Who We Are
Photo By Robin Michals
Tannis Kowalchuk, Artistic Director
Tannis is Artistic Director of Farm Arts Collective. She specializes in devised theatre and creative place-making projects. She is an organic farmer and co-owner of Willow Wisp Organic Farm where she manages the cut-flower production. She was an original co-founder of NACL Theatre and worked in Canada with Primus Theatre. Tannis has directed and performed in over 30 original theatre productions in the US and Canada. Current projects include Dream on the Farm (director), her international touring solo performance Decompositions. Past credits include The Weather Project and Courage (NACL/Governors Island). Awards: Women and the Arts and Media Collaboration 2019. She attended University of Winnipeg, Theatre BA.
Jess Beveridge, Company Manager
Jess has been a member of Farm Arts Collective since its inception. She has performed in all Dream on the Farm performances and co-created Stone Soup Cooking Class, an all-ages live cooking show. She is a “perfarmer” who also spends her days at Willow Wisp Organic Farm in the role of greenhouse manager and flower grower. She is an alumna of the Studio Program at AMDA, NY and has trained and performed with 29th Street Playwrights Collective, The Pearl Conservatory, Co-Op Theatre East, GoJo Clan Productions, Cornerstone Theatre Arts and Forestburgh Playhouse. Past credits also include Courage (Governor’s Island), People Like Us and Streets with NACL.
Ginny Hack, Development
Ginny is an ensemble member and Development Associate of Farm Arts Collective. Having “retired” from acting 20 years ago, she has realized there’s no place she’d rather be than on stage. Ginny first worked with Tannis in Courage at NACL in 2016 and has been a part of the Dream on the Farm series since 2021. Her other favorite roles include Marc Antony in a reverse gender production of Julius Caesar with Judith Shakespeare Company and Ruth in Wonderful Town at her alma mater, Shenandoah University. She is currently honing her grant writing skills as a freelance development associate with Farm Arts Collective and Theater Resources Unlimited.
Phoenix Murns, Production Asst.
Phoenix is an ensemble member of Farm Arts Collective and is a graduate of both the SUNY Sullivan and SUNY Brockport theatre programs. Their love of many disciplines and desire to create is what initially drew them to theatre. Whether it is building costumes, acting or stage managing, their love of collaborative storytelling is their driving force. They are most excited to be working with Farm Arts and are tremendously excited for all the new stories to be told.
Farm Arts Collective Ensemble
Farm Arts Collective has developed a performance ensemble of local and international performers, farmers, writers, musicians, and makers. The ensemble meets weekly for performer training and collective performance creation around social and eco-justice.
Pam Arnold
Melissa Bell - Playwright
Jess Beveridge
Beau Brazfield
Michael Chojnicki
Clown Daddy
Rebekah Creshkoff
Mark Dunau - Playwright
Tiffany Esteb
Rima Fand - Composer
Virginia Hack
Annie Hat - Chorus Leader
Karen Hudson
Tannis Kowalchuk
Kris Kurtz
Daniel Lendzian
Jessica López-Barkl
Manon Manavit
Lexee McEntee
Mimi McGurl - Director
Phoenix Murns
Doug Rogers - Composer
John Roth
Yurika Sase
Leo Schmidt
Jonah Watwood
Hudson Williams-Eynon
Our Board Members
Leo Schmidt, President
A CFA, Leo has been an institutional investor for over 20 years. Most recently, he was a Senior Equity Analyst for the Chubb Corporation. A graduate from Columbia University, Cum Laude, Phi Beta Kappa, with a double major in Economics and History. He earned an MBA from NYU with a double major in Accounting and Finance. He has served as Chair of CFA Society New York’s Institutional Asset Management Group and was named CFA Society New York’s Volunteer of the Year in 2020. Leo was a professional dancer in such companies as Harkness Ballet, the Eglevsky Ballet, and New York Dance Theater. He toured with West Story revival in 1981 and performed in a nightclub act at the Rainbow Room in Rockefeller Center for three years.
Tannis Kowalchuk, Vice President
An organic farmer on Willow Wisp Organic Farm and the founding artistic director of Farm Arts Collective. She directs the Farm Arts Collective ensemble in the creation of devised site-specific performances. Tannis trained in ensemble physical theatre practices with Primus Theatre in Canada, and at The University of Winnipeg, BA Theatre
Maya Jakubowicz, Treasurer
Maya is the Chief Operating Officer for the Bernard and Anne Spitzer Charitable Trust, a family foundation that supports work in early climate technology and innovation. With experience working in city government and at non-profit arts organizations, she recognizes the benefits and necessity of public and private partnership support at the community level. After seeing many of the ensemble performances on the farm, she is thrilled to join the Farm Arts Collective board. Maya holds a Bachelor of Arts in Film Studies from the University of California, Santa Barbara.
Iris Fen Gillingham, Board Member
Iris Fen Gillingham was born and raised on Wild Roots Farm and now runs their programs for people wanting to connect to nature, forage, and learn about sustainable living, fiber arts, and climate justice in agriculture.
Iris and her experiences in climate and social justice have led to her working extensively with communities across the country dealing with fossil fuel extraction and climate change.
She is excited to use her love of art, her passion for creating climate-resilient communities, and her knowledge of agricultural education to support the Farm Arts Collective in its vision and programs!
Heather Jacksy, Board Member
An urban planner with an arts background, Heather understands the value of arts and especially arts that engage and involve the community. Heather currently works for Sullivan County Planning, Environmental Management, and Real Property. She holds a BFA from Parsons School of Design and an MUP from Hunter College.
Adrienne Jensen, Board Member
Adrienne is the Executive Director of the Rural Migrant Ministry and is also leading programs at Evergreen Meadow Academy. She is the past Executive Director of the Sullivan County Human Rights Commission. Adrienne is a professional dancer (Bill T. Jones Company) & a passionate cook.
Robin Sampson, Board Member
Robin is based in Wayne County with her husband Jim on their farm in Cherry Ridge. She graduated from Honesdale High School in 1978 and went on to Goucher College in Baltimore Maryland. She retired from the Wayne Highlands school district having spent 18 years teaching at HHS and the last 10 as a librarian at Lakeside Elementary. She is currently serving a four year term as a Wayne County Auditor ensuring financial accountability and transparency in all county offices. She volunteered locally with families in Special Olympics, Pop Up Club at The Cooperage, teaching chess at Lakeside, and leading square dancing for fifth graders along with working with SEEDS and the Upper Delaware Bioblitz focusing on outreach and education.
Our Advisors
Janus Adams
Pioneer of African-American and women’s programming, Janus is an Emmy award-winning journalist, historian, author, and host of public radio’s “The Janus Adams Show” and podcast.
Jessica López-Barkl
Jessica López-Barkl is the Assistant Professor of Theater and Speech at SUNY Sullivan. She is also a freelance actor, director, dramaturg, designer, and long-time collaborator with Tannis Kowalchuk.
Elaine Matthews
A retired scientist from NASA’s Goddard Institute for Space Studies and NASA Ames Research Center in Mountain View, CA. Past collaborator of The Weather Project (NACL).
Greg Swartz
An organic farmer and owner of Willow Wisp Organic Farm in Damascus, PA. He is the former executive director of the Northeast Organic Farming Association of NY and has held positions on numerous farmers’ markets, and environmental and agricultural boards in the region.
Mike Uretsky
Active in Wayne County, PA community development, was co-director of the New York University Center for Advanced Technology and Professor of Information Systems and Technology at New York University's Stern School of Business (a department that he founded).