Jane Macan, Secretary

A native of MA, Jane moved south to PA for college. She and her husband Bill reared their two children in the Philadelphia suburbs. He practiced law and Jane did the usual "volunteer career" things until she bought a yarn shop in Haverford, PA in 1987. Twenty years later, retirement and more time in the Valley began and starting last July Jane and Bill were happy to wait out COVID here in Warren. Jane joined the Salvation Farms and Rotary boards and runs the Mountain Gardeners' June plant sale. She now also serves as Secretary of Mad Arts.

Jean Sharry, President

Jean and her husband Jack have been coming to the Mad River Valley since 2001 with their sons and now with daughters-in-law and soon to be six grandchildren. Jean is a potter and a member at Blockhouse Studio in Waitsfield, a photographer, a writer and a strong proponent of artists and makers, especially in the Mad River Valley. Having served on the boards of several non-profits over the years as president including at her sons’ schools, as well as on town committees and the Finance Commission, she now serves as President of the MRVArts Board and strongly supports the mission of the organization and broadening the impact Mad Arts has in the Valley. She is a strong believer that there is an artist in everyone.

Sam Talbot-Kelly, Artistic & Executive Director

Sam Talbot-Kelly is a contemporary interdisciplinary artist, curator, arts educator, and community builder. She holds a BFA and MFA in Studio Art, along with certification in Museum Studies from Northwestern University.

For more than ten years, Sam developed a studio practice spanning conceptual garment installations, drawing, exhibition design, and arts education. Her practice has increasingly expanded beyond the studio into Social Practice and institution building; using art as a catalyst for connection, participation, and collective imagination.

At Mad Arts, Sam works to cultivate a creative “scenius”: an ecosystem where artists, audiences, educators, and community members enrich one another through participation in the arts. Through exhibitions, education, and community partnerships, she creates opportunities for contemporary art to become part of the social and creative life of the Mad River Valley and beyond.

Dana Donaldson, Vice- President and Director of Fundraising

Dana and her husband John have lived in the Valley since 2001. They came for the outdoor sports and fell in love with the people and the beauty of the place. Dana joined the art scene early and spent many years working on the Opera Festival. Her 30 year background in interior design gave her an appreciation for the art that is created here in the Valley. Dana loves to raise money and works for many other non-profits in Vermont.

Bonnie Barnes, Events

Bonnie Barnes lived and worked in the Philadelphia area until she moved two years ago permanently to the family home on Bragg Hill. She and her husband, George, raised their three children on a small farm in Chester County and when they grew up and left home and George retired from the law, they moved to center city Philadelphia, until George’s death. During their farm years Bonnie earned a MA in English and American literature, from Villanova University and later a MS in Educational Psychology from the University Of Pennsylvania. She also studied and trained in family therapy at Philadelphia Child Guidance, connected to the University. She was a psychologist and an admissions director at a small private school and started her own business in school and college placement called Academic Directions. After moving to Philadelphia, Bonnie joined the Friends’ Board at the Curtis Institute of Music, sat as chair on the board of the Center of Emerging Visual Artists, and sat on the Boards of Planned Parenthood and the Rosenbach Museum and Library. Now she is very happy to be involved in Mad River Valley Arts.

John Donaldson, Treasurer

Since moving to the Valley 25 years ago John has served as Treasurer to numerous non-profit organizations. It just made sense to use that experience to help MRVA. It has been fascinating to be involved with creative, talented people. Many are attracted to Vermont and the Valley for the beauty and outdoor recreation opportunities. But the arts are so important too. Arts help build community and foster positive feelings and mental well being. 

Marion Usher, Events

Marion L. Usher, Ph.D has had a home in the Valley since 1972. She

lives here in Waitsfield VT and in Washington DC. She has a great

interest in the arts and graduated McGill University majoring in Art

History and Political Science. Professionally she had had a career as

a psychotherapist, developer of Social Work Departments, Director of

a community Health Center, creator of the Couples and Family

Therapy Program at the Department of Psychiatry at George

Washington University where she is a Clinical Professor.

Her clinical writings includes publications in clinical supervision,

couples therapy, building a therapeutic model for families and

substance abuse.

As an innovator in the field of interfaith marriage she developed a

therapeutic workshop model, “Love and Religion; an Interfaith

Workshop of Jews and their Partners” which was made into a movie

and was shown in multiple film festivals. Her book, “One Couple Two

faiths, Stories of Love and Religion,” is seen as the template for all

couples dealing with these issues.

She is very interested in the intersection of art and mental health and

actively follows the research in the field of a “Sense of Awe.”