The arts have become a strong, unifying force for Midtown Kingston since MAD was launched in 2016. In early November, a meeting of the MAD Board of Directors and MAD Advisory Board was held at Bailey Pottery Equipment. During the fun-filled evening of celebration, attendees mingled with the new Board members and learned more about the impressive accomplishments of MAD.

Four community leaders joined the Board, adding their commitment to original Board members Anne Bailey (President), Ray Curran (Vice President) and Richard Frumess (Treasurer). New member Renee Darmstadt was elected Secretary of the Board and was joined by Sarah Garcia Carlson, Nina Dawson and Riley Johndonnell. All seven members will now continue to guide MAD’s efforts to help Midtown grow and prosper.

Welcome to the New MAD Board members!

Sarah Garcia Carlson – Sarah is an artist, filmmaker and community engager who facilitates happenings at The Lace Mill and teaches film production to college students. She’s currently developing a collaborative community arts hub, Re/Weave Arts, in Kingston, and is passionate about creating her own art at the intersection of sound and vision, using experimental, narrative and documentary forms. She received her MFA in Film Directing from Northwestern University and spent her early years in Austin, Texas.

Renee Darmstadt – Renee has been the Gallery/Studio Director and Event Planner at Cornell St. Studios, a multi-studio complex for the arts in Midtown Kingston, since 2008. She ran four years of collegiate track at Wagner College and is a certified AFAA instructor. Renee teaches fitness classes and offers personal training, as well as a wide variety of community events at this vibrant Midtown destination.

Nina Dawson – Nina is a lifelong Kingston resident who is serving her third two-year term as the Ward 4 Alderwoman on the Kingston City Council, where she is also chairperson of the Community Development Committee. She is employed as Medical Staff Coordinator at the Broadway Campus of HealthAlliance Hospital in Kingston, a member of Westchester Medical Center Health Network.

Riley Johndonnell – Riley produces civic projects by engaging the general public in installations, pop-up spaces (Happy Spot in Midtown), videos and campaigns, and collaborated with Pantone Color Institute to create a signature color – International Optimism Yellow (INT-O Yellow) – to shine a light on depression awareness. His early work in advertising, luxury branding (BMW, Disney, Louis Vuitton, others) and fashion (dressing Grace Jones and Lenny Kravitz) informs his use of conceptual artistry to work on social causes, community development and public art-design.

MAD is very grateful for their service to our community. Introduce yourself the next time you see one of them at 1st Saturday or another MAD event.

 

Left to right: Richard Frumess, Renee Darmstadt, Anne Bailey, Nina Dawson, Sarah Garcia Carlson, Riley Johndonnell, Ray Curran