Board Election 2025

 

Election Results:   50 for Tony, 44 for Greg, 38 for Michael, 30 for Bodo and 17 for Ed.  

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This time around — all of the officers are running unopposed - while we have five candidates for three open director positions. Two of those candidates are incumbents.

Like all PNC elections held after the bylaws were changed 20 years ago, there was no elections committee to recruit and vet candidates. There were no quarterly membership meetings where issues and candidates could be discussed. There were only brief bios mailed out by the office - In this case - arriving only 7 days before the election. 

 We have got to do better. 

 In the last election cycle, I feverishly assembled a list of questions for each candidate, but there’s really no time for that this year - and why should Chris Miller be the only one asking questions ? So this year - there’s only one question - and it concerns a motion to create an online members forum where everyone can ask whatever they want.

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The following question was sent to all the candidates:

Would you support the following motion ( to go before the board or if necessary, the Quarterly) :

The Palette and Chisel will build a members only area on our website  where artist members can discuss issues relevant to all elections and motions placed before the Quarterly.

And I got seven replies:

Bodo Stolezenberger:    Yes I would

Alisa Kannett : I’m all for it

Cathy Buck:  Any opportunity for the members to connect would be great,

Tony Bedolla :  I have concerns about how the questionnaire for the candidates was developed. Did it reflect the opinions of all voting P&C members regarding what they want us to address, or was it based solely on one person's perspective?    (Note: Tony’s concerns would be addressed by putting this motion before the members’ Quarterly - which I will do if the board does not act.  But I also believe that board should take a leading role in fulfilling the PNC mission - not just query members on their preferences)

Ed Zawacki :  I'm supportive of the idea of a discussion forum, but I'm uncertain why it would be limited to artist members. Input from all members is important.

Greg Dhuse :   I think an online space to communicate and discuss P&C initiatives is a great idea and I’d be happy to lead the effort to research and present some options to the board (my day job is writing software). In addition to finding the right tool, which could look like anything from a blog with inline comments to a full-fledged open forum, we’ll need to think about how to manage access for members. And, whatever we choose, we should be intentional about creating an online community that is as welcoming and collegial as the in-person P&C community.

Lenin Del Sol :  I would be in favor of a members only section in our Palette and chisel website. Presently, the website seems to be operating beneath its potential to bring together our members in the form of online discussions about the Palette, techniques, events, and social discourse. A members only section would be a welcome step in the direction of fulfilling it's potential.

Stuart Fullerton :  Chris--I think this is a good idea and I would like to explore it further

Michael Van Zeyl :  No response …. positive or negative 

(Tony and Michael did not answer this question- but they quite sincerely answered another, even more important one: should candidates for the board be expected to answer questions from voting members …regardless of who they are? )

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An interactive discussion with candidates allows members:

 To query candidates about a specific issue -- current or past 

 To ask candidates exactly what they will contribute

 To experience how candidates analyze and prioritize issues.

 To seek more details about the candidates’ relevant skills and experience

 …and it will allow candidates : 

 To become more familiar to those who never met them

 To respond to whatever has been said about them. 

..... and you just never know what issues will pop up in an annual open discussion. Could be an annoying complaint -- but could also be a helpful suggestion.

But even more than that:: isn’t it a good idea to talk about the Palette once a year - what we’ve done - where we’re going? As if we’re up to something greater than just having a warm place to paint.

 Currently, the only alternative to the brief bios mailed with each ballot, is for candidates to spend the time and/or money to do a mass mailing to all 200-plus voting members. And even then - the mailings may arrive so close to the day of the election that opponents can offer no reply. Intense, highly-controversial elections only occur here every 20 years or so - but when they do, mass mailings are a spectacular failure. 

 The current election cycle is quite tame - but still - the new candidates, who may have much to contribute, need more exposure-- while new members, voting for the first time, need more information about everything. And we do want them to be curious!

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Directors 

Jose Antonio "Tony" Bedolla 

Jose Antonio Bedolla, known as "Tony," has served as a director to the Palette & Chisel board for three years, a journey that has been filled with both challenging and gratifying experiences. He is eager to pursue new initiatives to foster the growth of the next generation of members while upholding the integrity and ensuring the legacy of the Palette and Chisel. It would be his honor to serve our members again for another three-year term. Tony is an accomplished artist whose drawings have delighted many of us for years. He has taught workshops at the P&C and takes great joy in the privilege of mentoring fellow artists, helping them elevate their drawing abilities to a refined and advanced level. 

GREG DHUSE

I began at the P&C in 2021 and immediately fell in love with the place and the community. Since then, Saturday morning open studio is the highlight of my week. Although I've been pursuing art for nearly a decade, I'm still very much a student and take classes in addition to attending open studio. This lead me to serve on the Education Committee, coordinating and monitoring Adrian Gottlieb's recent workshop which sold out and raised over $4000. It remains challenging to offer this kind of special event without impacting open studios and, as a board member, I'd like to explore ways to minimize those disruptions. By day, I'm a software engineer, so my technical background can come in handy. I've recently been looking at the building's network and am preparing a proposal to upgrade WiFi speed and coverage. As part of the committee organizing the big celebration of Richard Schmid in October 2026, I'm excited to expand our reach by helping stream the event worldwide. I've enjoyed getting involved beyond the brush and would love the opportunity to lend my time and expertise towards stewardship of the Palette and Chisel as a member of the board. 

Bodo Stolezenberger 

While earning his undergraduate degree in Painting and Drawing at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, and employed full-time, Bodo Stolzenberger also monitored open studio sessions for a number of years as an Administrative Specialist at The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and simultaneously at the Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design, MIAD, as a Course Administrator for Community Figure Drawing. Relocating to the Chicago area in 1997, Bodo landed employment with the Chicago Tribune and continued his artistic pursuit by becoming a member of the Palette & Chisel and eventually monitoring several open studios. In addition to covering his own open studios, he contributed to covering other open studios as needed, assisted in the Palette's Under $300 Art Shows, supervised outside private events held at the Palette, promoted the Palette during the CAC Open House events and organized the Palette's 3рет year, all-day Drawing Marathons. Select Milwaukee exhibitions include: Annual Student Art Competitions, Xerox Art Exhibition-hosted by the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, And The Art Cart Caper-hosted by the Milwaukee Art Museum. Select Chicago exhibitions include: Scholl College of Podiatric Medicine, Around The Coyote, (2003-2009) and at the Palette & Chisel Academy of Fine Arts, (Solo show and numerous group shows, 2002-present.)

 Michael Van Zeyl 

I would be honored to continue to serve the Palette & Chisel as a Director because of my passion and experience for making this the premier environment to create art from the live model. I have been an active Faculty Member and Board Member attending all Board meetings, Investment Committee meetings and Building Committee meetings. I am deeply involved with providing diagrams and spreadsheets for special projects. I approach each idea with a thoughtful objective, develop criteria for design and product recommendations and follow through with an execution plan for the best result. I was recently involved in the new website redesign and actively review the investment account and have helped save over S10k in advisor fees and suggested money market funds that have earned over $15K/year income on the building account. If you have any questions or would like to hear about the special projects I am currently working on please feel free to email me at mail@michaelvanzeyl.com. To see my bio and amazing 20+ year professional art career check out my website www.michaelvanzeyl.com. 

Ed Zawacki 

I've been a member of the Palette for more than seven years and am continuously grateful for the opportunities it provides to practice and improve. Over the years, I've had numerous opportunities to volunteer and assist with events such as model marathons, stuffing envelopes, and clearance events. Prior to retirement, I was the Chief Information Security Officer at UIC. In addition, I'm currently working part-time as a privacy and security consultant for a law firm that works with universities across the country. I love technology and look for ways to use it to improve operations. That's why I took the initiative a couple years ago to help P&C automate the new member and model application processes.