Mindy Tousley, Executive Director
Mindy Tousley brings with her an art related business background, years of practical experience in the Cleveland art scene and broad community contacts. Her goal as director is to enhance the visibility of the AAWR through area wide collaborations and partnerships.
Among her numerous accolades: Mindy has been an AAWR Board member and has organized the AAWR’s NewNow, the Northern Ohio–wide open art competition held at Tri-C East. Mindy is the former director of Akron’s Harris Stanton Gallery, a co-organizer of City Artists at Work Open Studio tours in the Quarter Art District, and former Secretary of the Northern Ohio Art Dealers Association.
As an artist, Mindy has won numerous awards and honors, is collected locally and nationally.
Megan Alves, Marketing and Program Manager
Megan Alves (she/hers) is an Art Historian, and the Marketing and Program Manager for the Artists Archives of the Western Reserve (AAWR), where she is known for creating dynamic programming which amplifies underrepresented voices in the creative community, as well as for her writing which has been quoted in among others Cleveland Magazine, The Plain Dealer (cleveland.com), The Buckeye Flame, Cleveland Scene Magazine, and Canvas Magazine.
Alves received B.A.’s in Comparative Literature and Art History from Oberlin College (2006) and was a Curatorial Intern at the Andy Warhol Museum in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania (2005). From 2018 – 2019, Alves worked as a freelance arts correspondent for Cool Cleveland, a locally minded culture periodical with an emphasis on social justice.
Alves’ journey with Artists Archives began as a Collections Intern in January of 2016. She became the Gallery & Archives Coordinator in June of the same year and the Marketing and Program Manager in January of 2020. Some of her notable programs include: The Legacy of African American Textile Art with Cynthia Lockhart; Through Our Lens: Photography as a Tool of Social Justice; 4 African American Women Artists You Should Know with Amalia Amaki; The May Show: The Museum, The Community, & The Story of Art in Cleveland; Un(masc)ing Drag History with Dr. Lady J; and ART + AIDS: A Virtual Panel Discussion.
Please contact at programs@artistsarchives.org
Kelly Pontoni, Collection’s Registrar
2019 was a monumental year for Kelly Pontoni, graduating from The Cleveland Institute of Art, turning 50 years old and starting full time as the Artist Archives as Collections Registrar.
Kelly started and owned her own business for over ten years, in 2015 she left that business and started full time at CIA. Being a Printmaker and Painter, she connects with the archives collections on so many different levels.
She has a deep passion and understanding of the archives mission. Being an older artist she loves connecting with the archived artist and learning more about the work they have done and are doing currently.
As an artist we are taught, learn and study the great masters of the past. However, the talent, stories and works of local artist is so enriching and educational. The archives is undeniably a robust part of Cleveland’s art community. (Featured image: Kelly Pontoni and her mixed media installation “Transition”, 2019)
Please contact at: registrar@artistsarchives.org