Deborah Kobayashi. If all of life’s a stage, then the backdrop of Deborah Kobayashi’s childhood was the artistic lives of her parents. Her own creative path began with ceramics, drawing, then painting and sculpture. Her chosen career was social work, and she reveled in the way art could create community among people of any age. She opened Articipate in 2013. It is a storefront art studio striving to promote art through teaching and exhibitions. She lives a mile away from Articipate, a doable distance for a daily bike ride or walk.
Liz Frankland
Tracey Ladd
With a BFA and MFA, 30+ years of teaching and a long trail of exhibitions, awards, and artist-in-residencies behind her, Tracey brings both experience and curiosity into every classroom. Her work and teaching are rooted in exploration, thoughtful process, and a belief that creativity should feel both rigorous and joyful. When she’s not in the studio, you’ll likely find her at her northern cottage birdwatching with binoculars in hand, splitting and stacking wood, hiking forest trails, or biking quiet backroads. That connection to the outdoors quietly weaves its way into her artistic voice — observant, grounded, and always paying attention. She teaches with enthusiasm, depth, and just enough spontaneity to make the creative process feel inviting and alive.
Ron Rutherd