Our Leadership
Janet Lynn Zuk
President
Janet Lynn has been a member of the Lawrence Art Guild since 2019 and signed up to be a member of the board in her very first meeting! In addition to her responsibilities with the guild, Janet Lynn is involved in volunteering for several organizations including the Lawrence Community Orchestra, P.E.O, O’Connell Children’s Shelter, and Boys and Girls Club. The Second Vice President role is to assume full duties as Vice President in May 2024 and prepare to seek the nomination for the President position for May 2025 to May 2027.
She graduated with her degree in Art from Adams State College in Alamosa, Colorado and has worked as a full-time artist while working as a banker for nearly twenty years.
Janet Lynn’s experience being raised in a small town in Kansas has influenced her style of painting especially in her landscapes, often times portraying the expanses of the prairie in the most vibrant colors she can find. Her desire as an artist has always been to bring joy and to make people smile, oftentimes bringing a little whimsy to her work through painting things that people love like reading. Diversity and inclusion is also an important theme to her and she tries to create works that reflect the world around her.
Maria Martin
Past President
Since moving to Lawrence, KS in 1984 Maria became active in the art community. While working at the KU Museum of Anthropology 1984-2000 she began coordinating the Lawrence Indian Arts Show and continued that through 2003 when the Indian Arts Show scaled down to only the Haskell Indian Arts Market an ongoing national market for Native North American Indians artisans. In 2002 Maria was recipient of the Phoenix Award in Arts Education for her work with the Lawrence Indian Arts Show. In 1998 through 2007, she opened and operated Southwest and More, a gallery specialty shop specializing in American Indian art, jewelry as well as Mexican imports.
In 2013, Maria returned to painting. As an abstract artist, she studied art in Philadelphia and then at The University of Kansas in Lawrence and continues to take art studio classes and technique workshops. She works from her studio, Creative Mass Studio and Gallery, in Downtown Lawrence, Kansas. Maria is semi-retired, works part-time at Ditto Resale Boutique, enjoys traveling, and enjoys country living with her husband Don, two cats and two Longhorn steers.
Gil Ortiz
Secretary
Growing up in small towns in the mountains of Colorado was a big influence on my creative mind. The people I grew up with, my family, travel experiences, and places I have lived are all expressed throughout my work.
I went to art school in Denver, CO and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Visual Communications. I moved to Lawrence 27 years ago for my art career (KU and Overland Park, KS) and have been here ever since. I have over 35 years of experience in the art field. I’m an abstract painter, freelance graphic designer and love to have art showings in the surrounding areas. You will always find me working on a painting or any type of art project.
I’m active in the Lawrence Art Guild and serve as Secretary. I have met some wonderful people through the guild, and I can say without hesitation that I encourage people to support their local artists.
My parents and my spouse have always supported me, along with my family and friends. I am very thankful for everyone’s encouragement. If you’re looking for a freelance artist, or if you have any questions about my art, please feel free to email me (iartdgo@gmail.com). There is a gallery of paintings on my website - www.iartdgo.com along with contact information.
Chris North
Treasurer
Bio coming soon!