Sarah Jo Lightner
By Laurelle Walsh
Sarah Jo Lightner is the new administrative assistant at Confluence Gallery and Art Center in Twisp, joining the staff, board of directors and volunteers who keep the gallery’s day-to-day operations running smoothly, Executive Director Salyna Gracie said.
“We are happy to introduce Sarah Jo to our patrons as she becomes a familiar face to all who visit the gallery in the days ahead,” said Gracie.
In addition to doing back-of-house administration, Lightner is the gallery’s new volunteer coordinator, who finds, trains and orients volunteers and tracks volunteer hours for art grant applications. “I’m here to make sure that our volunteers enjoy their time here and are thanked for being here,” Lightner said. “Without them we wouldn’t be able to survive.”
“We have a really engaged and sustained volunteer effort. It’s part of our success here,” said Gracie.
“We’re looking at new ways we can engage people in the community who want to learn about art sales and other gallery functions,” said Lightner.
Lightner is a silversmith and mother of 21-month-old twins, who has lived and worked in the Methow Valley for four years. She owns a silversmithing business, Glitter & Grit Studio, located at TwispWorks, where the focus is art education. “My studio there is mainly a classroom,” she said.
The artist’s own silver jewelry is on display at Methow Gallery on the TwispWorks campus.
Lightner started making bead jewelry in Portland, Oregon, where she owned and operated Acadia Bistro. She studied silversmithing at the Oregon College of Arts and Craft and worked under metalsmith Cindy Proctor in Newburg, Oregon. “Cindy inspired me to start a teaching studio here in Twisp,” Lightner said.
