ANNE JACKSON

 

For more than 17 years, Anne has been a dedicated advocate for nonprofit and arts organizations in Northwest Arkansas.  Claiming dual hometowns of both Memphis and Atlanta, Anne moved to Northwest Arkansas in 1999 to attend the University of Arkansas.  She holds a Bachelor of Art in Journalism, specializing in Advertising and Public Relations.  

 Anne worked in development for Big Brothers Big Sisters of NWA, Single Parent Scholarship Fund of NWA and Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art.  Most recently, she worked in high-profile event management and operations for major festivals, such as The Atlantic Festival in Washington, D.C. and Bentonville Film Festival.  

At age six, Anne made her debut at the West Memphis Community Theater in a production of South Pacific.  She later realized that rather than making art herself, she prefers to make art happen for artists and communities.  As her experience in the art world grew, so did her love of visual art.  From contemporary works from Dan Jameison to original pen and ink works from her great-great grandmother, Anne’s eclectic collection of original artwork floods her walls.  

Anne participates on a number of local nonprofit committees and serves on the board of the Association of Fundraising Professionals, NWA Chapter, where she is currently Co-Chair of National Philanthropy Day.  

She loves to talk music, plants and Razorbacks and looks forward to talking more about the importance of engaging in the arts!

DAVID GOMEZ

 

David is a Mexican-born American artist working from his studio in Rogers, Arkansas. His main work uses symbology to express and explore ideas, emotions and existential musings. He paints with a broad range of mediums such as oils, acrylics and spray paint. Most of his work is symbolic abstract and digitesse impressionism. He first showed artistic promise at the age of four but only began painting professionally almost three years ago. His work has drawn invitation to display his artwork in the Van Der Plas Gallery in New York City which focuses on graffiti and street art. Most recently, he displayed some of his work in Milan, Italy at the M.A.D.S. digital art gallery in the group exhibit Romantica. David's piece Principia Crescendum, which was commissioned by the Amazeum in Bentonville, Arkansas, will be inducted into the Museum's permanent collection later this year. In addition, David had his first solo show at the Acansa Gallery in North Little Rock, Arkansas in July of 2021.

David finds purpose in sharing ideas and messages of self-growth through his artwork. He uses both chaos and order to speak of redemption and he gives glimpses of hope.  David finds purpose in sharing ideas and messages of self-growth through his artwork. He uses mathematical and scientific concepts throughout his work and layers them with existential symbolism. His goal is to “say something beautiful, while also saying it beautifully.”

DACRE WHITAKER

 

Her first name is pronounced DA-kree. She is inspired when surrounded by creatives and feels her best when sharing laughs, drinks, and/or food with others. Dacre once shared a pile of chicken wings with the Smashing Pumpkins in Dallas at Lollapolooza. She holds a BA in English from The University of Oklahoma, and taught English as a Second Language in Teajon, South Korea for a year. Dacre likes to mow her yard, enjoys visiting on porches, and the only thing she will refuse to eat is ketchup.

JUSTIN STEWART

 

Justin Stewart, originally from Saint Paul, MN, and raised in Northwest Arkansas, discovered his passion for the performing arts at a young age, driven by his love for singing. His journey began with choral music in Junior High and High School, leading him to audition for opera theater in college—a pivotal moment where his interest in singing merged seamlessly with his curiosity for acting. As Justin delved into the world of musical theater, he showcased his talent in various productions at Arkansas Public Theatre. The art of storytelling through acting became a profound passion and eventually evolved into his life's purpose. Justin holds a degree in Journalism from the University of Arkansas and later earned his MBA from Webster University.

Professionally, Justin wears multiple hats as a seasoned actor and voice-over artist. Beyond the stage and studio, he is a devoted full-time father to his two beautiful daughters and a loving husband to Joanna. Justin actively contributes to inspiring the next generation of artists both on stage and through the lens of film within the local community. Among Justin's notable credits are performances in acclaimed productions such as Jesus Christ Superstar, Les Misérables, Footloose, Jekyll and Hyde, To Kill a Mockingbird, Driving Miss Daisy, and many more. Not only does he leave a mark on the entertainment scene, but Justin also plays a crucial role in supporting the region's talent recruitment and retention efforts, serving as a dedicated Talent Ambassador with the Northwest Arkansas Council.