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Miriam Anton
Executive Director
Miriam has extensive experience in business development, fundraising, marketing, and DEIB initiatives, and the arts. Prior to joining PVA, Miriam worked at AnitaB.org, collaborating with corporate partners to improve representation for female, non-binary and BIPOC technologists in the workforce. Miriam’s longtime passion is in the arts, which led to earning her BA and MA in art history, interning at the Guggenheim, and later, working in sales and marketing for art galleries in San Francisco. Miriam is thrilled to take on the role of Executive Director for Pajaro Valley Arts. She joins the organization at a pivotal turning point as it launches its capital campaign to renovate its new home at the heart of historic Watsonville. She looks forward to leveraging PVA’s vibrant 40-year history and deep community ties to envision a new landmark destination for the arts.
Miriam enjoys spending free time with her family outdoors, visiting the local beaches and redwood forests. She also spends an absurd amount of time posting pictures of her cat and dog on their shared Instagram account.
Brianna Flores
Office Manager
Originally from Watsonville, Brianna has always had a passion for the cultural arts and community service. After attending Watsonville High, she moved to San Francisco where she graduated from the ever vibrant San Francisco State University with degrees in Humanities and Latina/o Studies. While volunteering at a cultural arts center throughout college, the arts as a means of bringing the community together became a core value in her life’s purpose. As if life were coming full circle, her love and appreciation for the community that raised her led her back to the Pajaro Valley and to a job opening at the local art gallery. Rediscovering this place made Watsonville feel like home again. “I am a firm believer in the significant impact the arts can have on a person and the community at large. I’ve seen the potential the arts have to bridge and unify the communities I’ve lived in and I see the potential in ours now.”
Hedwig M. Heerschop
Exhibit Coordinator
Dutch-American Hedwig M. Heerschop is a photographer, printmaker, educator, and curator who lives and works in Santa Cruz, California. She completed her Master of Fine Arts/Photography at San José State University, San José, California. She taught Alternative Processes in Photographic Media at San José State University. She assisted in many photography workshops with Brian Taylor, Dan Estabrook, Holly Roberts, Dan Burkholder, Harold Davis and Steve Zmak.
Hedwig curated two national exhibits for Pajaro Valley Arts, Photo Alchemy, Alternative Processes in Photographic Media, and produced two accompanying catalogs. For the last several years she is the curator of Pajaro Valley Arts’ annual exhibit, Sculpture IS: In the Garden at Sierra Azul Nursery & Gardens. Her work has been exhibited nationally and internationally in solo and group exhibitions, including, For Queen & Country, at San José State University, San José, CA (her Master Thesis Exhibit), Breaking Boundaries, in Pingyao, China and Made in Holland, in Naarden, The Netherlands.
Many of her works are in the collection of art collectors in Europe and the Unites States of America. Currently Hedwig divides her time working as Exhibit Coordinator at Pajaro Valley Arts in Watsonville, CA., and as a printmaker/photographer at her studios in Aptos and Santa Cruz, CA.
Josefina Rocha
Program Coordinator
Josefina Rocha, a graduate in Fine Arts Practice from California State University, East Bay, is a compassionate artist who grew up in Watsonville, California. Her artistic endeavors delve into themes of vulnerability, wonder, empathy, and kindness, underscoring their intricate interconnectedness. As an avid arts advocate, Josefina has left her mark on the community by contributing to local murals, showcasing paintings in galleries, curating exhibitions, hosting painting workshops, and participating in Santa Cruz County’s Open Studios. Beyond her community involvement, Josefina also uses her art practice to explore her Chicana identity through spiritual means.
In addition to her role as an artist, Josefina serves as a Teaching Artist, actively promoting culturally responsive visual arts and supporting social-emotional development in after-school programs throughout the County. She extends her influence by mentoring high school student teachers, creating a secure environment for the community to explore their creative potential and understand that the path to being an artist is open to anyone.
Irwin Pineda
Membership Services & Operations Assistant
Irwin Pineda (they/them) is a Watsonville native, Mexican-American artist with a background in printmaking, painting, drawing, and digital art. Graduating from the University of California Santa Cruz with a B.A. in Studio Arts and Anthropology, Irwin’s work focuses most on explorations of humanity: the human figure– its beauties and horrors, gender & sexuality, emotion, spirituality, and culture. When words have failed them, Irwin has used art as a tool to translate the abstractions of their thoughts and feelings into narrative or surreal pieces to help communicate with the world. They regard art as one of the most powerful forces for change in the world and work hard to make art accessible to those in communities who have limited resources.
Aligning their actions with their values, Irwin has worked as a teaching artist with children throughout the PVUSD school district to kickstart their artistic journeys and demonstrate that “talent is a pursued interest.” They have also shared their art with the community by participating in solo and group exhibitions throughout Santa Cruz County, such as UCSC Open Studios, Sesnon Underground’s Fruitcake Magazine exhibition, and the Watsonville Wine, Beer, and Art Festival.
Junta Directiva
Lynne Karst – President
Aurelio Gonzalez – Vice President
Lou Falek – Treasurer
Victor Kimura – Assistant Treasurer
Nessa Ledesma – Secretary
Christine Cavanaugh
Casey Clark
Chuy Hernandez
Ross Johnston
Judy Stabile
Exhibitions Team
Roberta Valdez
William Huffman
Wendy Aikin
Joan Blackmer
Jane Gregorius
Mary Neater
Nestor Ruelas
Jim Turner
Judy Stabile
Melissa West
Chad Williams
Teresa Zolar