July | August 2022 ISSUE NO . 40 this issue ’ s art chowder team
NAFEEUL ARAF I facilitate relationships to help yield the most fruitful business outcomes ; from top-tier training to driving more sales , it all starts with the right people , and I take pride in building and fostering those positive and productive connections .
M . J . HUDON is a Pacific Northwest native , art lover / blogger , and writer . A member of Spokane Authors and Self-Publishers , the Tin Pencil and St . Francis writers groups , she specializes in urban fantasy and personal interviews .
Originally from Paris , ALEX BARROUK grew up in a Mediterranean family of restaurant owners and natural born cooks with whom he developed a very distinctive sense of appreciation for life and all the beauty it has to offer . After a career in hospitality and event management , he now owns Aim & Build Consulting & Development , where he brings the same level of attention to supporting businesses throughout the region and country . In his spare time , he enjoys teaching cooking classes , introducing friends to unfamiliar flavors , and embarrassing his daughter with TikTok dances .
ANN CONTOIS is copy editor / proofreader for Art Chowder magazine . She is a writer and artist — currently creating visionary artworks which can be found at DigitalVisionsArt on Etsy . com . With a curious spirit and myriad interests , in her youth she traveled widely , visiting European castles , Nordic fjords and Asian kingdoms ... lifelong inspirations for her artistic soul . Ann earned a bachelor of Fine Arts / English degree from University of California , Berkeley . She is co-owner of Contois Reynolds Art Glass Studio , encompassing a 45-year career creating fine art glass .
ERIC COOK ’ s career in food and wine spans more than 30 years and five countries while learning to find the values of a culture from the foods for which it is known . Share the art and joy of wine and food with him through these pages . When not travelling and teaching wine , Eric teaches Culinary Arts and Hospitality at Spokane ’ s NewTech Skill Center so that more young people grasp how attention makes nutrition irresistible .
CHRISTINA DEUBEL is a visual artist with an eye for adventure . She travels throughout the Northwest exploring nature and the artistic attractions found throughout the “ Backroads ” of our region .
Her goal as an artist & storyteller is to share the natural vibrancy , majesty , power , and beauty of the Pacific Northwest with the viewer . Being in nature is a visceral experience for Christina , and she creates her work by channeling this energy through her fingertips . Learn more at
www . mountaintidings or on social media @ mnttidings
In addition to freelance writing , SUE ELLER writes short stories and novels . Her passion is science fiction . Sue is vice president of the Spokane Authors & Self-Publishers , a member of the Inland Northwest Writers Guild , and the Idaho Writers League . She has also dabbled in news journalism , sports reporting , and screenplay writing .
BRIANNA KARLE grew up hiking , skiing , and playing in the outdoors of Alaska and Colorado . She is passionate about animals , homesteading , and art . Her sense of fun and adventure is evident in her work as a freelance graphic designer . When not freelancing or caring for her kids and many pets in beautiful Snohomish , Washington , she likes to focus her energy on philanthropic and nonprofit endeavors . For more info , visit
www . briannarkarle . com .
MATTHEW KINCANON is a journalist from Spokane , Washington and a graduate from Gonzaga University who loves writing about anything involving indigenous people and the arts , especially movies and performing arts . When he ’ s not writing , he is either watching and reviewing movies , shopping at thrift stores or playing video games . Email Matthew at
kincanon3 @ gmail . com
MORGAN MARIE is a storytelling coach whose deepest passion is communicating through the art of stories . She strongly encourages any form of personal expression . You can find out more about her work at
www . coachmorganmarie . com or on social @ thestorytellingcoach .
TARA MICKSCHL has always loved the arts in all its forms . As a volunteer , board member , and performer with the Spokane Entertainer ’ s Guild , she has dabbled in singing , dancing , improv , videography , and photography . When she finds extra time , you can find her creating mixed media artwork or working on DIY projects .
Originally from Great Falls , Montana , TOM QUINN grew up surrounded by art — mostly nostalgic celebrations of the Old West . After receiving a degree in art history from Gonzaga University and spending a year in Florence , Italy , he went on to the Art Institute of Seattle to pursue a career as an illustrator . Now living in Spokane , Quinn has completed several murals , extensive easel paintings , book illustrations , and magazine contributions . Quinn also enjoys drawing caricatures at parties and conventions , and teaching drawing and painting at the Spokane Art School , Corbin Art Center , and the Institute for Extended Learning . His work has been exhibited in galleries in Spokane , Seattle , and Portland .
MELODY FYRE is a recent graduate of the Evergreen State College where she received a dual bachelors of arts and science in physics and communication . She ’ s been involved in running her family ’ s art gallery from a young age , framing , creating , and restoring works of art . Now she writes about the evolution of the world of art and picture framing for Art Chowder while working as the frame room manager for Spokane Gallery . Find her on instagram at Thunderpopdesign .
MITCH WRIGHT is a serial entrepreneur driven by a love for marketing and advertising spanning more than three decades . He moved to Spokane in 2007 from Atlanta and has embraced Northwest living wholeheartedly . Mitch opened his own advertising agency because he truly enjoys helping clients realize value in their business . His love for the art and culture in our great region motivated him in supporting Art Chowder clientele and advertisers .
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