Executive Committee Members:
 President |
Veva Vonler, long-time Denton resident, retired from TWU in 2000, where she was Associate Dean for Graduate Studies and Director of Continuing Education since 1983. Since that time, she has remained active working with the NTCC Consortium and as an Adjunct Assistant Professor of English at TWU. In 2005, Vonler published a book The Movie-Lover’s Tour of Texas: Reel-Life Rambles through the Lone Star State. She received her Ph.D. and her M.A. in English from UNT. She is the daughter of June Donowho and is married to Bob Huffaker. |
 Vice-President |
Lin Hampton has a passion for paint and for pastel. The creative lifestyle is her obsession and her best days are those behind the easel, or working on something new and creative like artistically designed walking sticks. Lin grew up on a small ranch outside of Fort Worth, and traveled to Denton for an Art Education shortly after the loss of her Dad. Lin believes that every day is a blessing and strives to fulfill a vocation of working with the Creative Spirit running rampant through her mind. She was recently co-owner of the Creative Art Studio but left that routine for deeper discovery and exploration, and to embrace life and her obsessions more intensely. Lin enjoys seeking new Artists to provide inspiration, motivation, and demonstrations for VAST. |
 Secretary |
Eloise Sears, a resident of Denton since 1957, retired from UNT in 2001. Since then she has pursued her interest in traveling and painting. Eloise has served on the Steering Committee for RIPS (UNT retiree group) for the past four years. She was elected Historian for 2010 – 2012 of Trippers (travel group sponsored by First United Methodist Church (FUMC) and also served on the Administrative Board at FUMC. She was also a volunteer for Our Daily Bread from 2002-2007. Eloise shares her life with fellow VAST member and photographer, Ray Sears. |
 Treasurer |
D. Jan Jones is a Jewelry/Metals artist. Local to Denton and a graduate of Denton High, Jan received her BFA in Art Education from UNT. She did graduate work at TWU and then completed her MFA in Metals with a Sculpture minor at UNT. She taught metals in Galveston in coordination with GCCAC and has a a long history in doctor and office management in the Medical field. She presently resides with her husband and UNT student daughter in Copper Canyon where she continues to create jewelry/metal pieces. Jan joined VAST to give herself an "Art Night Out" with her friends and has not been disappointed. |
Directors: |
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Thom Anderson, Community Relations Manager at Barnes & Noble in Denton, has been a bookseller for 12 years. He previously worked in medical offices after college and medical office management training. Thom brings to the board “a natural affinity for artists whom he likes to befriend and serve in order to learn their work processes and their nature.” |
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Penelope Bisbee, a Dallas resident, recently received her MFA in painting at TWU in Denton. She is interested in making paintings that address timely issues such as global warming in a thoughtful, engaging way. Horses, (hunters/jumpers), are her other passion. |
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Robin W. Butt, an occupational therapist, has an MFA in printmaking and painting. She was VAST Historian from 2002 to 2009. "VAST has been a generous, supportive, and integral part of inspiring me to return to painting. I feel as a VAST Board member I can contribute as an artist and a Denton resident as well as serving as a link to the academic visual arts community." |
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Isabel Cano is a 2nd grade bilingual teacher at Hodge Elementary in Denton. She made her home in Denton after growing up in 5 continents. She graduated from TWU with a BS in Fashion Merchandising. She loves teaching and dealing with all the challenges and rewards that being a bilingual teacher brings. She describes herself as a long time closet artist. Isabel feels honored to be a part of VAST. |
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Andrew DeCaen is an Assistant Professor and Printmaking Area Coordinator at the University of North Texas. DeCaen holds an MFA from the University of South Dakota and a Bachelor of Arts in Fine Arts from the University of Dallas. DeCaen’s work has been shown broadly in exhibitions in the United States and in Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, China, Denmark, Japan, Korea, Romania, and Turkey. |
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Barbara Evans is an attorney and mediator in private practice, working in family law, elder law, probate and collaborative law. Before law school, she received her Masters of Architecture degree. For relaxation, she enjoys fiber arts and mixed media projects. She finds her volunteer work with VAST a great opportunity to associate with wonderful, creative and inspirational artists in the Denton community. |
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With a BA degree in social work, Kerry Goree worked as an employment and correctional counselor before entering the insurance business in 1974. He has lived in Denton since 1991 and owns a State Farm Insurance Agency. His community involvement includes board service for the Salvation Army, Denton Public Library, Denton Black Chamber of Commerce, Denton County Chapter of NAACP, and GDAC. |
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Raised on the Kansas plains, Becca Hines has lived in Denton since 1971. After receiving a BS from TWU and MS from Florida State, she taught kindergarten and elementary school. She retired in 2003 and joined VAST to renew her interest in watercolor painting and to work in the arts. She has served on the boards of VAST and the Treehouse After School Program. |
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Beth Honeycutt, paralegal and poet, is a graduate of UNT who remained in Denton. Involved in church and extra-curricular DISD programs, she is employed at a local family law firm. A proponent of the power of words and a charter member of the Denton Poets Assembly, Beth has been published in a variety of venues and believes in the unity of family and community to nurture creative expression. |
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Dr. Jim Johnson (UNT Emeritus, 1995) is a charter member of NTAAL and its third President (1978-79). He has been active in the Denton Community Theater as well as serving as President of the Greater Denton Arts Council. His watercolors have been accepted in Texas Fine Arts Association, Southwestern Watercolor Society, and the Louisiana Watercolor Society juried exhibitions. He received the CARA, Community Arts Recognition Award (individual artist) in 2004. |
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Tonya Littmann is the owner and designer of a graphic design business, Tonya Littmann Design with clients ranging from local school districts to Fortune 1000 companies. For more than 20 years, she has also created pictoral art quilts using a wide range of fibers as her medium. Her art quilts have been recognized with numerous awards and featured in national magazines and books. In addition to VAST, Tonya serves on the boards of the Denton Quilt Guild and the Quilters Guild of Dallas Show Committee. |
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David McCullar is the Denton ISD, Director of Fine Arts. He serves on the Greater Denton Arts Council Governing Board and has served on the Music Theatre of Denton Governing Board for three years. David has a BME and MM from Baylor University and has completed post-graduate study toward a PhD in Fine Arts, Texas Tech University. |
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Amber O’Dell is a visual artist who recently became a certified teacher. After receiving her BFA in Painting and Sculpture in 2005, she has been actively involved with VAST, GDAC, UNT and the Dallas Contemporary. Currently, she is working in technical education and bolstering her oeuvre. |
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Tanya Synar teaches Sculpture and has been a member of the TWU faculty since 2004. Tanya specializes in Sculpture involving a variety of media both alternative and traditional. She has an extensive background in metal casting including iron and is currently focusing on video installation. She has won numerous awards including an Illinois Arts Council Grant and has exhibited nationally and internationally. |
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Carmen Underwood, a retired Spanish and French teacher, has a BA and an MA from Southern Illinois University-Carbondale. Carmen joined VAST in 2004 and has served as First Vice-President in charge of programs from 2006 to 2008. She has many interests: traveling, practicing French, reading, playing bridge and taking Watercolor classes from Jo Williams and Mary Emerson. |
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Dr. T. Jervis Underwood is Professor Emeritus, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale. He returned to Denton which he calls “home” in 1996, following his retirement from his teaching position in the School of Music. Since his retirement Jervis has dedicated many hours to community service. He has held various positions for the City of Oak Point, where he resides with his wife, Carmen. He joined Vast in 2005 and served as President in 2008-2009. |
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Jorge Urbina has a law practice and title company in Denton. Influenced in part by service as a Peace Corps volunteer in the Ivory Coast, he is passionate about social change and diversity issues. He works with various local organizations including GDAC, Ruth’s Room/Habitat for Humanity, LULAC, and NAACP. He currently serves as the Chair of the Denton Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. |
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Diane Walker-Gladneyis a contemporary painter whose work is often noted for its quiet simplicity, elegance, and content. A native of Connecticut with her Master's degree in art, Diane is an accomplished painter whose work has been featured in New American Paintings and can be found in numerous public and private collections including the Longview Museum of Fine Art. Solo exhibitions include the Duncan and Miller Gallery, Washington, DC, Dallas Contemporary Art Center, Southeastern Oklahoma State University, and others. Among her many group exhibitions are Craighead-Green Gallery, Dallas; Eiseman Center, Richardson; University of Dallas, Haggar Gallery, Dallas; and the Arlington Museum of Art. She has been accepted into numerous juried exhibitions including Critic’s Choice, Dallas Visual Art Center, Dallas; Art in the Metroplex, and the VAST national and regional exhibitions. She is represented by M.A. Doran Gallery in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Zatista and Guild.com. Walker-Gladney resides in Flower Mound, Texas and was named a Hunting Art Prize finalist in 2007 and 2009. |
VAST Staff |
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Dr. Lynne Cox, Executive Director, is a photographer and quilter and has taught design-based courses for almost 20 years. She taught Architecture at Skyline High School in Dallas for seven years and then moved to the University of North Texas to work and complete post-graduate studies. Lynne has a BED in architecture from Texas A&M University, a MEd from UNT and a PhD from UNT in Career and Technical Education (CTE) from the College of Information with a minor in Organizational Behavior/Project Management from the College of Business. In addition to working part-time for VAST, she is an adjunct faculty member of the College of Information and works full-time at UNT creating professional development materials and coordinating other statewide curriculum projects for CTE teachers in the Arts, Audio/Video Technology, and Communications Cluster. She lives in Highland Village with her husband, daughter, and son. She has served as President and Treasurer of VAST. |
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Deanna Wood, Assistant to ED, spent most of her childhood moving around the country with her family, returning to Texas in 1982. She received a Bachelor of Fine Arts and a Master of Arts in graphic design and a Master of Fine Arts in painting, all from Texas Woman's University. She has a studio in Sanger where she conducts workshops in encaustic painting and bookbinding. She lives in Denton with her son. |