The Staff:
Rick and Dale--who do everything else.

Rick's background includes growing up next to artist Curt Hanson on the South Hill, helping artist Tom Holt build his house in Peaceful Valley, painting with artist Bill Elston. Rick has spent many hours photographing the woods and hills of Washington State, has two children and six grandchildren. He's also survived a rather rowdy career as a college football star in Wenatchee from whence he retreated to a career as a head shrink. Hundreds of shrunken heads later he came back to photography and began to paint with a passion and talent that impresses the "lifers". He is a black belt Aikido practitioner and avid bicycle rider.

Dale's background includes growing up in a fusty upper class family outside Boston, attending fusty upper class prep schools and colleges, emerging with a degree in English from Colorado College in the early eighties. Taking one look at the economy for English majors she retreated hastily to teach horseback riding for thirty years. In spite of such a misspent youth, she is a published author, Grand Prix Dressage rider, Brown Belt Aikido practitioner, and chief cook and bottle washer at the Odell House (link--www.odellhouse.com). (Collecting oddities to furnish the apartments has opened supply doors one might not think of right away.) Her somewhat eccentric taste guides the purchasing at Irimi Arts. Where else but remembered Christmas seasons on the East Coast might one get the idea that a good supply of escargot are necessary around the holidays?

Top Right: Pasha and Persik

Above Left: Rick with Pasha

Left: Rick and Dale practicing Aikido