Wild Arts Festival Committee Members
Every year a combination of volunteers and staff work together to make the Wild Arts Festival a success. Many of the members have worked on the Festival for years, bringing their passion for art, books, and the natural world. It’s because of these committee members and the entire Wild Arts Festival community that we are celebrating our 44th year.
Mary Ratcliff
In memory of Mary Ratcliff and her decade of leadership in the WAF Book fair. Everyone who worked with her will remember her kind smile and the contributions she made to the Wild Arts Festival
Jean Baecher Brown
VOLUNTEER Chair
Number of years: 1 year
Favorite memory: My favorite memory of WAF was working in the checkout area for the 6X6 artwork donations. There was such a variety of lay and professional art creations. It always made me smile to see such a variety of art pieces and enthusiasm for supporting the organization!
Carol Enyart
Artist Chair
Number of years: 12 years
Favorite memory: Watching the transformation from an open space to a full-fledged festival filled with artists and their art…completed in just a few hours. Getting to know our fabulous artists. Such a treat and honor for me!
Kiffi Harris
Admissions Chair
Number of years: 1 year
Favorite Memory: A favorite part of Wild Arts Festival is all the wonderful teamwork and energy that all the volunteers and staff bring to this event each year to make it a success. It is such a fun community event with so many talented artists and an opportunity to support Bird Alliance of Oregon’s mission. I always look forward to this event each year!
Liz Kay
Marketing & PR
Number of years: 7 (2012 - 2015 & 2022, 2023, 2024)
Favorite Memory: I love educating the media about what the Bird Alliance of Oregon does. Some of the TV hosts would come out to the location on Cornell, and see the cool resident birds and what the Care Center does for injured birds - I could see their faces register what the mission is all about. I love spreading the bird word to the local community and to recruit partners to this important part of Portland and their environment.
Susan Little
Silent auction Chair
Number of years: 14
Favorite Memory: I have been volunteering with Bird Alliance of Oregon for a decade. The Wild Arts Festival and the Silent Auction- what a fun way to raise awareness of our efforts in education, wildlife care and conservation and raise money to keep it all going.
Molly Marks
Book Fair Co-Chair
Number of years: 14
Favorite Memory: I don’t know if I have a single event. I do know how lucky I was to join the volunteer team at Bird Alliance of Oregon and feel so fortunate to have met so many interesting, dedicated and fun people in my 10+ years.
Gary Michaelis
Nature Store Chair
Number of years: 1
Favorite Memory:
Shari-Beth Nadell
Book Fair Co-Chair
Number of years: 1
Favorite Memory: After volunteering as a cashier at the WAF book fair for the past three years, Shari-Beth is excited to become a member of the committee responsible for bringing so many wonderful books to the festival.
Sarah Swanson
EVENT MANAGER
Number of years: 3
Favorite Memory: My favorite memories of WAF all center around the way that the event is a de facto reunion for the Bird Alliance of Oregon community. In all my years of attending as a volunteer, staff person, and author, I’ve always enjoyed the serendipitous conversations I get to have with folks I’ve known for years but don’t see very often. I love being a part of this big event with such a long and wonderful tradition.