Stephanie Mason, Past Member

Stephanie Mason (PhD, MEd, MA) has a doctoral degree in Educational Studies specializing in Lifelong Learning from Mount Saint Vincent University in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, and is currently a Postdoctoral Fellow at the Nova Scotia Centre on Aging. She is interested in arts-informed research methodology, public places, and informal learning, as well as unpaid caregiving. 

Stephanie was born in Ontario, and lived and worked in Auckland, New Zealand for several years as an instructor at performing arts and postsecondary institutions. When she’s not at a computer, she enjoys day trips from Halifax, thrift store shopping, and doting on her two cats.

Benny Welter-Nolan, PAst Treasurer

Benny Welter-Nolan is an artist in Halifax and the Executive Director of Visual Arts Nova Scotia, they have been on a board director at The Youth Project, Eyelevel Artist Run Centre, NSCAD University, and Halifax Crafters. They have managed finances for the bulk of their career in arts administration and are an advocate of financial literacy and budgeting for sustainability.

SABINE FELS, past CHAIR

Sabine Fels currently works as a fine art specialist for Halifax Regional Arts - a new division of the Halifax Regional Centre for Education. Trained as an artist, educator and art administrator, Sabine has been a strong advocate for youth programming in the arts here in Halifax for over two decades. She has served on the board of directors of numerous arts organization and held the position as president of Youth Art Connection and the Art Teacher Association of Nova Scotia. In addition to teaching in, through, and about the arts in the public schools, she is also involved in the development of the arts curriculum as well as mentorship programs for young artists. (As of February 2020, Sabine is on medical leave.)

JESSICA WINTON, past PRESIDENT

Jessica Winton is a practicing sculptor based in Halifax, NS. She brings her 20-year involvement as an artist in the north end Halifax community to the board. Her work on previous society boards, The Paradise Sisters Cinema and Photopolis Festival, as well as experience curating the Hydrostone Gallery has given her a depth of knowledge applicable to her current role as President of Wonder’neath Art Society.

After attaining her MFA from NSCAD University, her personal practice has continued to investigate the role of the citizen artist in the public spheres we occupy. Her work follows Joseph Beuys’ theory of the importance of sculpture’s relationship to the social, and often includes participation from members of the publics, particularly neighbourhood children, and elders. Her recurrent experience as a prop builder in the Film & Television industry has influenced her atypical approach to material usage, and tendency toward performance.

Raven Davis, past vice president

Raven Davis is a multidisciplinary artist, curator, performer, social justice speaker/advocate and community facilitator from the Anishinaabek Nation in Manitoba. Davis was born and raised in Tkaronto (Toronto) and currently works between K’jipuktuk (Halifax) and Tkaronto. A parent of 3 sons, Davis blends narratives of colonization, race, gender, sexuality, Two-Spirit identity and the Anishinaabemowin language and culture into a variety of contemporary art forms.  Davis currently holds a position on the Aboriginal Curatorial Collective board of directors and is a festival co-director for Queer Acts Halifax.

Update: Raven served on our board from Oct 2014 - March 2018, helping Wonder'neath grow and stabilize as a society. We are so grateful for their guidance and dedication – and look tremendously forward to Raven's next curatorial projects, collaborations, and their personal art practice.

TYLER COLBOURNE, past VICE PRESIDENT 

My name is Tyler Colbourne. Most of my adult life has been filled with transcendent experiences in adult-education, tourism, non-profit, and the creative arts. I have been very privileged to do a great many magical things in my adult life: I have worked as a flight attendant, I have photographed fairy tale princes on the ocean floor, and I even worked as a pirate on a tall-ship sailing schooner.

Through my many and diverse experiences I have always been in pursuit of more freedom, creativity, vitality, and harmony for myself and others. I believe in being ruthlessly compassionate and honestly vulnerable. I work as a coordinator for the Dartmouth Learning Network and as a photographer.

I am a lifelong volunteer and try to give back when I can to Halifax Jazz Festival, the Youth Project, and Big Brothers Big Sisters. In 2015 I was awarded the Governor General’s Caring Canadian Award and this year I received the Sovereign Medal for Volunteers.

Cecilia Greyson, past SEcretary

Cecilia Greyson is a writer and administrator based in Halifax, NS. After studying visual art at Simon Fraser University, she worked for ten years in arts administration and festival production in Vancouver, managing large-scale arts events like Illuminares, Pride Festival, First Night Vancouver, and the 2010 Cultural Olympiad. She holds a Masters degree in Journalism, and has worked as a media spokesperson, advisor and organizer for prominent human-rights causes and political campaigns.

M. Ali ülkü, past member

Dr. M. Ali Ülkü is a professor and the Director of Centre for International Trade and Transportation at the Rowe School of Business, Dalhousie University. His research writings revolve around sustainable supply chain management and business analytics. He pro-bono consults to nonprofit organizations and sits on the Advisory Board of Wonder'neath Art Society. In his spare time, he enjoys being with his lovely family and appreciates art works.

Renée Forrestall, past member

Renée Forrestall is a Halifax based painter, and art educator. Renee teaches at NSCAD University and Halifax Grammar School. She has a special interest in working with non-profits including Wonder’neath and The Halifax N.S. Down Syndrome Society. In 2007, Renee created Team Possibles, an arts exploration group that addresses social, cultural, and expressive needs of young adults with Down Syndrome through engagement in different art forms including: visual arts, film, and dance, music and theatre.

Renée holds a BFA and BA in Art Education from NSCAD. She studied forensic art in the U.S. and has held residencies at Dalhousie Medical School and the Queen Elizabeth Health Sciences Centre in Halifax. Renee has received provincial scholarships and grants and her artwork is in the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia, and numerous corporate and private collections. She is currently represented by Secord Gallery in Halifax. 

KYRIE ROBINSON, PAST SECRETARY 

Kyrie is a 4th year student at King’s college and Dalhousie University studying Social Anthropology and Early Modern Studies with a focus on Art History. Born and raised in Halifax she has been part of the art and music community for many years, working the Nova Scotia Youth Orchestra both as a musician, but also in production and librarian roles. At home, she is kept company by Border Collies, sheep and horses. She is very excited to work with all the wonderful people that make up the fabric of Wonder’neath Arts Society.

LAURA ROY, past member

Trained at NSCAD University (BFA in Interdisciplinary Studies 2012 and a Visual Art Certificate in Design 2016), I am an artist and designer who works with a variety of materials, ranging from traditional illustration, printmaking and letterpress to painting, embroidery, textiles and sculpture. I currently have a small paper goods business called Impressions with product items ranging in style from traditional ink drawings to letterpress printing.

David DeLara, Past Treasurer

David Delara has an accounting background, has worked in Financial Services at CIBC, and with TD Insurance, and has organized sports-based community development in the Philippines, is involved in the local music scene, and in creating safe dance/gathering spaces for newcomers and People of Colour. He is a long-time supporter of Wonder’neath’s work.

FAITH ALLEN, Past Treasurer

Faith Allen is an accountant/bookkeeper based in the Halifax/Dartmouth area. She has worked in the film industry for over thirteen years, having started on animation productions with Halifax Film (now DHX Media). Originally from the Eastern Shore, where the rugged rural environment helped contribute to her lifelong love and appreciation for nature, she now resides in Dartmouth. In her downtime, Faith enjoys hiking, yoga, and singing songs with friends and family. Having joined the WAS Board as Treasurer for 2 years, and continues to bring her experience and dedication to the organization.

JESSICA MACDONALD, Past member

A graduate of NSCAD University, Jessica is a multidisciplinary artist and arts facilitator in the community who has been involved in Wonder’neath since 2017 including two summers with Art Bikers. She is involved in music, film and theatre and strives to bring together various media in her practice, working towards accessibility, inclusivity and reimagining what art can mean.

ERIKA MENDES, Past member

Erika Mendes has her degree in Psychology from St. Francis Xavier University. She has spent a number of years working with at-risk youth and their families facing issues such as substance abuse, mental health and building healthy relationships. Erika also has a background in fine arts and working with children of all ages. Her position as Youth Program Coordinator and North End Community Circle Facilitator at Veith House has allowed her to stay connected with her North End roots.

Sally Morgan, Past Vice President

(BFA, MES, Dip. EE)

Sally Morgan lives in the north end of Kjipuktuk/Halifax. She is a mother, dance/interdisciplinary artist, performer, academic, and educator, with research areas in dance and performance studies, environmental humanities, and environmental/place-based education. She has extensive teaching experience in a variety of educational settings and has been teaching as a contract academic for the last several years. Sally is passionate about community arts outreach and education. She works under the umbrella SLOW DANCE LAB and teaches yoga, Pilates, and somatic movement education through Eastward Moving Dance + Somatics. Sally is excited to be working with the sense archive artist collective on a multi-year project titled This Body of Work.

Solomon Nagler, past member

Solomon Nagler is a filmmaker and educator who is passionate about community artist run centres, and he has volunteered and served on several committees and boards of film and media coops across the country. Originally from Winnipeg, he is now based in Kjipuktuk (Halifax, Nova Scotia), where he teaches at NSCAD. He is a firm believer that creation, mentorship and community outreach are inseparable parts of artistic process.

John Hedley, past Secretary

I was happy to join this talented and dedicated group in 2016. I helped people through the refugee process in my past volunteer work and by day I’ve been working in a Halifax law firm for 20 years. I hope to bring something from that background to Wonder’neath. As a parent and neighbour I am thankful for the opportunity to join such a fun and important part of our Halifax community.