"Unleashing Fierce Young Talent On The World"

Interested in volunteering?

 

We have several opportunities available.

 

Internships for college credit.

 

Fundraising.

 

Assistance with opening receptions.

 

Grant research.

 

Volunteers can use donation hours on their taxes.

Board of Directors

Founder  and CEO, Melissa Inez Walker

VCEO, Mark Chavis, Texture Fine Finishes, Owner

CFO, Suzanne Schaffner

Secretary, Kelly Vivanco, successful artist

Travis Sevilla, High Tech High, Arts teacher

 

Advisory Board

Jonathan Pool, CPA, Owner, Jonathan Pool, CPA

Katie Ragazzi, Executive Director, Escondido Education Foundation

Doug Simay, MD, Simayspace, Owner, Co-Founder San Diego Arts College

Fred Baranowski, AmericanWest Bank, President

Lori Holt Pfeiler, Business Development Specialist at Synergy Executive Education and former long term Escondido Mayor.

Chris Cochran, Community Affairs Manager, Stone Brewing Co.

Johnny Bear Contreras, successful artist

 

Melissa Inez Walker has directed and curated Distinction/ArtHatch for the past 6.5 years. In addition to choosing featured artists from around the world to be exhibited within the gallery Walker also interviews and often seeks out the over 35 local artists who rent studio space within ArtHatch.

 

 

Working with teens is no new venture for Walker.  Most recently
 she volunteered with Oceanside's StandUp 4 Kids as a volunteer 
counselor for 5 years, in college she was a big sister as part of 
Big Brothers Big Sisters, and in high school she served as the 
president of Key Club, the schools community service organization.
Walker received her BFA in photography and art history from
 the College of Santa Fe then moved to CA where she held 
various esteemed positions in the art world including with the 
Museum of Contemporary Art, Philipp Scholz Rittermann, and Joseph Bellows Gallery
Working with teens is no new venture for Walker.  Most recently she volunteered with Oceanside's StandUp 4 Kids as a volunteer counselor for 5 years, in college she was a big sister as part of Big Brothers Big Sisters, and in high school she served as the president of Key Club, the schools community service organization.
Walker received her BFA in photography and art history from the College of Santa Fe then moved to CA where she held various esteemed positions in the art world including with the 
Museum of Contemporary Art, Philipp Scholz Rittermann, and Joseph Bellows Gallery

 

 

Mark Chavis is a licensed architect, general contractor and owner of Texture Fine Finishes.  He truly understands the importance of keeping young artists working and the value of original art.  Along with having collected a significant collection of emerging artists work, he is  also the father of an up and coming teen artist, one of the many inspirations behind the starting of ArtHatch.  Like any good dad, Mark nurtures his daughter's talent by making sure she has the most up to date tools and going above and beyond to encourage her talent (he once took her bed to the middle of a desert for her photos shoot).

 

Travis Sevilla is an artist and educator currently working for High Tech High North County. A recent transplant from LA, Travis has attended Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, California, and received his BFA from OTIS College Art and Design in Los Angeles. He has an MFA in Studio Art from the University of California, Irvine and has been teaching art for the past six years. Travis is enthusiastic about art, art education, and working with young artists. He is truly excited to be part of the Art Hatch organization.

 

Kelly Vivanco has worked out of her studio within ArtHatch/ Distinction since 2004.  Kelly hosts a daily online comic, Patches, which is followed by viewers from around the globe.  Vivanco's art has graced the presence of museums and galleries across the world and nearly every piece she has painted in the past six years has sold.  Emerging artists relate more closely to Vivanco's work then perhaps any other artist and recently she completed a larger than life commission painting to be housed in the Escondido library teen reading area.  Kelly continues to inspire young artists on a day to day basis.

 

Suzanne Schaffner is an Escondido native and a proud supporter of local business. She is honored to be a part of such a thriving organization in her local community. As the former marketing director for Wiens Family Cellars in Temecula, Suzanne has worked with many of the gallery artists at ArtHatch by featuring their artwork on wine labels for the winery. She looks forward to sharing her marketing experience and love for the local community with ArtHatch.