 |
|||||||
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Home
NDCA Board of DirectorsThe governing board of directors for the North Dakota Council on the Arts consists of nine members, one from each of the state's eight regions (see map below) and one member-at-large. Currently, North Dakota's first lady serves as an additional, ex-officio member of the board. Each member is appointed by the governor to serve five-year terms. The full board convenes three times a year in meetings that are open to the public. An executive committee is made up of the NDCA's executive director and the board's chair, vice-chair, and one additional member. The executive committee meets occasionally throughout the year to discuss relevant topics and make recommendations to the full board. |
 |
Member-at-Large: David "White Thunder" Trottier, Dunseith, Chair |
|
Member-at-Large David has served on the North Dakota Council on the Arts as a Governor appointee since 1990. In 1998, he was appointed board chair. David is also a past board member of the National Assembly of State Arts Agencies (NASAA). In 2007 NASAA named David the recipient of their Distinguished Public Service Award. It honors an individual volunteer leader whose outstanding service, creative thinking and leadership have had a significant impact on the field of public support for the arts in his or her state or region. David currently resides in Rugby and has 4 daughters, Tarah, Tawny, Trista, and Tashal. |
Region 1 He broke ground as the first student to receive a graduate degree in Mixed Media with an emphasis in digital image printing from the University of North Dakota. While serving in the United States Air Force he was asked to help paint a wall mural depicting POW’s in his BMTS squadron with a handful of other airman, that was one of the moments that stands out to him because the artists were from all over the country. Although he is well rounded in his choice of subjects for his work, he incorporates portions of his heritage into a world of computers. After opening his own company 3-Foxx Productions, he followed in his mother’s footsteps buy developing and teaching a nine month certification in graphic arts at Fort Berthold Community College. Recently, Shannon’s work received recognition along with several other Native American artists in the book, Storytelling Time: Native North American Art from the Collections at the University of North Dakota. Several of his mixed media, digital manipulations, and Art pieces are featured. Shannon also has been playing music and has been playing guitar since the age of 12. He is currently in the band he formed with a cousin called Ree-Ride, and has been playing for over 30 years. Shannon currently teaches art classes at Fort Berthold Community College. He teaches drawing and painting and native traditional arts and crafts. But that’s not all. “One of the main things I appreciate about FBCC,” Shannon said, “They let me start my own graphic arts program. They’ve given me the opportunity to teach what I’d learned from my degree. When I see the students’ art work completed I feel like I’ve accomplished something. My students are my paint brushes and computer keys now.” Shannon resides in White Shield North Dakota, out in the country and has a daughter named Piper Jayden Fox. His future goals are to help create a Fine Arts Department at Fort Berthold Community College and he is also interested in working with the Three Affiliated Tribes museum, and he would like to expand the museum’s influence. Counties served (figures taken from 2000 census): Divide County, population 2,283; Williams County, population 19,761; McKenzie County, population 5,737 |
Region 2 His paintings are in the collections of the Whitney Museum of Western Arts; Buffalo Bill Historical Center in Cody, Wyoming; the Smithsonian Institute and the Center for Folk Life Studies in Washington, DC; the Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame and Museum of the American Cowboy in Colorado Springs, Colorado; the Minnesota Museum of Art in St. Paul, Minnesota; the Yellowstone Art Center in Billings, Montana; Paris Gibson Square in Great Falls, Montana; in addition to many other regional museums. Walter has been recognized by the ND Council on the Arts having received a Visual Arts Fellowship and by the Bismarck Tribune as one of 20 Notable North Dakotans. He has also received a 2005 Governor's Award for the Arts in the Individual Achievement category. Counties served (figures taken from 2000 census): Burke County, population 2,242; Mountrail County, population 6,631; Renville County, population 2,610; Ward County, population 58,795, Bottineau County, population 7,149; McHenry County, population 5,987; Pierce County, population 4,675 |
Region 3
Counties served (figures taken from 2000 census): Rolette County, population 13,674; Towner County, population 2,876; Benson County, population 6,964; Eddy County, population 2,757; Cavalier County, population 4,831; Ramsey County, population 12,066 |
Region 4
In the summer he works with the Summer Performing Arts Company (SPA) in Grand Forks as the Administrative Director. Dean helped to develop SPA 23 years ago along with a small group of Grand Forks area music teachers. Today SPA provides dance, drama, and music opportunities for over 1000 K-12 students each summer. Dean has received a number of awards and recognitions over his career. His wife, Mary Haslerud Opp, serves as the Director of Public Speaking at UND. His son, Lukas, and daughter, Hannah, are both students in the Grand Forks Public Schools. Counties served (figures taken from 2000 census): Pembina County, population 8,585; Walsh County, population 12,389; Nelson County, population 3,715; Grand Forks County, population 66,109 |
Region 5
|
Region 6
Born in Havre, Montana, Lana owns Dakota Dental Care in Ellendale and has practiced for 25 years. She is also on the Board of Directors for Dickey Rural Networks, on the Board for Economic Development in Ellendale, serves as City Health Officer, is past president of the North Dakota Dental Association and is active in Christ the King Lutheran church. Warren teaches English and science at Trinity Bible College in Ellendale. They have three children: Kristina, Lincoln and Ryun and six exceptional grandchildren. Lana enjoys unusual travel experiences, reading and gardening. Counties served (figures taken from 2000 census): Wells County, population 5,102; Foster County, population 3,759; Stutsman County, population 21,908; Logan County, population 2,308; McIntosh County, population 3,390; LaMoure County, population 4,701; Dickey County, population 5,757; Griggs County, population 2,754; Barnes County, population 11,775 |
Region 7
Counties served (figures taken from 2000 census): McLean County, population 9,311; Mercer County, population 8,644; Oliver County, population 2,065; Morton County, population 25,303; Grant County, population 2,841; Sioux County, population 4,044; Sheridan County, population 1,710; Burleigh County, population 69,416; Emmons County, population 4,331; Kidder County, population 2,753 |
Region 8
Retiring in 1989, Rex enjoys leatherwork, which has been a part of his life since his teen years. He is a well-known saddlemaker who has taught saddlemaking to people throughout North Dakota, including now well-renowned saddlemaker Early Twist of Montana, through the NDCA’s Traditional Arts Apprenticeship Program and outside of this program. He has always been associated with horses, including participating in rodeos for many years, training and showing cutting horses, and judging various horse shows. Rex also participates in art festivals like the Culture Fest in Jamestown, ND and the North Dakota Cenennial Folklife Festival. Counties served (figures taken from 2000 census): Golden Valley County, population 1,924; Billings County, population 888; Slope County, population 767; Bowman County, population 3,242; Dunn County, population 3,600; Stark County, population 22,636; Hettinger County, population 2,715; Adams County, population 2,593 |
|
David is a Distinguished Alumni of Mayville State University. He is known for his exemplary business career, for 14 years he served as President and CEO of Chiptronics Inc., an electronics manufacturing distributorship. Since retiring from Chiptronics in 2006, Trottier has been working as a private consultant, local radio host and sports broadcaster; and is the Director of Human Resources for the Heart of America Medical Center in Rugby. David has been active in the arts, especially theatre and music, since an early age. He has directed or performed in more than 35 shows, and was the founder and lead singer for The North Band for 12 years. He still plays guitar, sings and writes songs and poetry and is currently playing with a band U-3+1. 
Shannon D. Fox (NeetAhKus na cita Kux), Whose Sahnish name translates as “Eagle soaring up High above, looking down upon the ground.” was born in 1967 in Ship Rock, New Mexico. He is Sahnish (Arikara) and Santee Sioux, and a member of the Dead grass Society, Arikara Scouts Society, Buffalo Society, Bear Society, Joseph Young Hawk/Elmer Bear American Legion Post No. 253. Shannon attended School at White Shield, ND and Marty Mission Indian School, Marty South Dakota. Shannon Received his BFA in Visual Arts at the University of North Dakota in 1996. He continued his studies at UND, earning his MFA in 1999. In the 90s, he started with painting, “All I did was paint,” 8:00pm to 4:00am he said. “I have paintings in private collections, museums, different places. I started painting on canvas. I did so for several years, and then I started painting on different surfaces.” For example, he painted a series of eight full-grown turtle shells, full paintings. He’s painted on cloth, on tree bark, raw hides, buffalo skins, various different surfaces. Fox’s adoration for art began at an early age, drawing with his siblings, often from his father’s western horseman magazines.
A native of Marion, North Dakota, Walter Piehl received his public school education there and in Mesa, Arizona. He received a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Art from Concordia College in Moorhead and a Master of Fine Arts in Painting from UND. He has taught art at Valley City State University and, since 1970, at Minot State University. As a painter in the Western genre, Walter is respected throughout the Midwest. As an educator, Walter creates an environment that fosters individual expression and a strong work ethic.
Karen Anderson has been involved in making or promoting visual arts since winning awards for her work in high school. Originally from Wyoming, Karen married a farmer/rancher from Warwick, N.D. While raising her two now grown sons, Karen was active in the local arts scene in Devils Lake. She served as president for the Arts Council of the Lake Region and the Lake Region Art Association. After winning one of five $10,000 national scholarships from the Talbots Corporation, Karen returned to school at age 40 to complete her Art Education degree from Valley City State University. She is currently the Art Instructor at Devils Lake High School. Karen continues to work on her own artwork and teaches summer art camp for the award winning Nelson County Arts Council.
Dean Opp has been working at Red River High School in Grand Forks for the past 25 years. He has a B.A. with a major in Speech and a M.A. in Communication, both from the UND. He currently teaches drama and speech. For the past 20 years he has produced a character education production that tours upper Red River Valley schools, presenting 50 performances for over 7000 students each year. He also developed a non-traditional improvisational comedy troupe, Tuesday Night Live, that has been presenting shows for almost 15 years.
Wayne Beyer has been the Director of Parks & Recreation in Wahpeton since 1980. He graduated from Richland High School, North Dakota State College of Science and Moorhead State University with degrees in physical education and health. Organization affiliations include the Three Rivers Arts Council, ND Horticulture Society, Prairie Pothole Partners, Richland County Historical Society, Chahinkapa Zoo Association, ND Urban & Community Forestry Association, Healthy Communities, Koda Manipe Volkssport Club, ND Recreation and Parks Association, Visitors Committee and Special Olympics. His wife Joan works for Wahpeton Public Schools and his two daughters are presently in college (both Kayla and Brittany attend the University of North Dakota). Local Arts Council programming includes Music in the Park, after-school art classes, visual art shows and partnerships with other art organizations.
Dr. Lana Schlecht was an art major at UND before veering off into dentistry. Lana and her husband, Warren, farmed near Gackle for a time until Lana graduated from dental school. She is a graduate of CM Russell High School in Great Falls, Montana, Jamestown College and University of Nebraska Medical Center. Lana has been active in many arts activities through life. She has taught various community classes in weaving, water color and embroidery and had a design chosen by Governor and Mrs. Link for the Governor’s residence dining chairs. She has had her paintings displayed in the Capitol building twice. She currently serves as Vice-president of the Ellendale Area Arts Council. The council sponsors community events, concerts, brings in art shows and children’s theater.
Cindy Haider has been passionate about the arts for years. After her children were in school, she began working at a local art gallery/framing shop, where she stayed until the store closed. Cindy then became the director of Dakota West Arts Council, working closely with the different artists in the area, helping to promote and provide support to the member organizations. This job also included daily office management, administration of funds and grant writing. While at Dakota West Arts Council, Cindy helped establish the Art Venture Program. This program brought art programs to disadvantaged students. When the National Symphony Orchestra selected North Dakota as one of its American Residency programs, she served on the executive committee for the Bismarck region which provided the area with exchanges and training programs in the communities. She has also worked with the NDCA as coordinator of the statewide Poetry Out Loud Recitation Contest. Cindy is a native of Lewistown, Montana. She and her husband Dennis live in Mandan and have three grown children and twin grandchildren. Hobbies include reading, gardening and being with family and friends.
Rex Cook was born and raised in Sentinel Butte, ND, where he graduated high school in 1945. After which he attended Dickinson State Teachers College receiving an emergency teaching certificate. He taught at the Goldsberry School in Billings County for the 1945-1946 school term, then returned to college graduating with a B.S. degree in Education. In August 1950, he married Ann Aberson. They both taught in Hettinger, ND, until December of 1950 when Rex was called to active duty with the Headquarters Company, 164th Infantry. He was stationed at Camp Rucker, AL, then sent to the Far East and Japan until October 1951. He was a military advisor to the Japanese Police Reserve and was discharged with the rank of Master Sergeant. |