Gallery 2000 to closing date, 2019
  • Member of Artessa
  • Member of Artist Cultural Exchange, PA
  • Member of Cheltenham Art Center, PA
  • Member of Abington Art Center, PA

Nyleta “Zaagaatekwe” Belgarde – WAC Board and Miikanan Gallery Advisory Committee

  • Arts & Humanities Department Chair and Ojibwe Language Instructor
  • Tribal Affiliation: Turtle Mountain Ojibwe
  • Ed., Gifted Education, Oklahoma City University, 1994
  • A. Educational Anthropology, Stanford University, 1992
  • Research & Experience : Documentation of female Ojibwemowin speakers
  • Courses Taught: Speaking Ojibwe 1 & 2, Indigenous Leadership Internship

NEW BOARD MEMEBERS

Kristen Majkrzak – Spoken Word Committee 

Kathy Gustafson – WAC Festival Committee,

Emma Adams