Jill Kearney is a writer, visual artist, and a former journalist and film executive. She is the daughter of artists who founded The Contemporary Art Workshop, an art center housed in a rambling former dairy factory in Chicago, Illinois.  As a child, she spent many formative summers in Provincetown, Mass, where local arts institutions anchored a diverse community of artists, writers, and fisherman. She graduated from Harvard with a degree in English and Creative Writing, worked in Hollywood as a creative executive at Francis Coppola’s Zoetrope Studios,  served as west coast editor of American Film and Premiere Magazine, and later ran the Tribeca Film Center-based offices of Los Angeles film producer Art Linson. She married Stephen McDonnell, founder of Applegate Farms Organic and Natural Meats, moved to Bucks County PA, worked briefly on the sausage line wearing a white cap, raised three strong and capable daughters, and sat on the board of Applegate Farms. Before launching ArtYard she produced theater, dance, and literary events in a cavernous unheated barn in Bucks County PA,  where she developed a deep appreciation for the practice of art as a collaborative enterprise.

With more than 20 years of experience, Kandy has held numerous executive leadership roles in the health, philanthropy, and social justice arenas, including twelve years as president & CEO of the National AIDS Fund/AIDS United. After founding 360 Strategy Group, she served as lead strategy advisor to Johnson & Johnson’s Worldwide Corporate Contributions Team, facilitated cutting-edge non-profit mergers, and provided strategy and organizational development services to scores of non-profit, corporate, and foundation clients. Since 2015 she has spearheaded strategic partnership and development efforts at the Fannie E. Rippel Foundation’s ReThink Health project. She is a graduate of the Health Care Executive Program at the UCLA Anderson School of Management, holds a master’s degree in community psychology (MCP) from Pennsylvania State University, and a BA in Family Studies and Gerontology from Messiah College. Kandy lives in Frenchtown and is deeply committed to the community and the cultural life of the town.

Chris Langhart is among the early innovators in lighting, rigging, staging, and sound, that helped shape rock & roll production. Chris was the technical mind that made significant production contributions to the Fillmore East, the Rainbow in London, Woodstock, the Wings tour of Europe with Paul McCartney, Jefferson Airplane, and any other show or event with which he was involved. Langhart created much of the production values that are the touring music business today. Teaching and mentoring others, Chris’ classes at New York University (NYU) theatre program in the late 1960s gave rise to students and future entrepreneurs such as Richard Hartman, Bob See, John Tedesco, John Chester, Bob Goddard, and Michael Ahern.

Annie Parham is a young artist currently located in Lambertville, New Jersey. She graduated with a Bachelors in Fine Arts from Green Mountain College. After graduating she spent two years secluded in her studio in Dorset, Vermont. The resulting pieces have been on view in galleries and art centers in New England and Virginia to Philadelphia. She works with various mediums including water-colors, photography, as well as acrylic paint. Parham’s works play with themes of imagination, identity, form, and intentionality.

Founder and former CEO of Applegate Farms Organic and Natural Meats. Stephen’s experience as a leader as well as his wisdom and consistent support, have been crucial for ArtYard. He is the finest mentor that we could ask for.