PRINCIPAL VOLUNTEERS

TCMoFA is run by a core team of volunteers who share a vision, a passion for the arts, and a strong DIY work ethic. We are local artists and community organizers who work together to bring the museum to life. While we each play a distinct role, we share a wide range of duties, including art handling, curatorial processes, community outreach, and event planning.

  • Head Curator/Administrative Manager

    Isabel Yasui (she/her) is an interdisciplinary artist and educator based in Olympia, Washington. She moved from Seattle to attend The Evergreen State College, where she graduated in 2016 with a Master’s in Teaching. She teaches at South Bay Elementary as an Art Specialist. She is a co-founder of the Thurston County Museum of Fine Arts and assists the group with graphic design, website management, and curation.

  • Marketing/CSMoFA Curator

    Mikaela Shafer (Hopi) is a mother, artist, and community builder residing in Olympia, Washington. Her artwork has been featured in galleries across the U.S. and in London. She was recently honored with the LIFT Award for Indigenous artists through the Native Arts and Cultures Foundation and the Artist Innovator Award through Artist Trust, as well as a blue ribbon from the Santa Fe Indian Market. Through her artistic endeavors, community engagement, and storytelling, Mikaela strives to make a meaningful impact on the cultural landscape, advocating for inclusivity and empowerment in her community and beyond. She hopes that her role as part of the TCMoFA leadership team will help to further that impact.

  • Graphic Designer

    Drew Garza (he/him) is a designer, artist, educator and father. In design, he works with organizations, artists and small business owners to bring projects to life fusing art, commerce and purpose. In education, he taught design and illustration at Pacific Northwest College of Art (PNCA) in downtown Portland and led after-school arts programs for youth. When not designing or spending time with his baby boy, Drew is in his studio carving sculptural wood projects with a chainsaw and hand tools. 

  • Volunteer Coordinator

    Frederick Dobler (he/him) is a media artist and community organizer living in Olympia, Washington. He graduated from the Evergreen State College in 2009. He has served as Chair of the Olympia Arts Commission, as a trainer and facilitator at Thurston Community Media from 2010 to 2018, and is the producer of Your Daily Hour With Me, a beloved public access TV talk show on the air since 2010. In addition, he is the organizer of many regular arts events in Olympia including the Night Drawer zine night and the Time Travel Tuesdays media event. He is a co-founder of the Thurston County Museum of Fine Arts.

  • Executive Director

    David Hoekje (he/him) is a photographer and community arts organizer living in Olympia, Washington. His self-directed photographic and collage practices explore the convoluted relationship between images and their subjects, alienation, and authenticity. He is a freelance photographer working primarily with independent businesses, artists, and musicians in the Pacific Northwest. Since 2022 he has worked as a lead organizer and curator for the Thurston County Museum of Fine Art.