Leah Kohlenberg has painted for two decades, and is a primarily self taught artist supplementing with classes at the Gage Academy and Pacific Northwest College of Art and at the Art Students League of New York. She then spent five years in Eastern Europe studying painting and drawing privately with artists in Budapest, Hungary; in Yerevan, Armenia; and in Zagreb, Croatia.

Glen is the owner and chief nerd of Astoria Makers located in Miles Crossing across Youngs Bay. He has spent over 30 years in engineering, software and technology and has the patents to show for it. But don’t let his degree in Civil Engineering from Kansas University fool you, he is way more than slide rules and algorithms. He is always looking to apply his creativity and problem solving abilities to advance learning and making in a communal environment.

Glen is also one of the owners of the Van Dusen Building in downtown Astoria which houses the Astoria Studio Collective, Cambium Gallery and the Astoria Visual Arts gallery and resident artist studio. The Astoria Studio Collective has 16 studios whose artists have a variety of different skills and talents. Aside from being responsible for business operations and strategic direction for the studio collective and Astoria Makers, he also dabbles deeply into digital design and fabrication. His artistic side is responsible for crafting laser cut lights, abstract wall sculptures, and other 3D forms involving wood, wire and concrete.

Mostly self taught, Jo Pfeifer learns best by doing. Growing up in Portland, she had access to ceramic classes in schools and at local art studios which encouraged her to pursue a life and career in ceramic art. She works out of her home studio where she teaches classes and makes small batches.

“Inspired by the simple joys of drinking from a favorite mug or watching a plant grow from a favorite planter, I strive to enhance those simple pleasurable moments through my work creating functional, well made vessels that will last and encourage all of us to slow down.”