Women's Exchange is pleased to announce Harriet Vaugeois as our keynote speaker this year.
Her speech is titled- "Trespassing with Good Intentions."
Her speech is titled- "Trespassing with Good Intentions."
Harriet was born and raised in Michigan. Her professional
life took her to Los Angeles.
She and husband Fred had dual careers in theater and education. Using her degrees and experience in theater, Harriet worked as a director, choreographer, actor, and a bit of television commercial work. Her greatest fulfillment involved the creation of theater academies in collaboration with her husband and choreographer Rikki Lugo, the development of The Orphan Players touring company, and the eventual Equity Waiver Theater called The Broadway Playhouse.
As an educator, Harriet taught at various levels from middle school through college.
She also served as a high school administrator and was part of a California State and national movement to create positive change in public education, serving as a Staff Development Trainer for teachers, administrators, and school boards.
Fred and Harriet bought property south of Trinidad in the mid-1990s where they planned to build their dream house, retire, and write their memoirs.
They almost finished the house before they started a whole new career with the Southern Colorado Repertory Theatre Co., shifting their building skills from house to scenery. Today, Harriet and Fred are the directors of SCRT at the Famous Performing Arts Center. She is also an active member of the Creative Arts District, working to enhance Trinidad through the Arts.
She and husband Fred had dual careers in theater and education. Using her degrees and experience in theater, Harriet worked as a director, choreographer, actor, and a bit of television commercial work. Her greatest fulfillment involved the creation of theater academies in collaboration with her husband and choreographer Rikki Lugo, the development of The Orphan Players touring company, and the eventual Equity Waiver Theater called The Broadway Playhouse.
As an educator, Harriet taught at various levels from middle school through college.
She also served as a high school administrator and was part of a California State and national movement to create positive change in public education, serving as a Staff Development Trainer for teachers, administrators, and school boards.
Fred and Harriet bought property south of Trinidad in the mid-1990s where they planned to build their dream house, retire, and write their memoirs.
They almost finished the house before they started a whole new career with the Southern Colorado Repertory Theatre Co., shifting their building skills from house to scenery. Today, Harriet and Fred are the directors of SCRT at the Famous Performing Arts Center. She is also an active member of the Creative Arts District, working to enhance Trinidad through the Arts.
Paula Little will also be speaking this year.
Her speech is titled "A Life of Art."
Her speech is titled "A Life of Art."
Painting was a passion from an early age. Paula saved
baby-sitting money when she was 12 to take private art lessons. Her father
drove her to exhibit her work in shows throughout S. California, including
Santa Barbara and the Laguna Pageant of the Masters. Once she could drive, she
painted in the canyons and on the beaches around Topanga and Malibu. In true
plein-air style (painting outdoors), she braved the elements: wind, sand fleas,
high tides, curious onlookers, and poison oak!
In Paula’s 20’s, the travel bug took hold while working for Club Med at LAX. Monthly trips to far flung locations became the basis for later art wanderlust.
Marriage and raising 3 great kids were her next life-callings; painting was set aside. During those years, Paula started two businesses, both utilizing her skills in art. The first business was a sign-painting company, the second business, Paula Little LTD, was a successful hand-painted clothing company with over 30 employees. This 13 year old corporation sold resort- wear to all of the major department stores, casinos, and cruise ships, from California to Tahiti.
After divorcing and meeting the love of her life, Frank LaLumia, a professional artist of world renown, Paula traveled with Frank to help him with his workshops. They painted in many National Parks, and Paula traveled to China and Mongolia with a group of artists to paint the landscapes and people. To make up for lost painting time, she painted everything in sight, (over 2500 paintings in 3 years).
Trinidad became home because of the natural beauty and welcoming painting locations, (the ranchers are terrific, allowing artists to paint on their land). The spectacular sunrises over the Sangres, the sunsets, mountains, wildlife and climate, all make an artist’s life as close to heaven as possible!
The job opportunity of running the Mitchell Museum arose, and Paula took it on with fervor and determination. For 5 years, this, along with painting for shows occupied her days and sometimes nights.
It was an honor and learning experience to see AR Mitchell’s paintings every day, talking about art and bringing art to the community through many cultural events. Now “retired,” Paula is painting full time and teaching art classes in town, looking forward to whatever new adventures in art come her way. Inspiring adults and kids to pick up a brush, bare their souls through paint on canvas is Paula’s new passion. Her vision can be expressed in Vincent VanGogh’s quote, “If you hear a voice within you say “you cannot paint, then by all means paint, and that voice will be silenced.”
Major Accomplishments:
Feature Article in “Women in Business”, award from American Impressionist Society, exhibited in California art Club shows, participated in Rocky Mountain and Tuscon Plein Air events, One Woman Show at CCGallagher’s Catalina, CA, published in the book “Plein Air Painters of New Mexico”, Director of AR Mitchell Museum for 5 years, Grandma for 1st time 2014!!!!
Paula studied at Choinard Art School, Art Center, Minneapolis Institute of the Arts, BFA from CSUN in CA, workshops with Frank LaLumia, Kevin Macpherson, Jove Wong, and Tom Browning.
Galleries:
Lucky’s Fine Art, Mitchell Museum, LaVeta Art Gallery, CC Gallagher’s, Catalina, CA
In Paula’s 20’s, the travel bug took hold while working for Club Med at LAX. Monthly trips to far flung locations became the basis for later art wanderlust.
Marriage and raising 3 great kids were her next life-callings; painting was set aside. During those years, Paula started two businesses, both utilizing her skills in art. The first business was a sign-painting company, the second business, Paula Little LTD, was a successful hand-painted clothing company with over 30 employees. This 13 year old corporation sold resort- wear to all of the major department stores, casinos, and cruise ships, from California to Tahiti.
After divorcing and meeting the love of her life, Frank LaLumia, a professional artist of world renown, Paula traveled with Frank to help him with his workshops. They painted in many National Parks, and Paula traveled to China and Mongolia with a group of artists to paint the landscapes and people. To make up for lost painting time, she painted everything in sight, (over 2500 paintings in 3 years).
Trinidad became home because of the natural beauty and welcoming painting locations, (the ranchers are terrific, allowing artists to paint on their land). The spectacular sunrises over the Sangres, the sunsets, mountains, wildlife and climate, all make an artist’s life as close to heaven as possible!
The job opportunity of running the Mitchell Museum arose, and Paula took it on with fervor and determination. For 5 years, this, along with painting for shows occupied her days and sometimes nights.
It was an honor and learning experience to see AR Mitchell’s paintings every day, talking about art and bringing art to the community through many cultural events. Now “retired,” Paula is painting full time and teaching art classes in town, looking forward to whatever new adventures in art come her way. Inspiring adults and kids to pick up a brush, bare their souls through paint on canvas is Paula’s new passion. Her vision can be expressed in Vincent VanGogh’s quote, “If you hear a voice within you say “you cannot paint, then by all means paint, and that voice will be silenced.”
Major Accomplishments:
Feature Article in “Women in Business”, award from American Impressionist Society, exhibited in California art Club shows, participated in Rocky Mountain and Tuscon Plein Air events, One Woman Show at CCGallagher’s Catalina, CA, published in the book “Plein Air Painters of New Mexico”, Director of AR Mitchell Museum for 5 years, Grandma for 1st time 2014!!!!
Paula studied at Choinard Art School, Art Center, Minneapolis Institute of the Arts, BFA from CSUN in CA, workshops with Frank LaLumia, Kevin Macpherson, Jove Wong, and Tom Browning.
Galleries:
Lucky’s Fine Art, Mitchell Museum, LaVeta Art Gallery, CC Gallagher’s, Catalina, CA