Do you love to volunteer? Do you love the arts? Come join us by making a difference in Oceana County by actively promoting Visual and Performing Arts.
Become a member or step up and join the Pentwater Arts Council Board.
OUR MISSION
The purpose of the Pentwater Arts Council is to support the arts including but not limited to visual, theater, music and performing arts and to advance arts education within Pentwater, Michigan as well as Oceana County, Michigan.
JANET NELSON
Co-President
Janet Nelson’s career has followed a creative and people-focused path, beginning in education and evolving through interior design, business leadership, and human resources. Along the way, she built and led successful ventures while developing a strong foundation in team building and organizational management.
Since retiring to Pentwater, Janet has been an active supporter of the arts and arts education, contributing her skills and energy to the Pentwater Arts Council and several local organizations. She values the role art plays in lifelong learning and community connection and enjoys helping bring creative opportunities to people of all ages.
JUDY PAZOL
Co-President
Judy Pazol brings extensive leadership experience from a career in public education. She served as a district-wide administrator, focusing on supporting students with special needs, guiding strategic planning and school improvement, and leading organizational change.
After retiring from public schools, Judy served as President of the Michigan Council for Exceptional Children and completed contract work for state and federal education agencies.
Her love of the arts began in childhood and continues today through a strong enthusiasm for museums and galleries. Judy values the role of the arts in education and community life and brings that perspective to her involvement with the Pentwater Arts Council.
KRIS SLOTEGRAAF
Vice President
Kris Slotegraaf joined the Pentwater Arts Council within the past two years, bringing a background in education and a lifelong commitment to the visual arts. He retired in 2025 after a career with the State of Michigan as a secondary English Language Arts and Visual Arts instructor.
Kris remains actively engaged in creative practice, with a focus on photography and sculpture, which he views as both expressive and restorative. His interests also include hands-on building projects, outdoor exploration, travel, and reading—activities that reflect a deep curiosity about both craft and the natural world.
A strong supporter of arts education, Kris values the role the Arts Council plays in fostering creativity within the community and in supporting the next generation of artists.
JUDY PRIMOZICH
Secretary
Judy Primozich built her career in dentistry as a registered dental hygienist, maintaining licensure in both Michigan and California. She was especially passionate about education, developing and delivering a children’s dental health curriculum that reached schools throughout Oceana County.
Judy has a long history of community leadership, serving on boards and in leadership roles for several local organizations. Her appreciation for art was nurtured early through family museum visits and continues today through a love of watercolor and sculpture.
She values the role of the arts in lifelong enrichment and community well-being.
MARILYN THORESON
Treasurer
Marilyn Thoreson spent her professional career in pharmacy, working in both hospital and manufacturing settings through decades of industry growth and change. Her work focused on leadership and management within pharmaceutical manufacturing.
After retiring, Marilyn discovered a renewed connection to creativity through the Pentwater Artisan Center. She now enjoys working as a hands-on maker, creating sea glass jewelry, knitting, and needle-felted pieces.
Marilyn brings a thoughtful, practical perspective to the Arts Council and values the welcoming, exploratory nature of the local arts community.
SALLY BUTZ
Sally Butz is a registered nurse and entrepreneur whose career bridges healthcare, business leadership, and nonprofit service. Specializing in diabetes education, she later founded a health risk management company that delivered wellness programs nationwide.
Sally has served on numerous nonprofit boards and advocacy organizations, including work supporting children, families, and healthcare initiatives. Alongside her professional life, she has been an artist since childhood, focusing primarily on oil paintings of animals, florals, and landscapes.
She brings both strategic insight and creative passion to her support of the arts.
CYNDY CALLOG
Cyndy Callog is a lifelong artist and educator whose career reflects a deep belief in the power of art—especially for children. Trained in both art and elementary education, she began by teaching elementary art before building a successful career as a watercolor artist.
Recognized as a National Wildlife Artist of the Year, Cyndy’s work has been widely licensed and celebrated through partnerships with organizations such as Hallmark and the National Wildlife Federation, along with numerous professional awards. Alongside her artistic achievements, she has been deeply engaged in community leadership and arts advocacy, supporting arts education through service, programming, and scholarships for students.
Cyndy is proud to support the mission, values, and future of the Pentwater Arts Council.
TERRI LINDVALL
Terri Lindvall is a lifelong artist and educator whose passion for art has guided both her professional career and personal life. After studying art and art education, she spent many years teaching, culminating in her role as Chair of Visual Arts at The Hewitt School in New York City.
Terri’s work has been exhibited in galleries and cultural institutions across the Midwest and beyond. After retiring from education, she returned to full-time studio practice, where painting—especially large-scale works inspired by Lake Michigan—remains central to her creative life.
A longtime Pentwater summer resident, Terri has deep roots in the community and brings both professional expertise and personal devotion to the arts.
JOANN MURPHY
Joann Murphy is a longtime Pentwater resident and dedicated community volunteer currently serving her second term on the Pentwater Arts Council Board. After retiring from a 40-year career in healthcare specializing in maternal and child health, Joann and her family made Pentwater their full-time home—drawn by the town’s creative spirit and strong sense of community.
Since joining the Arts Council, Joann has been actively involved during a period of meaningful growth, including the launch of the Sculpture Walk, which invited community participation and donor support to shape public art throughout the village. She especially values programs that connect artists, students, and the broader community, including student exhibitions and arts education initiatives.
Though her professional background is science-based, Joann’s love of art began early and continues today through an appreciation of pottery, watercolor, and the work of local artists that reflect life in and around Oceana County.
JULIE NELSON
Julie Nelson’s career spans education, counseling, nonprofit leadership, and business management. Beginning as a high school social science teacher, she later worked in reproductive health education and administration before transitioning into business roles with small companies.
Julie is also a dedicated fiber artist, specializing in counted cross-stitch works that depict meaningful places, landscapes, and historic buildings. Her detailed, time-intensive pieces are often created as personal gifts for family and friends.
She values the role of art as both personal expression and shared experience and enjoys supporting creative opportunities within the community.
PATTI OPEL
Patti Opel is a respected West Michigan artist and educator whose work has made a lasting impact on the region’s cultural landscape. She was honored as one of Western Michigan University’s Top 100 Art Alumni of the Past Century, recognizing her contributions as both an artist and teacher.
Her paintings and sculptures have been widely exhibited in museums, universities, and galleries across the Midwest, and her work is held in both public and private collections. Patti has taught at several institutions, including WMU, where she also served as an academic advisor in art.
She is currently the owner and operator of Kook’s Eye Gallery in Pentwater and remains deeply committed to supporting artists and arts education.
ALLISON SVOBODA
Allison Svoboda is a contemporary artist working across painting, installation, and sculpture. Her work explores the space between intuitive and deliberate mark-making, resulting in pieces that feel both ethereal and quietly powerful.
Known for her intricate sumi-e collage paintings inspired by fractal geometry, Allison translates these works into large-scale installations in metal and glass. Her art has been commissioned and exhibited internationally, appearing in prominent public spaces, hospitality settings, and private collections.
Splitting her time between Chicago and Pentwater, both along Lake Michigan, Allison draws constant inspiration from the water, light, and shifting landscapes of the region.
DONNA VOGES
Donna Voges brings a unique blend of technical, business, and arts advocacy experience to the Pentwater Arts Council. Her professional background includes a long career at IBM, where she worked in engineering, marketing, and financial planning.
Alongside her professional work, Donna has been actively involved in nonprofit leadership and volunteer service. Her appreciation for the arts began early through music and museum experiences and has continued through lifelong learning and travel.
A strong believer in the value of integrating arts into education, Donna champions a STEAM-focused approach that nurtures creativity alongside technical skills.
DEB ZARE
Debra Zare is a retired high school art educator and practicing artist who splits her time between Chicago and Pentwater. Working primarily in painting and mixed media, her work has explored a wide range of subjects—from quiet, everyday moments to richly detailed studies of the natural world.
Nature remains a central source of inspiration for Debra, along with the myths, legends, and histories that shape how we understand it. Through her art, she brings a thoughtful and poetic perspective to familiar forms.
WHERE WE CRAFT OUR FOCUS AND TIME
OUR STANDING COMMITTEES:
MEMBERSHIP
PUBLICITY
HISTORY
TECHNOLOGY
GOVERNANCE
FUNDRAISING
AD-HOC COMMITTEES:
OCEANA COUNTY STUDENT ART SHOW
COCOA, CORKS, AND CANVAS
OCEANA COUNTY FEATURED ARTISTS PROGRAM
OCEANA COUNTY TEACHER GRANTS