Venues for Artists in the Local Area
MEET THE TEAM
Jessica at VALA - photo by Marisa Mouton Provo
Jessica Kravitz, President
Jessica is a Washington Bar Candidate (recent law school grad) and visual art curator. She serves on the OneRedmond Foundation Board of Directors and is a partner at Ryan James Fine Arts Gallery. As a former City of Redmond Arts and Culture Commissioner and docent at the Seattle Art Museum, Jessica is in touch with current and historical artistic and cultural sensibilities. Jessica strives to advocate for art both in our daily lives and as a method of self-expression available to anyone who wants to create it.
Suzie Bradford, Board Member
Suzie Bradford, a seasoned musician and performer, has made significant strides in the West Coast music scene. She led the popular Seattle band “The Side Project,” and later “Goodnight Suzie.” Her music has been featured nationwide and she has performed at various events and venues across the West Coast. Suzie has also successfully fundraised for several campaigns, including a music scholarship for youth. As a board member of VALA, Suzie brings her extensive experience and passion for the arts to the forefront. Learn more at: goodnightsuzie.com.
Suzie Bradford - photo by Annie Evasick
Laura Lee at VALA - photo by Marisa Mouton Provo
Laura Lee Bennett, Events Coordinator
Laura Lee Bennett is a writer, editor, and poet. She is a past board president of the Redmond Association of Spokenword (RASP) and has been involved in many local poetry events. Laura Lee has been a "VALAnteer" since 2016, and recently joined the VALA Board as Events Coordinator. She believes in the galvanizing power of close literary and arts communities.
Eva Moon, Board Member
Eva Moon is an author, songwriter, playwright, screenwriter, performer, and former Huffington Post blogger. Her plays and musicals have been staged across the US and UK, and her solo musical, “The Mutant Diaries: Unzipping My Genes” is streaming on Amazon. Her award-winning novel, Pinocchio’s Guide to the End of the World, was published in 2023. She was a longtime volunteer coordinator for VALA and served two terms on the Redmond Arts & Culture Commission. Learn more at: evamoon.net.
Eva Moon – photo by Eva Moon
Latha Sambamurti - photo by Katherine Wickhorst
Latha Sambamurti, Artistic Development Director
Latha Sambamurti is the producer and Artistic, Outreach and Development Director of several large-scale arts and culture festivals in Washington. She is an educator, trained musician , band leader, and winner of Kirkland Performance Center’s You Rock award for community service. Sambamurti has been a Washington State Arts Commissioner and currently a Redmond Arts & Culture Commissioner. She serves as a board director for several state and regional cultural organizations. Sambamurti holds a master’s degree in English Literature.
Lavanya Venkateswar, Treasurer
Lavanya is an artist with a passion for crocheting and painting. Her commitment to serving the community through art led her to create Meaningful Actions along with her daughters, a charity organization that teaches crocheting and donates baby hats to Neonatal ICUs. She serves as an adult mentor at Expressions Arts, a non-profit that brings the joy of art into peoples’ lives. With 23 years of experience in the food industry, she also actively mentors’ youth and believes in the power of art and science through STEAM education. She is excited to contribute her skills by serving as a board member at VALA, connecting artists and the community through creativity and collaboration.
Lavanya Venkateswar- photo by Smera Venkateswar
Crystal in her Studio - photo by Crystal A Edwards
Crystal A. Edwards, G Suite Administrator
Crystal started with VALA in 2012 as the first ever VALAnteer steward, and due to her passionate belief in VALA's mission, she has continued to work with VALA throughout the years. She is a local mixed media artist who has a BA in Painting, and in Advertising Design. She is highly active the local art community as the Surface Design Association Eastside Area Leader, as VALA's IT consultant, and as the current acting President of the VALA board. In her spare time, she enjoys long walks on the Sammamish River Trail, and hanging out at local coffee shops. You can see her artwork on: crystalaedwards.com.