MISSION STATEMENT
North Pole Studio supports careers in the arts, and exists to increase opportunities for artists with autism and intellectual/developmental disabilities to thrive as active members of the arts community. We foster self-determination and facilitate meaningful connections through total engagement in the arts.
We believe that a collective understanding of diverse human experiences is foundational to a vibrant and whole community. Through studio practice and community engagement, we ensure that artists with autism and I/DD live as self-determined, visible, and valuable contributors to the local and national contemporary art community.
ABOUT US
North Pole Studio is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit charitable arts organization that was co-founded in the spring of 2020 by transition specialist and educator, Sula Willson; artist and educator, Mary Ellen Andersen; founding artist, Davis Wohlford; and parent and advocate, Sarah Mensah. We are run by a determined team of artists, educators, parents, and advocates. Our work is only possible due to the support of our dedicated community partners, volunteers, donors, and collaborators.
We are located in NW Marine Art Works, Portland’s largest collaborative of professional artist studios, where we rent a 1,200 sq/ft studio space that is shared by artists who access North Pole Studio’s programs.
OUR TEAM
Carissa Burkett
Executive Director
e. carissa@northpolestudio.org
(she/her)
Carissa Burkett is a multi-media artist and skilled nonprofit arts administrator with 10 years of experience which started in 2013 at Project Grow, an art studio and urban farm that supported adults with I/DD in Portland Oregon. She has served as Director of Arts Programs at The Chehalem Cultural Center in Newberg Oregon, and as the former Executive Director of Third Angle New Music. Carissa is passionate about accessibility and equity within the arts and is excited to be working with such an incredible group of artists at North Pole Studio.
Mary Ellen Andersen
Co-Founder, Director of Studio Programs
e: maryellen@northpolestudio.org
(she/her)
Mary Ellen Andersen is an artist and art educator who has been working with individuals with disabilities for over 10 years. She graduated from the University of Georgia with a BFA in arts education in 2010, and went on to work with progressive art studio, Pure Vision Arts while living in New York City.
Before founding North Pole Studio, she piloted, developed, and taught a K-12 accessible arts curriculum at Victory Academy, a nonprofit school that specializes in supporting autistic students.
Sula Willson
Co-Founder, Director of Creative Partnerships
e: sula@northpolestudio.org
(she/her)
Sula Willson has been working as an educator and specialist for students with disabilities for over 15 years. She holds a BFA in studio art from Lewis and Clark College, and a M.Ed in secondary special education & transition services, with a specialization in autism spectrum disorder, from George Washington University. Before founding North Pole Studio, she worked as a Transition Specialist where she facilitated community-based employment and internship opportunities for autistic young adults.
Celeste Gutentag
Art Facilitator
e: celeste@northpolestudio.org
(she/they)
Celeste Gutentag is an artist and disability advocate who has been working in disability services both in vocational services and as an art facilitator since 2020. In 2020, she was a recipient of the Carson Undergraduate research grant where she sponsored artists and organized an accessible art workshop. She graduated with a BA in Art History and English Literature from Willamette University in 2022.
Krista Gregory
Exhibitions Associate
e: krista@northpolestudio.org
(she/her)
Krista Gregory, an artist, curator, and educator, holds an MFA from the University of Cincinnati College of Design, Architecture, Art, and Planning (DAAP). She is known for her dynamic roles as a collaborator and punk rock drummer, bringing an energetic and inclusive approach to the art world. A steadfast champion of self-taught artists and a dedicated advocate for individuals experiencing Intellectual & Developmental Disabilities (ID/DD), Krista's work emphasizes the power of creativity as a tool for expression and community-building. Her commitment to amplifying diverse voices continues to shape more accessible and vibrant spaces within the arts.
Nia Musiba
Digital Communications Manager
e: nia@northpolestudio.org
(she/they)
Nia Musiba is an ant-loving, asparagus-hating artist, designer and educator based in Portland, Oregon with a lifelong commitment to diversifying art and design spaces. Since 2019, this has manifested in community-based projects, public art, and taking up space within her personal practice in an attempt to inspire others who have historically been under-represented in the art world to do the same. Nia is interested in collaboration, experimentation, question-asking, friend-making, and above all else, dreaming big.
Phoebe Mol
Workshop & Volunteer Manager
e: phoebe@northpolestudio.org
(she/they)
Phoebe Mol is a multidisciplinary artist and arts educator who has supported artists with disabilities since 2019. Phoebe is energized about arts access and empowerment through creative expression. She received a BA in Psychology and Studio Art from Macalester College in 2020. In her own art practice, Phoebe makes drawings, poetry comics, and puppets. At North Pole Studio, Phoebe facilitates volunteer opportunities and expands workshop programming to include as many exciting art mediums and explorations as possible.
Nathan Ueno
Shipping & Receiving Associate
e: orders@northpolestudio.org
(he/him)
Nathan Ueno is a North Pole Studio artist who has been with the program since its founding in 2020.
Nathan graduated from Victory Academy in 2020. In addition to his art practice, Nathan is an avid biker, rock-climber and hiker and a PHAME performer.
Joellen Sweeney
Development Manager
e: development@northpolestudio.org
(she/her)
Joellen is an actor, director, arts administrator and teaching artist whose work explores the connection between people and environment. She is a founding company member of Bedrock Theatre, a performance collective that combines storytelling, live music and hiking in parks and wilderness areas, and an Advisory Board Member at The Verdancy Project. She has performed and created locally with Artists Repertory Theatre, Shaking the Tree Theatre, PETEnsemble, Northwest Children's Theatre and Renegade Opera. Joellen earned her MFA in acting from the University of Washington in 2022.
KT Poirier
Operations Manager
e: office@northpolestudio.org
(she/her)
KT Poirier obtained her MBA from Portland State University after an 8-year career in retail banking. An entrepreneur, she co-founded Place & Time Design with her husband and sold his original artwork online, in local stores, and at maker markets. She has worked intimately with multiple Portland events industry businesses and is energized by strategic planning, marketing, and development. KT was originally drawn to North Pole Studio because of her family's personal connection to Autism and is passionate about neurodiversity advocacy and community engagement.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Clara Fernandez
Abella, Treasurer
Alexis Stapanek, Secretary
Dan Harbison
Angie Kmetic
Kevin Brague
Terri Theisen
Carissa Burkett
Julie Lee, Vice President
Sarah Mensah, President
Kat Stromberger- Perez
Austin Brague
Skyler Stever
Jeanie Marie Price
Karen Whitman
Shaena Grim
NORTH POLE STUDIO EQUITY STATEMENT
As an organization that supports the neurodivergent community, North Pole Studio sees and experiences first hand how the world does not treat everyone equally. We are committed to working externally and internally towards a more equitable world.
Disability and neurodivergence is cross sectional, impacting every socio-economic group, ethnicity, age, gender identity and expression, familial status, religion, and sexual orientation. As such, we identify that we must always be learning so that we can actively grow, interact with, and advocate for those within this community around us.
Our artists, staff, and leadership are committed to organizational policies and practices that are inclusive of historically marginalized groups. We are committed to ensuring that our leadership reflects a wide range of backgrounds, experiences, and identities and that the voices of those that we serve are actively included at all levels of leadership. We are committed to continuously reflecting on our work and impact while intentionally inviting feedback from those that we work alongside, those we welcome into our events/programming, and those that we serve, to ensure we make the greatest impact possible for and on the artists and community we serve.
HOW WE’RE FUNDED
Despite the challenges posed by COVID-19, North Pole Studio (with great flexibility, persistence, and trust) opened in the fall of 2020. Our team’s commitment is fueled by the belief that difficult times, more than ever, call on artists to create and express.
Our ability to sustain services for our artists is only possible due to the generous support of individuals, sponsors, grants, and foundations. Your donation directly contributes to increasing personal and professional opportunities for underrepresented artists with autism and I/DD. Together, we shape an art world that is inclusive of diverse experiences and expressions.
North Pole Studio is a 501(c)(3) non-profit, charitable organization. Tax ID# 85-2096031. Donations of any amount are tax deductible and deeply appreciated.