MEET OUR TEAM

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, marketing, community outreach, and event planning.

  • Artist Coordinator

    Jasper Pease (he/him) was born and raised in the cornfields of Iowa. In 2016 he sought a change of scenery and moved to Olympia, Washington. He studied at The Evergreen State College with a focus in visual arts and painting. When not in the studio he works as a carpenter and raises sheep. As well as organizing community arts events as a co-founder of TCMoFA, Jasper is a visual artist working with oil paint, ceramics and wood.

  • Design Lead

    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.

  • Curation

    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.

  • Head of Marketing

    Fern Tallos (they/them) is a self-taught visual artist working and living in Olympia. They are a freelance muralist and their studio practice explores smaller works on canvas and painted objects. Fern has a background in the herbalism, which is foundational to their interests in community building and healing through the arts. They are a recent addition to the Thurston County Museum of Fine Art’s leadership team, as well as Olympia’s Creative District board. They aspire to contribute to local creative community through this project and others.

  • Events 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 Administrator

    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.