BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Mark Kurtz, President
For nearly 30 years Mark Kurtz has been providing Saranac Lake, Lake Placid and the Adirondack region with outstanding fine art, commercial and event photography. Mark's gallery of fine art black & white photography, located in downtown Saranac Lake, boasts hundreds of hand-made prints and also serves as basecamp for his commercial and event photography services. He received a BFA from Alfred University and has taught photography in high school, college and workshop environments. Mark is one of the founding members of the Adirondack Artist's Guild and Saranac Lake ArtWorks and is widely recognized as one of the Adirondack region's preeminent artists.
​
​
Jill Michalsky
Susan Miller, Secretary
After 4 years of college at SUNY Plattsburgh, I fell in love with the Adirondacks and was excited to move to Saranac Lake in anticipation of the 1980 Winter Olympics. I have resided here ever since, guess you could say I found my “special place”. Initially I worked in the hospitality industry as front desk manager at the LP Hilton for 15 years and then changed directions to become a teacher for students with special needs in the Lake Placid CSD for the last 20 years. During these years, we focused many student lessons on the importance of becoming involved with your communities and the related resources that it provides. I saw first hand how beneficial resources in the arts can be for all students and their families and all of our other community members and visitors alike. This connection with the arts allows for all of us to develop new skills and experiences that enhance our appreciation of the world around us and that is what I see happening at BluSeed Studios. It's with great respect that I see the contributions in art, music and related activities that the BluSeed gallery/ studios gives to our community and my hope is to help it continue to thrive and grow for all of us!!
Lisa Meissner
Lisa joined the BluSeed Board in October 2022. She has enjoyed BluSeed since its inception –especially attending live concerts surrounded by innovative art. It’s a unique experience. Lisa comes to the board with a special interest in supporting live music in BluSeed’s intimate space. She also serves on the Board on the “Pickin and Singin Gathering” a folk music organization based in the Albany, NY region.
Lisa moved to the area in the fall of 1980. Her children attended Saranac Lake schools. They lived in Coreys from the fall of 1981 to 2019. They bucked retirement trends by moving 15 miles northeast to Saranac Lake. She is a retired clinical social worker who had the privilege of developing and running an innovative music therapy program at North Star Day Program for 15 years. She also taught nursery school for 6 years when her children were little. Lisa is a songwriter with her husband Klaus performs new and traditionally informed music as the Rustic Riders. They have recorded 4 CD’s of new music with Dan Duggan. They provide song writing workshops with children and youth, memory cafes for people with dementia and their caregivers and concerts for families and adults across the North Country and beyond.
​
Katherine Levin-Lau
Katherine Levin Lau is represented by Walter Bischoff Galerie, Stuttgart. Her recent solo exhibitions include shows in Mexico and Germany. She was born in Saranac Lake, New York, and currently splits time between Saranac Lake and San Jose, California. She has been an Artist in Residence at Bluseed Studios since the early 2000's. For more information, visit https://katherinelevinlau.com/