Renaissance Circle

Creating new alliances, envisioning new strategies... 

Aha! Creative Vision Advisory Board...  

Glenn Horton, Board Chair, Author of The Miracle of Imagination, Magnificent Treasures and the music CD Breakin' Out, songwriter, recording artist, magazine publisher and Founder and Director of Artists Helping Artists (Aha!), Santa Cruz and Lake Shasta, CA. 

Daniel Bittleston, Fine artist, writer, educator, Director of the Anthroposophical Society of Monterey Bay and Publisher of Imagination Troubadour magazine of Santa Cruz, CA.

Patricia White Buffalo, Teacher, Energy Practioner and Director of Heaven On Earth ensemble of Santa Cruz, CA.

Bobby Borg, Music educator and lecturer, Professor of Music, Author of The Musicians Handbook, Los Angeles CA

Marie Cecchini, Chief Scientist and Research Director for the Foundation for Advancements in Science and Education. Sunland, CA.

Pat Clark, Director of seven We Carnivals, Board Member of Volunteer Centers of Santa Cruz County and a Director of National Coalition Building Institute in Santa Cruz, CA.

Preston Craig, Award winning fine artist, muralist and Founder of Greater Beautification Team of Los Angeles, Van Nuys, CA

Amrita Cottrell, Composer, graphic and web designer and Founder of Healing Music Organization, Santa Cruz, CA.

Antara Davis, Author, graphic designer and Director of White Tara Illuminations media company of Santa Cruz, CA.  

Susan Dobay, Award winning Hungarian fine artist, Director of Scenic Drive Gallery and Advisor for Artists Helping Artists, Monrovia, CA.

Ed Elkin, Author, Poet and Director of Universal Temple of Higher Consciousness of Escondido, CA. 

Ramiro Fauve, International Creative Vision Award winning fine artist from Argentina, pro designer, musician and recording artist, and Founder of Fauve Designs, North Hollywood, CA.

Steven Fletcher, Storyteller, musician and Founder of Gentle Place Publishing, Placerville, CA. 

Georga Garside, Fine artist, youth arts educator and Co-Director of Covina Cultural Arts Commission, Azusa, CA.

Juliette Goldstein, Director of the Greenwood Arts Program, Aptos, CA.

Jan Hansen, Journalist and artists model, and Projects Coordinator for We Write children's publishing company from Felton, CA.  

Kristin Idema, Counselor, Educator and Director of Retreats for Artists Helping Artists (Aha!), Redding, CA. 

Mij Johnson, Director of Center for World Networking and Love Ties Unlimited, Capitola, CA

Scott Johnson, Director of Positive Music Association, Boulder, CO

Dawn Lawrence, Graphic Designer, Healer and Director of Events for Artists Helping Artists (Aha!), Redding, CA. 

Liesa Lietzke, Director of Let There Be Art, Santa Cruz, CA 

Sally Mahe, Director of United Religions Initiative, San Francisco, CA 

Kathi Nolls, Graphic Designer and Senior Editor of The Creative Line magazine, Marketing and Member Services for Artists Helping Artists (Aha!), Santa Cruz, CA. 

Jeannie Novak, Composer, performer, educator, lecturer and Founder of Indiespace, Santa Monica, CA. 

Carmelita Pittman, Performer, fine artist and Founder of the Rose Breast Cancer Society, Hollywood, CA 

Ravi, Songwriter, musician, former guitar player for Hanson and Founder of Artistic Integrity, Atlanta, GA.

Stacy Robin, Songwriter, performer and scientist, Ladera Heights, CA.

Harriet Schock, Award winning platinum songwriter of "Ain't No Way to Treat a Lady" and Author of Becoming Remarkable, Santa Monica, CA. 

Alan Silberhartz, Founder of Bridging Heaven and Earth Foundation in Santa Barbara, CA  

John Paul Thornton, Fine artist, educator, lecturer. Founder of the Human Arts Project International, North Hollywood, CA.

Penelope Torribio, Songwriter, performer, master puppeteer and Director of One World Education, Pomona, CA.

Spike Dolomite Ward, Fine artist, youth arts educator and Founder of Arts in Education Aid Council, Burbank, CA. 

Jimi Yamagishi, Director of LA SongNet, Pasadena, CA

Aha! Arts, Imagination and Culture Board...  

Luise Andersen, President of Fontana Art Association, Fontana, CA

Renee Asteria, Founder Asteria Records, Berkeley, CA

Cheryl Bennett, Founder, Second City Council Gallery, Long Beach, CA 

Luci Berger, Director, The School of Arts and Enterprise, Pomona CA 

Tory Jay Berger, Founder, Hollywood Spiritual Entertainment Festival, Hollywood, CA 

Phil Campbell, Director of Hobby Horse Productions, Palo Alto, CA

Donna Charles, Founder, Hawthorne Center for Innovation, Bloomington, CA

Andrea Chebeleu, Founder and Director, A Work of Heart - Paper Arts Studio, San Jose, CA 

Barbara Cordova, Founder, Artists for a Better World, Hollywood, CA  

Ian Crombie, President, West Coast Songwriters Association,  San Carlos, CA

Margaret Danielak, Founder of DanielakArt, Eagle Rock, CA

Wendy De Rycke President, Cine Woman LA, Beverly Hills, CA

Jeannie Deva, Founder of Jeannie Deva Voice Studios, Sunland, CA

Bryan Farrish, Founder of Bryan Farrish Radio, Studio City, CA

Cybele Garcia, Director of Cal Poly Pomona Downtown Arts Center, Pomona, CA

Cathy Segal Garcia, Co-Founder, Jazz Vocal Coalition, North Hollywood, CA 

Linda Geleris, Founder of LA SongNet, Pasadena, CA

Larry Gluck, Founder of Mission Renaissance, Glendale, CA

Don Larson, Director of Das Bauhaus Art Center, Northridge, CA

Mery Lynn, Curator, The Artists Gallery (TAG), Santa Monica, CA

Billy Mitchell, Author of The Gigging Musician, Pasadena, CA

Gilli Moon, President of Songsalive!, N. Hollywood, CA 

Debra Owen, Executive Director of Frank Better Center for the Arts, Alameda, CA

Dennis Paul, Director, The Artists Guild of San Diego, San Diego, CA 

Brett Perkins, Listening Room Concert Series, Monrovia, CA

Melanie Phillips, Pomona Valley Arts Association, Pomona, CA

Faith Rivera, Los Angeles Coordinator for Just Plain Folks, Los Angeles, CA

Luis J. Rodriguez, Executive Director of Tia Chucha's Cultural Cafe, San Fernando, CA

Gabriella Rollins, Director of Yorba Linda Arts Alliance, Yorba Linda, CA

Steve Scott, President of LA Women in Music, Northridge, CA 

Julie Snyder, President of The Art Engine, Glendale, CA

Joelle St. James, Director of Aurora Visionary Art, San Leandro, CA 

Christine Vaudman, Director of Renee's Art Studio, Chatsworth, CA

Kevin West, Founder of The Actor's Network, North Hollywood, CA

Joanna Westerfield, Fused Glass and Collage Studio, Palo Alto, CA

David Wimble, Publisher, The Indie Bible, Toronto, Canada 

Aha! Founding Members  

Aha! would like to thank those artists, arts leaders and visionaries who have worked closest with us, supported us and contributed to us through action and / or leadership in formative years. Your contribution and help is and has been appreciated.  

Ernie Applewhite, Luise Andersen, Elizabeth Axford, Bobby Borg, Bridget Brigitte, Donna Charles, Sandy and Bill Chestnutt, Preston Craig, Margaret Danielak, Susan and Andre Dobay, Joan Enquita, Bryan Farrish, Ramiro Fauve, Cathy Segal-Garcia, Cybele Garcia, Georgia Garside, Bradley Jones, Toni Koch, Indigo Mazelin, Lynn Merriott, Billy Mitchell, Gilli Moon, Jeannie Novak, Carmelita Pittman, Jim Potkey, Faith Rivera, Harriet Schock, Lura Schmedecke,  Steve Scott, Mike Shadowsky, Dorothy Shephard, John Paul Thorton, Mary Tierney, Penelope Torribio, Spike Dolomite Ward, Kevin E. West, Jimi Yamagishi.  

Aha! Staff and Coordinators...  

Here is the key coordination team of Aha!  It consists mostly of artists, arts visionaries and administrators and those working closest to Aha! to forward its mission, activities, summits, retreats and other events.    

Hosts and Event Facilitators: Daniel Bittleston, Susan and Andre Dobay, Sandy and Bill Chestnutt and Trish Lester,  

Registration and Event Service Coordinators: Mary Tierney,   

Event Promoters / Fundraisers: Dianne Rini, Geoffrey McCabe and Michelle Weiss. 

Community Outreach Coordinators: Preston Craig, Lura Schmedecke, Marilyn French,

Music Coordinators: Jimi Yamagishi, Jim Potkey, Joan Enguita, Mark Moran, Javelyn, Bridget Brigitte, Mike Shadowsky and Indigo Mazelin. 

Audio Visual Coordinators: Bradley Jones and James Noack, 

Fine Arts Coordinators: Cybele Garcia, Christine Vaudman, Tary Socha, Salvador Flores. 

Youth Arts Coordinators: Donna Charles, Penelope Torribio and Georga Garside. 

Workshop Coordinators: Jeannie Deva, Cathy Segal-Garcia, Martin Isaacson, Bobby Borg, Margaret Danielak, Jeannie Novak and John Paul Thornton.  

Environmental Coordinators / Tour Guides for Aha! Retreats: Marie Cecchini and Jeff Jones. 

Facilities Sought by Aha! 

Aha! is seeking an international facility to house its staff, hold special international summits and retreats and  administer the various Aha! campaigns and activities. Aha! is also seeking donated locations or regional offices or center in both Southern California and Northern California areas. Please contact the Founder of Aha! Glenn Horton at TheArtistsLine@cs.com with any potential donations of office space including extra residential rooms, space or facilities that could be donated for office or center space.