Operations Team
Katie Fahey
Managing Director
Joining the Red Poppy in June 2011, I initially developed an interest in the Art House for the unique and multi-layered way it treated the idea of ‘community.’ Looking beyond its reputation for quality art and performance, I continue to love the way the space reaches people in different ways – a testament to the power potential of arts ‘micro-centers’ on the greater scale.
A recent graduate of the School of the Art Institute of Chicago’s Master of Arts Administration and Policy program, I wrote my master’s thesis on artist live/work space developments in gentrifying urban areas. I am interested in cultural policy in the broad sense and particularly the concept of creative neighborhood building.
I came to the Poppy after holding several different positions within Development at the Art Institute of Chicago. In addition to having experience as an independent project manager, I have been employed in galleries and engaged in curatorial projects as well. I have previously worked for the Cultural Attaché of the Canadian Embassy in Washington, D.C. and the City of Chicago’s Department of Cultural Affairs. My role as a conversational English instructor in Seoul, South Korea also contributed to my professional and cultural development.
Languages: English, some French
Born and Raised: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Johanna Suarez
Family Art Program Director, Performance Anchor
Beginning as a performing artist and workshop facilitator with the Red Poppy, the space has since incited a major growth in my work as an interdisciplinary artist, community organizer, curator and arts presenter. Through the Mission Arts and Performance Project and this magico place, I not only found connection with the members of my ensemble “YeYe,” but we also together gained great exposure to a variety of artists and audiences in the Bay Area. With YeYe, I’m living my dream of incorporating traditional dance and music from the African Diaspora in Latin America, original poetry, theater and lyrical compositions into inspired journeys of collective healing and unification.
I graduated from Mills College with honors in Dance and Political, Legal and Economic Analysis with an International emphasis. My thesis, “Immigration of the Body and Mind: Renaciendo (Reborn)” was accepted by the International Expressive Arts Therapy Association (IEATA) 2011 annual conference in Lima, Peru. Currently, I am working to attain a Certificate in Sound, Voice and Music Healing from the California Institute of Integral Studies.
In addition to directing the Poppy’s Family Art Program, I am a workshop facilitator for integrative art and Spanish education programs for low-income, immigrant children and youth.
Languages: Spanish, English and Portuguese
Born and raised: Duitama, Boyacá, Colombia
Marisa Aragona
Director of Exhibitions
The best advice I have received from the collective wisdom of my most beloved mentors and friends consistently has been to trust myself (and take lots of pictures). As Director of our Exhibitions Program and a Resident Artist of the Red Poppy, I am motivated by the interdisciplinary context and vibrant sense of possibility.
I grew up outside of Washington, DC and moved to San Francisco in 2003 via New York City where I studied at The School of Visual Arts. Since Graduating with an MFA in Photography at the San Francisco Art Institute in 2005, I have dedicated myself to art, education and community building. I come to the Poppy having worked for years with at-risk youth at a variety of non-profits as an artist, educator, program director and mentor, as well as with adults as a Photography Instructor at UC Berkeley Extension. My photo-based work and installations have been exhibited in New York, San Francisco, Oakland, Washington DC, Seattle and Vilnius, Lithuania among other cities internationally.
Things to know about me: I love to swim, my favorite color is red, my greatest inspiration is contemporary ballet, I have a secret crush on Surrealist Art and Old Hollywood. One dream-come-true art project for me would be to collaborate with a costume designer, modern dancer and stunt double.
Languages: English
Born and raised: Outside Washington, DC
Lyz Luke
Director of Performance Programing
Lyz Luke is a successful promoter and artist manager based in San Francisco, and doesn’t actually have time to finish this bio due to writing a couple of press releases, organizing 100 musicians on a tribute project, coordinating a show on a farm, organizing an East Coast tour for DRMS, planning a wedding (not hers) and a themed birthday party for about 4 of her friends at this very moment. For more information check out www.UnderCoverPresents.com, or please contact her via Facebook, Twitter, and text simultaneously. She also has an NCAA Championship ring for fencing and her favorite colour is leather.
Born in Los Angeles, CA, and lived in New York, NY.
Ralph Vázquez
Web Manager
Angel Rafael “Ralph” Vázquez-Concepción (b. 1981, San Juan, Puerto Rico) I am a multimedia artist, contemporary art curator and art journalist, with a strong basis in social sciences and a firm belief in the transformative power of information. I plunge into the role of Web Manager, which means I will seek to develop the web aspects of the Red Poppy Art House, including the blog, the online events calendar as well as post events and information on Facebook and Twitter. I have always believed in information technologies, and here at the Poppy that sentiment is shared. I am interested in seeing how science and art can collaborate, the way in which art can be used as an educational tool, and most importantly in the capacity that art has of expanding our understanding of cultural signs and patterns. I look forward to enabling these and other thoughts, and to be of service to the community of the Poppy, promoting independent cultural journalism, reason based criticism, and a heterogeneous approach to culture.
Languages: Se habla español.
Rafael Sarria
Performance Anchor, Resident Artist
Rafael Sarria is a Colombian Nicaraguan musician, artist, and MC born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area. He is the singer song writer and founder of the musical group “La Gente” and has toured throughout the United States, Latin America and Europe. He also works as a music promoter, organizer and political activist and founder of La Gente Productions as well as one of the main organizers of the MAPP (Mission Arts Performance Project.) Rafael worked as the Director of Performance Programming for the Red Poppy Art House from 2010-2012 and booked all live music, managed staff, and worked in just about every area of Poppyness. He has also been helping as an events curator in the de Young Museum Artist Fellows Program. Rafael continues his collaboration with the Red Poppy as Performance anchor, resident artist, and attempting to make deeper connections between the Art House and La Communidad de La Mission.
Languages: Spanish, English, basic Portuguese
Colombian, Nicaraguan, born in San Francisco
Jeremy Allen
A/V Specialist
Jeremy Allen is a multi-instrumentalist, educator, composer, producer, and audio engineer. He specializes in Venezuelan traditional music, as well as the music of other Latin American countries and the Caribbean. Allen has performed nationally and internationally for over 17 years showcasing the music of Latin America.
He is bassist, percussionist, and founding member of the pan Latin-American jazz group Quijeremá; performing, touring and recording with the multi-media arts ensemble since 2002. In addition to national and international performances with Quijeremá, Allen produces Quijeremá’s original music and sound design for documentary and short feature films. Most recently he recorded, co-produced, and co-arranged the score and musical audio for the PBS/ITVS film “Archaeology of Memory: Villa Grimaldi en Trés Cantos”.
Allen holds a B.A. in American Studies from the University of California, Berkeley with an emphasis in Urban Education and is the owner and engineer of Musiquito Studios, an independent recording studio in Oakland, California. Allen also is an adept instructor of youth multi-media education, producer of the Albany Film Festival and moonlights in customized audio-visual installations for municipal government and arts organizations.
Alicia Arroyo
Performance Anchor
Alicia’s own interest in engaging communities through visual and performance art was what brought her to the Red Poppy Art House. Alicia started as a volunteer and is now an Anchor for the Performance Arts Program. She received a BS in Geology at the University of Maryland and moved to San Francisco from New York after completing her MA at Parsons, The New School for Design in exhibition design and practice. Prior to her graduate studies she lived abroad in Spain where she took courses at the Universidad de Sevilla in art history and museum studies. She is actively training as salsa and flamenco dancer. She has worked in museums, art non-profits, and academic institutions in the realms of curatorial, exhibition and education development. She currently works for a non-profit that provides educational support to low income youths.
Languages: English, Spanish
Born in Washington D.C and raised in Takoma Park, Maryland
Michelle Chandra
Exhibitions Volunteer
Michelle Chandra is an aspiring photographer and painter with a B.A. in literature and creative writing. During her undergraduate years, Michelle enjoyed being part of a vibrant local college music scene and is excited to be supporting the Red Poppy Art House. As Volunteer Coordinator, Michelle schedules volunteers for the Poppy’s performance series and assists with recruiting and training. Michelle has worked for the Academy of Art University Library as a circulation assistant, and as a marketing intern at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C. and the Stern Grove Festival Association in San Francisco. In her spare time, Michelle enjoys developing her photography and painting skills, exploring San Francisco, attending foodie and art events and volunteering for arts organizations.
Languages: English, basic French
Born and raised: Tucson, Arizona and Santa Cruz, California.
Fernando Diaz
Performance Anchor
Fernando Diaz, 21 years old originally grew up in the City of Angeles with roots in Mexico. At the age of 14 he moved to San Francisco to live with his father. The Bay Area’s vibrant urban and gallery art inspired Fernando to begin on his own experimentation with his art. He is now currently in his sophomore year at City College, and is a dedicated athlete competing with the school’s Long Distance Track team. Next year, he intends to transfer to Berkeley to join the field of Chicano Studies. At the same time, he is beginning to further explore his personal art within the context of the Red Poppy Art House residency.
Fernando’s art is in a stage where its direction can be said to be intentionally directionless. His pieces are works in progress, painted adventures waiting to see what’s around the bend. He enjoys exploring the dynamics of childhood and hopes to implement his love for art to ultimately cure the world of hateful hearts.
Languages: English and Spanish
Adrianna Gluck
Family Art Anchor
Wanting to combine my enjoyment and love of being creative, working with children, and speaking Spanish, I stumbled upon the Family Art Program- the perfect combination! These Saturdays allow me not only to be creative with so many little ones of different ages, but also to connect with the families and encourage/support their involvement in the art activities with their children. Watching families spend invaluable moments together being creative and learning, is why I’m a volunteer. In 2007, I graduated with my Masters in Social Work and have since been working or volunteering with children and families. Many of these positions, also incorporate art in some form, which further allows me the opportunity to share my creative side with others.
Languages: English and Spanish.
Born in Los Angeles. Raised in NYC
Cristina Ibarra
Performance Anchor
Cristina Ibarra is a Performance Anchor, creative professional, and proud resident of the Mission District. Coming from a long background of performing and visual arts, she discovered the Art House one October night while riding home on her bike, and has been a part of its nebulous and exciting community ever since.
In recent years she has worked both domestically and abroad, dealing extensively with artists, media makers, and activists in San Francisco based non-profits, and working with international educators in Braziland New Zealand. She is an organizer and curator for the Mission Arts Performance Project (MAPP), and in 2011 she was an artist-in-residence at the Poppy’s sister space EDELO in Chiapas, Mexico. When not traveling, Cristina can be found exploring San Francisco with her sketchbook in hand, learning to tango, and gardening with the good folks from the Free Farm Stand.
Languages: English, Spanish, Basic Portuguese, Italian, currently studying Filipino
Born and raised in San Diego, California
Melita Morales
Performance Anchor, Figure Drawing Class Instructor
Melita Morales is dedicated to encouraging an acknowledgment of the creative self as a way to open up to the world, express stories, notice and appreciate commonalities and differences, and heal and connect the disparate spheres of our right and left brain as equally important to being whole.
She works as an art teacher, artist and author, holding a BA in studio art, and a secondary school credential, as well as being inspired a myriad of other educational experiences, both inside and outside the realm of a classroom. She is most inspired by the complex frailty and strength that comprise the human condition, and the tensions between wealth and poverty that rub like a fault-line against each other in her native home of the Bay Area.
Languages: English
Costa Rican / American
Kate Perdue
Family Art Anchor
I grew up in Southern California and after attending college in Rhode Island moved to San Francisco to work as a grant writer for the Glide Foundation through Americorps VISTA, a national service program dedicated to fighting poverty.
New to San Francisco, I came to the Poppy looking to meet new people and for an enjoyable way to spend my Saturday afternoons while working with my two favorite things – art and kids. However, I found myself investing more and more time in the program as I witnessed the visible effects that art was having on shaping children’s lives and bringing families together. I have constantly been inspired by the innovative and passionate spirit that everyone at the Poppy displays in all aspects of their work and life.
Languages: English conversational Spanish
Born and raised: Sourthern California
Sandra Wong
Family Art Anchor
I was inspired to volunteer at the Red Poppy due to my infinite passion in Art and working with Children. It is truly self rewarding to be able to give back to the community and witness the creativity of our youth.
I was born and raised in San Francisco, speak both English and Chinese, and studied Psychology and Business at the University of California, Riverside. I now run Performance Marketing campaigns for a German Gaming Company in San Francisco. I would like to apply my expertise in Marketing and Social Media outreach to help the Red Poppy Art House grow.
Languages: English & Chinese
Born and Raised in San Francisco
Donations
Please select Red Poppy Art House under "Direct Your Donation". Thank you so much for your support.Main Supporters
