1708 Gallery

Board of Directors 2009/2010

1708 Gallery's Board of Directors consists of a majority of professional artists. The dedication of this active Board has been a key element in the long-term success of 1708 Gallery. The Board of Directors and an active executive committee lead the governance process. 1708 Gallery is dedicated to developing best practices in governance. The Board participates in strategic planning, development initiatives, and oversight of the programmatic activities of 1708 Gallery, in partnership with the professional staff.

Emeritus Council

In memorium of Gerald Donato, a founding member of 1708 Gallery

I met Donato the first day I taught at VCU.  We were young. We had lunch in the old Village Café.  I was less than impressed on that first meeting.  He was loud, boisterous, laughed at his own humor and needled me mercilessly about being from Texas.  I remember telling him there were several bars in Texas that I would enjoy taking him to visit. How fast we became friends amazed me.  Donato was consistent.  He treated everybody the same. The sort of trouble he gave me, he gave the dean, Dr. Perry, his chairman, his peers, his students, his girlfriends, and complete strangers, every one got that same stuff; up front, in your face, waddaya think of this, eye contact and an edgy smile.  He could also put the heavy act on hold and the sensitive, gentle, nurturing, and charming Donato would emerge.  He could be so very gracious.  When you talked about art with Donato you knew right away it was serious business.  He was a core member of that group of Richmond artists who set the standards of behavior and professionalism in our community.  He was my kind of guy.  But alas we got older and busier and saw each other less and less. I suppose we didn’t need to visit because we both knew that the other was keeping the faith.  I knew he was working in the studio.  I knew Joan was working in her studio.  He was an exemplary Artist and human being.  These last few years I have sorely missed Donato and his good natured verbal abuse.  To his students and friends, Donato was living proof of the old adage that God sends you the people you need.  

Lester Van Winkle, fellow founding member of 1708 Gallery
Farmersville, TX
February 17, 2010
A sunny day 

VCU's Blackbird interview with Gerald

Richmond Magazine's Pollack Prize commemoration

Staff

Tatjana F. Beylotte, Executive Director
Tatjana became the Executive Director of 1708 Gallery in March 2008. Previously, she worked at the Virginia Commission for the Arts as their Arts in Education Coordinator collaborating with schools and artists all over Virginia designing arts education programs. For five years prior, she worked in various capacities including Director of Development at International Arts and Artists in Washington, DC, a traveling exhibitions organization. Tatjana holds a MA in Museum Studies with a concentration in Non-profit management from the George Washington University and a BA in Arts Management from the College of Charleston.

Jolene Giandomenico, Gallery Administrator
Jolene earned a BFA in Photography and Film in 2005 from Virginia Commonwealth University. During her senior year she was asked to direct, film and edit a marketing DVD for VCU's School of the Arts highlighting individual departments' students and facilities. After graduating, Jolene worked as an accounting clerk for the pre-production of HBO's John Adams mini-series filmed in Virginia. From there, Jolene spent over two years as an accounting manager for a leading HVAC company before taking a position as Gallery Administrator for 1708 Gallery in November of 2007.