Artists

Explore artist profiles of many of the island residents who are engaged in creative expression. Search from the list or take a unguided stroll!

Brenda Fantroy-Johnson

Media; Performing Arts: Storyteller

Wanting regular people who struggle to have hope, Brenda Fantroy-Johnson wrote her memoir, “Imagine Me” (published by LifeRich Publishing), to show it is possible to get out from under hardships. “There is hope, there is a way out,” Fantroy-Johnson says. “I am living proof that it’s possible. Education is the key.” The memoir gives a detailed accounting of a young black girl’s journey growing up in the ghetto in Detroit in the early 1960s. “Imagine Me” shows how a self-described good girl copes with childhood loss and abandonment. A coming-of-age story set during the civil rights movement, the book illustrates Fantroy-Johnson developing and discovering her identity and “refusing to let herself quit.” She adds, “This is a story of strength and commitment to fulfill her mother’s directive, proving to herself – even through domestic violence, drugs, and alcohol abuse – that faith can get you out and enough faith can overcome fear.” By Brenda Fantroy-Johnson Softcover | 6 x 9 in | 190 pages | ISBN 9781489712028 E-Book | 190 pages | ISBN 978148971203 Brenda Fantroy-Johnson is a new author who grew up in Detroit. She graduated with the highest distinction from Davenport University with a Bachelor of Arts in computer science. She went on to obtain a Master of Business Administration from Spring Arbor University. She is a certified information security professional and holds many other industry certifications. An avid hiker, she has climbed Mt. Rainier, hiked to Mt. Everest Base Camp and walked the Northern Camino of Spain. She currently lives in Washington State with her husband, Harvey, and their Labrador retriever, Tama. The Artist Way groups facilitated: Bainbridge Island Park and Recreation 2-day retreat Bainbridge Island Group – 6-week workshop Book Salons / Readings / Signings for “Imagine Me” Barnes and Nobel, Silverdale Eagle Harbor Books, Bainbridge Liberty Bay Books (Poulsbo and Bremerton locations) Village Books, Bellingham Mill Creek Women’s Club Unity on Union book Store, Seattle Indi Author Showcase – Kitsap Library Kings Books, Tacoma Edmonds Book Store Third Place Books, Bothell Written Story Workshop Co-facilitated with Jennifer Wilhoit, Author Writing on the Landscape, Poulsbo, Bainbridge Island

Nancy Filsinger

Visual Arts: Illustration, Mixed Media, Painting

In 2010, Nancy enrolled in the first sketching and plein-air oil painting classes of her life. She believes that she is living proof that artists are not all charmed creatures who hatch from magic eggs, instantly able to create all manner of masterpieces. Instead, art is a path that any mere mortal might endeavor to take, understanding that some stages may be easier to maneuver and master and there will be many highs and lows along the way. The gateway to this enchanted place is open for all to enter at whatever level of skill or stage of learning. Come along with Nancy and share her journey. May it inspire you to jump headlong into an adventure of learning all your own, fearless and free.

David Franklin

Visual Arts: Sculpture

David started creating public art in my teens as a member of a graffiti crew, cutting stencils and painting them in abandoned rail yards near downtown Denver, CO. It was an inauspicious (not to mention undisciplined) beginning, but the overall experience made him acutely aware of my deep-seated desire to connect with humanity and have a chance to do large-scale installations. That seemed an impossible dream at the time: he had no formal art training and no clear avenues for developing the skills that would make him a viable contender in the public art arena. So in the early nineties he moved to the Northwest for a fresh start and began seeking people to help him realize my goal. Enter Duane Pasco, a successful regional artist known for being a part of the revival of Northwest Coast Native Art and creating monumental freestanding and integrated sculptures. He spent nearly a decade as his apprentice, gaining not only the graphic and sculptural skills he needed to propel my own art forward, but first-hand experience with large-scale art production—everything from concept and design to fabrication and installation. Today, by integrating my roots in graffiti with his training in native sculpture and graphics, he seeks to create an instant connection between the viewer and my art. He wants people to “get” his art the way we all “get” petroglyphs—on an innate level, independent of history or heritage. In the past 20 years David has developed a diverse portfolio that features work in a variety of styles and media, including metal, glass, and wood. In the public art realm, he's been fortunate to secure several well-placed, high profile commissions. He's also had the privilege of teaching at the renowned Marc Adams School of Woodworking, and have twice been awarded the prestigious John Michael Kohler Arts/Industry Residency. Like most of life’s many satisfying accomplishments, his success as an artist is the result of creative collaboration. He owes an enormous debt of gratitude to each of the mentors, muses, and co-workers who have inspired him over the years. In many ways, he considers his work as much theirs as his own.

Camille Fredericksen

Performing Arts: Music, Theatre, Vocal

Camille is a lifelong Bel Canto singer and has been teaching Bel Canto for over 13 years. Though she loves to perform and have done so in Boston, New York, San Francisco, and Seattle, she feels her greatest calling is teaching Bel Canto to the new generations. She is a second generation student of Enrico Rosati, a world renowned Bel Canto teacher. "Studying music not only perfects the art within, but also teaches life lessons that become part of the student." She teaches students from 7 years of age to older adults. She loves teaching! She believes that children are capable of excellence, and that there is a singer in all of us. She teaches with clear but positive feedback tuning into each student's individual needs using her intuition and finely trained ear to bring the student smoothly through the journey of mastering singing. She teaches all levels of singing study quickly solving any singer's problems, especially the teenage male changing voice. Camille is also a choral director and has founded several performing choirs. She loves mixing the adult voices with the children's voices. The sound is exquisite, parents and children get to sing together, and young adults master choral work and singing technique. She has cofounded two Youtube Channels, Voices Of The Void and Camille Classics. Please visit her channels to sample her work. "Music, especially singing, enriches our lives with emotion, love and inspiration. I am so blessed to have had a life in music and wish to share this wealth with humanity. God Bless!"

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