About Us
MAAC
CREATE WITH US
MAAC’S MISSION
Melrose Area Arts Council (MAAC) will help facilitate (strengthen) the connections, communication, and creativity of the diverse population of Melrose and the surrounding area. We will utilize local resources, materials, and talent to inspire art while inviting people of all ages and backgrounds to join in creating a more pleasing and inclusive atmosphere for our community.
WHO WE ARE
ABOUT MAAC
MAAC is a nonprofit arts organization dedicated to promoting arts resources and enhancing the cultural life of the Melrose area. We believe art is essential to building a healthy and vibrant community, and we are committed to providing opportunities for people of all ages and backgrounds to experience the joy of art.
We offer a variety of art programs and services, including:
- Art classes and workshops for all ages
- Exhibits and performances by local and regional artists
- Support for arts resources and education
- Use of the arts to examine local history and culture
Founded in 2021, we are always looking for new ways to engage the community in the arts. We welcome you to get involved!
LEADERSHIP
OUR BOARD
CHRIS BARRON
Chris Barron graduated from Melrose High School in 1970 and left the next day, vowing never to return. After spending most of her career working with disabled adults, children, and seniors, as well as in bars, restaurants, and retail, Chris returned to Melrose in 2015 to help her mother stay in her home. As a founding member of Melrose Area Arts Council (MAAC), Chris hopes to help the youth of Melrose feel connected enough to the town that if they do leave, they will always find something to bring them back. Chris’s art is foraging and growing her own medicine, as well as creating art out of found objects.
LORA FANDREY
Chairperson and board member, Lora Fandrey, is a Minnesota native and artist working in oil paints with an affinity for seascape imagery. Lora moved out of state following high school, and worked in the automotive industry for 22 years. She has a passion for sustainable transportation and has interest in the evolving future of the automotive and transportation world. Lora, her husband, and two dogs live in Melrose, where they have found a heartfelt community of caring people, and great neighbors and friends.
DARLENE GRUBER
The arts have always been an integral part of Darlene Gruber’s life. Growing up, she spent her time piecing quilts, decorating cakes for the neighborhood birthday groups, sewing doll clothes from patterns she created, drawing, painting, and enjoying many other art projects. Currently, her primary focus is on porcelain painting. Since her recent retirement as a rural carrier, she has had more time to become involved with the Melrose Area Arts Council. Darlene looks forward to promoting the arts during the upcoming events in the communities.
MARY JOHNSON
Mary Johnson was born and raised in Southern California, where she was exposed to a variety of cultures and aesthetic diversities at an early age. She developed an appreciation for the arts, which led to an extensive career in graphic design and teaching college-level courses in her field. As a founding member of MAAC, Mary hopes to use her entrepreneurial spirit and love of the arts to enrich the lives of the Melrose community by exposing them to various arts and using it as a catalyst to strengthen its diversity by bringing people together.
MONIKA KRAKER
Monika Kraker was born and raised in Central Germany and spent 20 years moving with her husband and daughters to wherever the Army took them. In 1999 her family settled in Melrose. Monika has always enjoyed crafts, from knitting, crocheting, sewing and quilting. In 2017 she turned her passion into a longarm quilting business. She became involved with the Melrose Area Arts Council in 2024 planning the Festival of the Arts. She enjoys teaching others and sharing the skills she has learned over the years. She hopes to bring more people together to share their creativity.
MARY LOECKEN
Mary Loecken is a retired nurse who lives outside of Melrose. She loves all kinds of art and currently paints porcelain with a group from Albany, Minnesota. As a founding member of MAAC, Mary is excited to use her talents and skills to give back to her community and bring all types of art to the Melrose area.
EILEEN MAUS
Eileen Maus is one of the founding members of Melrose Area Arts Council (MAAC). Prior to this, Eileen was a registered nurse at a rural hospital for 45 years. Eileen has always enjoyed the arts and wanted more art opportunities in Melrose. Through MAAC, Eileen hopes to see a revitalization of the City of Melrose using the arts as a base.
LIZ POHLMANN
Liz Pohlmann is driven by building community in elder services and caring for Mother Earth. She became involved as a founding member of Melrose Area Arts Council (MAAC) because of the quality of the people involved and believes that supporting arts and artists will make the community even more welcoming and attractive. Liz hopes that MAAC will be a long-term presence in the area and will contribute toward a vibrant, sustainable community.
COMMUNITY SPIRIT
OUR PATRONS
