Beau Prichard, Courtnee Papastathis, and Jon McClintock -- The creators of Vita Arts
Vita Arts is comprised of experienced artists who are motivated to share the artistic process with those in emotional need. We cherish the results that involvement in art brings to our own lives and want to share the possibility of those benefits with others.
For us, the process of creating art works as metaphor for healing and growth, and directly parallels the process of coping with the difficulties that life presents. In both creation and coping, there are long stretches of self-questioning, profound moments of frustration, and powerfully clear breakthroughs that, while generated from the self, often seemingly come from nowhere.
We understand how the artist is both leader of and led by the process of creation, and how the the experience of viewing and interpreting art or performance can be insightful, grounding and nurturing. We invite those who participate in our workshops and shows to experience the many roles of artist, and guide them through the experience so that they receive skills of emotional transformation through the work of Vita Arts.
Board of Directors
Courtnee Papastathis, President
Courtnee began her administrative career in Sacramento at the age of 17, where she worked as Director of Operations at a retail computer store. She moved to Seattle in 1998 to work for Microsoft as a software test engineer, and ultimately contributed to many start-up tech companies during the dot-com boom. Living in Seattle introduced her to a thriving arts culture, and she quickly began contributing through performance, direction, stage management, teaching, and producing. She has collaborated with many local non-profit organizations including SANCA, Circo Vivo, Circus Contraption, and Circus of Dreams. Her experience as an artist offers her powerful insight into exposing people who are faced with darkness to the brilliant potential of the arts. Her calling is to transform lives — Vita Arts is the next step in that adventure.
Christina Dietrich, Vice President
Christina is experienced in writing and editing technical documentation on computer security and edge/MANET networking, working with difficult concepts to ensure their clarity and comprehensibility by the technical engineer, business stakeholder, and layperson. This process allows her to interact with a wide range of personalities and communication styles, stay abreast of current technologies, and express her keen sense of organization. She see’s the mission of Vita Arts as an opportunity to affect a world where children understand their value as people, and are encouraged to follow their passions and help them find their voice through art.
Sharon O’Brien, Secretary
Sharon brings over 20 years professional teaching experience, including administration, lesson planning, and grant writing. Her experience has focused mainly on alternative and at risk populations. She has a vast network of resources and many exciting ideas on how to expand Vita Arts’ reach into the education system.
Terry Johnson, Treasurer
Terry bring to Vita Arts 20 years of corporate background, senior management, budgeting, project management, funding, and following through to a final product. Having experienced profoundly positive transformation later in life in the discovery of art, he looks forward to working with a team to help heal and revitalize others through their own artistic expression.
Kerry Christianson, Board Member
Kerry brings a strong theatrical and directorial background to the Board of Vita Arts, in addition to years of Executive Administration and Office Management skills. Kerry has worked as an Actor, Choreographer and Director in several theaters around town including Theater Schmeater, Seattle Shakespeare Company, Wooden O, Greenstage, Theater Babylon, Burien Little Theater, and Centerstage Theatre, among others.
Board Advisors
Greg Bennick
Greg Bennick has been involved in the arts in a personal and professional context throughout his entire life. He is a keynote entertainer and professional speaker for corporate, association and other events around the world, speaking to audiences about how they can get involved with communicative brilliance, engage more fully with life, and embrace leadership. When not crafting words for audiences, Greg focuses on humanitarian relief efforts in Haiti through his organization One Hundred For Haiti, and it is in this context that he brings clarity and vision to Vita: as an artist and activist, in support of those in need of healing from within.
Charles Johnson
Chuck’s lifelong interest in circus began at age 10 when his grandparents took him to a circus show in Portland. He taught himself to juggle and began gymnastics training at 13. As an adult, Chuck helped found the Cascade Youth Circus and has continued to be involved in youth circus, national level gymnastics coaching and certification, and professional acrobatics and juggling. Chuck is certified in heavy construction and stunt rigging and was part of the rigging crew for Spiderman. As an instructor, Chuck has the ability to instill confidence and success in the most timid beginners. His teaching experience includes not only circus, but gymnastics and cheerleading as well.
Adrienne MacIain
Adrienne MacIain is a seasoned, Meisner-trained actress, a talented vocalist and dancer, as well as a passionate dialect coach, dramaturg, and playwright. She is fluent in French, and has performed on three different continents. She was a Fulbright Scholar and has a Ph.D. in Dramatic Arts.
Christine Carlson
Christine has an extensive history working in non-profits for disadvantaged populations and for the arts. As Associate Producer for Bill Nye’s “The Eyes of Nye,” at the local PBS affiliate, KCTS, she managed several aspects of production while also producing her own pieces on local dance. While working at Planned Parenthood as State Office Coordinator for the State Public Policy Office, she assisted with the development and implentation of two 501 c3s, a 501 c4 and a PAC. Eventually she became a Community Organizer which required her to run several campaigns and set up an army of volunteers. She can raise funds, political support and grassroots commitment. She has considerable knowledge of strategic planning methods, non-profit business law and accounting, as well as board and stakeholder relations. Christine also brings her knowledge from studying over 16 forms of dance, studying early childhood development, art history and her volunteer work tutoring children.
Vita Artists
Jon prepped for some massive fingerpainting
Jon McClintock,
Founder, Vita Artist
Jon McClintock spent his formative years in the San Francisco Bay area building jet packs and anti-gravity devices, but his spirit was broken in a disastrous experiment involving phase generators. He vowed never again to meddle with science. Forced to look elsewhere for challenges, he discovered circus aerials, thanks in part to a mysterious young woman. Jon still strives to touch the sky in various ways, but none of them involve jet propulsion. Now he soars with aerial equipment and balloons that take pictures at the edge of space. He lives and works in Seattle, where he passes on both his science acumen and his circus training to willing acolytes. You can see him perform as Dyno the Aerialist. Jon’s vision for Vita Arts revolves around children in need, inspired by his experience while traveling in Guatemala and teaching circus skills to kids.
Beau Prichard, Age 5
Beau Prichard,
Vita Artist
Beau Prichard was born in Australia, grew up in New Zealand, and then graduated with a B.A. in English from George Fox University. Whether the medium is film, theater, or the written word, he views himself first and foremost as a storyteller. He has published the mystery novel “Elegy” and then adapted it to a motion picture script with Jason Miles Miller. He has written for at-risk youth and worked with them in an anger management program. Currently, Beau works as a freelance writer in Seattle, where he also regularly works on stage productions and teaches creative writing classes.