About Earth Creative

Photography by Markus Mauthe

The purpose behind our work

ART IS THE MOST UNIVERSAL OF LANGUAGES

“The arts have an immeasurable power to ignite passion for addressing the enormity and urgency of climate change. It is all too often perceived as someone else’s problem or one so overwhelmingly massive that action is futile. Art is the most potent and far-reaching expression of our humanity and as such, has the capacity to raise awareness and inspire action where science alone comes up short. Earth Creative is a gathering platform for artists from all over the world to share their passion for sustainability and climate justice through their creations.”     Christophe Chagnard, Founder


Our Mission

Earth Creative uses the power of the arts to raise awareness about climate change to advance climate justice for all.

The Vision

Earth Creative aims to become a universally accessible resource for artists, educators, students, and audiences everywhere who share passion for climate justice and for preserving our environment for future generations.


Board Members

Clayton Brainerd
President

Portland Oregon born, award-winning bass-baritone Clayton Brainerd has sung leading roles all over the world, working with major opera and symphony companies and prominent conductors including Seiji Ozawa, Gerard Schwarz, Christophe von Dohnanyi, James Levine and Christophe Chagnard. Clayton now lives in Everett with his wife, Toni Lea, and has worked with University of Washington Facilities for the past decade. A lifelong commitment and interest in the conservation and protection of the environment, the participation on the Earth Creative board provides a dynamic opportunity to make a significant difference in the world.

Sharyn Skeeter
Secretary
Sharyn Skeeter is a writer, poet, novelist, and educator. She was fiction/poetry/book review editor at Essence and editor in chief at Black Elegance magazine. She's taught at Emerson College, University of Bridgeport, Fairfield University, and Gateway and Three Rivers community colleges. She participated in panel discussions and readings at universities in India and Singapore. Sharyn Skeeter has written and published magazine articles. Her poetry and fiction are in journals and anthologies. She lives in Seattle where she's a member of the boards of Hugo House and ACT Theatre. She's editor of the anthology What's Next? Short Fiction in Time of Change to be published in September 2022 (Green Writers Press).
David Woolley Wilson
Treasurer

David Woolley-Wilson has more 30 years of nonprofit experience focused on environmental justice and climate change. After his graduate work at UC Berkeley, Dave began his work on climate justice in the Bay Area before moving to Washington, DC in 2006 and then to Seattle in 2010. Locally, he chaired the board of Sustainable Seattle for several years and recently rolled off the board of Social Venture Partners after six years of service. As an early supporter of Terra Nostra and now Earth Creative, Dave believes that art can connect people to climate justice and encourage them to take action on the existential threat of climate change.

Raymond Chavez

A lifelong environmental activist Raymond Chavez works on projects that integrate climate change, biodiversity conservation and sustainable development. These projects have allowed him to live and travel throughout the US, Africa, Asia, Latin America, the Middle East and the Pacific. Raymond is also an award-winning producer, director and writer of documentary films for Discovery Channel, National Geographic and PBS. His most recent films include Guardians of the Kingdom, is a virtual reality film produced with Vulcan Productions in 2019 and he is the producer and director of the Sea Shepherd Ocean Action Reports online series for EarthxTV. Raymond lives on an organic farm in Virginia.

Kim Davenport

Kim Davenport is a classically trained pianist, teacher, and historian based in Tacoma, Washington. As a performer, she is passionate about sharing the works of contemporary composers, particularly the uplifting of underrepresented voices. As a researcher, she is devoted to exploring local history through a musical and artistic lens. As a teacher, she is devoted to interdisciplinary exploration, as best demonstrated by her teaching at the University of Washington, Tacoma. In addition to incorporating issues of social, racial, and environmental justice into her interdisciplinary music courses, she also teaches a hands-on course in sustainability.

Kathy Fahlman DeWalt

As a lifelong music teacher attempting to be in tune with the world, Kathy Fahlman Dewalt has enjoyed many professional avenues.  While teaching music in her hometown of Portland Oregon in the late 80s, Kathy, produced and created the national bestselling interactive children's video "Wee Sing Together". After moving to the Seattle area to raise her family, she taught piano privately and music education in the public school system. At the same time, Kathy was writing several children's story/music books with many publishers that discussed educational issues for children. From 2008 -2020, Kathy was the Co-Executive Director/Producer and Founding Creator of Ten Grands Seattle, a piano variety show whose mission was to raise money for music education.

Johnny Harris

J.R. Harris has immersed himself in his love for painting and is getting ready to unveil The Viewing Lounge! With the creation of The Viewing Lounge, he is embarking on a new chapter in his artistic endeavors, hoping to inspire others to stay creative in their lives. J.R. spent almost 20 years representing professional athletes. He travelled frequently as a sports agent throughout the country and internationally with his clients. He spent almost five years fundraising for United Way; and often speaks to youth. Now J.R. hopes to send a message to others through his artwork to stay creative in their lives and to know that if you believe you can do it, you can.”

Laurie Lauterbach
Laurie Lauterbach is a Certified Financial Planner ® with broad international and domestic financial experience. After positions with The New York Stock Exchange and the Foreign Policy Association, she retired after 15 years as a Vice President, International Private Banking at JPMorgan Chase, and an additional three years with Charles Schwab as a Private Client Advisor. During her professional career, Laurie created and presented public programs for Charles Schwab, New York Public Library, AARP, Chase Women’s Alliance and Hunter College on Financial Planning, Trust & Estates and Women & Investing and a radio program “E-trade on Air.” Since retirement, she has pursued personal interests in travel, art, music, law and public service through programs in Art Crime and Cultural Heritage at New York University and the Association for Research into Crimes against Art (ARCA) in Amelia Italy; and US Law & Methodologies and Landmark Supreme Court Cases in American History at Fordham University.
Ellen Lubbers

Ellen joined the Co-op in July of 2018 as a Technology Manager supporting many talented product and platform teams over the last few years. This summer, Ellen switched her focus to Product Transformation, working to empower teams and leaders with the knowledge, skills and mindset to provide our members with truly innovative product, services, and experiences. Ellen joined the Earth Creative board in August 2021 as co-chair of the Marketing/Events/PR committee to support the important mission to bring climate awareness and action through the arts. 

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Jodie Nelson
Jodie Nelson, an artist advisor, curator, and consultant, lives by the mantra: 'the power of art is transformative.' Jodie launched her career in art advocacy with a focus on ecofeminism 25 years ago. In 1999, she curated shows to raise awareness for river conservation with National Geographic photographers and explorers. She also helped curate notable art events, including “Heaven and Earth,” "Speak for the Trees," "What Does Compassion Look Like?," "A Precarious Edge," "BAIT: Beyond An Inconvenient Truth," and "Climate Pledge: In Glass." As the owner and director of Press Reign, a boutique arts admin agency, she has crafted projects featured in Art in America, PBS, The New York Times, Seattle Times, Forbes, Hyperallergic, and Culture Trip. Stay tuned for her upcoming podcast, "Female Frequency," which delves into the world of ecofeminism and the reclamation of spirituality, art, and ecology in the global ecomony.
Bridget Ray

Bridget is of mixed cultural heritage born and raised by the Salish Sea amongst coastal traditions. Ms. Ray is a graduate of The Evergreen State College with a dual BA/BS in Liberal Arts and Environmental Science. A development professional with over 25 years’ experience, Bridget is an accomplished Tribal Planner and Facilitator with expertise in integrated environmental projects, sustainable infrastructure and public engagement. Ms. Ray is an active participant in Tribal Canoe Journey since Paddle to Elwha 2005 with increasing involvement in “green team” deep-roots organizing that honors traditional full-circle teachings of interconnection. 

Karen Shaw
I have lived all over the world and enjoy the many different cultures of the world. Non-profit experience includes: Past President of Seattle Folklore Society, Past President of Northwest Folk Dancers, Vice-President of NW Folklife, Board of Trustees of ACT Theatre. I coordinate and run the Seattle English Dance organization. I am a teacher, and caller. I hire other callers and the musicians who play for our dances. I have taught English dancing at many Seattle venues and private schools in the greater Seattle area. I have also performed with many dance groups including Morris Dance, Finnish dance, Irish dance, and English dance. My husband and I enjoy all forms of dance, and music, and participate in many activities around Puget Sound.
George Frandsen
Legal Counsel
George Frandsen is a practicing attorney with 25 years of experience as legal counsel to nonprofit organizations. He was legal counsel, a vice-president and board member of the International Organization of Folk Art (IOV) from 1980, finally serving a six-year term as the organization’s Secretary General. During his tenure as Secretary General he established a partnership with the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). He is currently an accredited consultant to the Intangible Cultural Heritage Section of UNESCO. Frandsen is also a civil rights activist, having served on the national board of the American Civil Liberties Union, board member of ACLU Southern California, and as president of the board of the ACLU of Utah
Christophe Chagnard
Founder
Engagement through creativity has been at the core of Christophe Chagnard’s philosophy throughout his distinguished career. As a composer, his music addressed pressing global issues such as systemic racism, climate change, intolerance, and social injustice. His latest works “Gaman” (2017) and “Terra Nostra” (2019) address systemic racism and climate change respectively. As a Grammy-nominated conductor, Christophe Chagnard has led a vast repertoire of symphonic, operatic, and ballet works of all styles and periods. He has also spent three decades making the concert hall accessible to all, addressing the elitist stereotype that plagues this art form. As a guitarist, he explores a wide array of styles and traditions together in genre-defying creations intended to present an open and inclusive voice that transcends labels.