Jehra Patrick
Founder and Program Director
Founder and Program Director Jehra Patrick brings over twelve years of experience curating exhibitions and developing and directing educational and public programs. She is currently Curator and Gallery Director at Macalester College and previously worked as Program Director for the McKnight Fellowship for Photographers, Program Director for mnartists.org, and Director of Waiting Room, an independent art gallery.
[email protected]
Esther Callahan
Co-Director, Artistic Programs
Esther Callahan is a practitioner of joy through her work as a facilitator, trainer, community advocate and independent Curator and consultant. With roots in an academic degree in Gender, Women and Sexuality studies and Social Justice Leadership, she is dedicated to interrogating the impact of racial and gender equity. This has been shown in her work as a former Curatorial Fellow at the Minneapolis Institute of Art, (Mia) as the co-founder of the Curatorial Advisory Committee at Mia dedicated to the development of diversity, inclusion, equity, and accessibility, as the co-leader of the Twin Cities Carrotmob which BUYcotts businesses to take socially-responsible actions towards sustainability, and as an Assistant Editor for the 2019 MN State funded anthology titled Out From The Shadows of Minneapolis: Power, Pride, and Perseverance At A Northern Community College.
[email protected]
Daniel Atkinson
Co-Director, Education and Public Programs
Daniel Atkinson is an arts educator and programmer who was formerly the Director of Education and Public Programs at the Contemporary Arts Museum Houston and the Associate Curator of Education and Interpretation at the Walker Art Center. His focus is on global art education, programming, and their histories, seeking to expand the range of what art and curation can mean outside of exhibitions. He has spoken on education and programming at the MCA Chicago, the Art Institute of Chicago, and others. He holds a BA in Studio Arts from the University of Minnesota, an MA in Art Education from New York University, and (soon) an MS in Leadership in Museum Education from Bank Street College.
[email protected]
Nicole Thomas
Design and Communications Manager
Nicole Thomas is an artist, writer, and independent curator. Since receiving a BFA in Photography from the Minneapolis College of Art and Design, she has managed art industry platforms for over five years. Nicole builds community through dynamic, digital spaces including live streams, interviews, and open conversations. Previous design projects include exhibition catalogues at City Wide Artists and critical review publications for The Soap Factory. She helped establish Waiting Room’s social media platforms and currently manages MPLSART.
[email protected]
Advisory Committee
ECI programming is guided by an Advisory Committee. Past and current Committee members include:
2020-21
Angela Two Stars – All My Relation Arts (AMRA)
Mary Bordeaux – Racing Magpie
Gabby Coll – Juxtaposition Arts
Roderic Southall (returning) – Obsidian Arts Center
Ginger Shulick Porcella – Franconia Sculpture Park
2019-2020
Tricia Heuring – Public Functionary
Denetrick Powers – Counterspace Gallery
Roderic Southall – Obsidian Arts Center
Dyani White Hawk Polk – Contemporary Native Artist and Curator
Christina Wiles – Flaten Art Museum at St. Olaf College
Keisha Williams – Minneapolis Institute of Art