ABOUT US
FRIENDS OF LEESBURG PUBLIC ARTS, established in 2012, is a non-profit corporation and shall be operated exclusively for educational and charitable purposes within the meaning of Section 501 (c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, or the corresponding section of any future Federal tax code.
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MISSION​
Our mission is to provide, funding, advocacy, and volunteer services for a variety of projects, programs, and events that foster the growth of the arts and culture in the Town of Leesburg, VA. We engage the community at large in both fundraising for, and active participation in the supported public art projects.
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FOLPA supports projects developed by the Leesburg Commission on Public Art and initiates programs that sustain a vibrant visual and performing arts community that inspires and enlightens public.
MEET THE BOARD
Rita Sartori
President
Rita grew up overseas as her parents were transferred to the Tuscan region of Italy when she was an infant. Living in close proximity to cities like Florence, Venice and Rome, her love and appreciation for the arts began at an early age. Music has always been a part of Rita's life, as her father was a professional musician who traveled the world with his orchestras. She has enjoyed singing since she can remember....From performing in musicals and concerts, to just sitting around a piano with friends.
Kristin L. Brown
Secretary
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Kristin Brown is a geographer and the Director of the Loudoun County Virginia Office of Mapping and Geographical information. Much of her spare time is devoted to photography and painting. She became interested in public art after seeing the positive economic and social impacts in her home town, UNESCO and Folk Art City Pad, Kentucky .
Dianne Capilongo
Treasurer
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Mrs. Capilongo is a native to the Northern Virginia area having lived in Leesburg since 1993. She graduated from George Mason University with a degree in psychology. In 2015 she retired after working for over 40 years as a local community branch manager. She has served as Treasurer of her church in Taylorstown, VA since 2002. She is also an active volunteer and member of the board for the Leesburg Optimist Club. She previously served as Secretary for the Board of Directors for Crossroads of Leesburg. Mrs. Capilongo has a keen interest in public art and art education in the local community. She and her husband Chris reside in Leesburg where they raised their three children.
Sheila Huyett
Media Relations
Sheila Huyett was born and raised in Vicenza, Italy. Her love of art developed at an early age, spending countless hours drawing and designing with her cousin, who was a fashion designer with Casa Veneto. She graduated with a B.S. in Computer Science & Engineering, but her heart has always been with the arts. Sheila has owned her own Montessori School, developed art curriculum for elementary schools, and currently runs her own art studio. She is an oil painter and teaches in acrylics, watercolor and paper collage.
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Sheila resides in Leesburg, VA with her husband, two wonderful sons and 4 amazing cats!
Katherine Andrefsky
Director
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Katherine has moved around since the age of six, first with military family and then with her husband who is employed as a civil engineer. She move to the Landsdowne community in March 2015 after living outside of the country for nine years. Their prior US assignment was in a community near Seattle, WA.
Her employment spans several industries including retail, project management, HR, sales and the assistant to the operations/facilities manager for a non-profit art museum . She has always been interested in art but never had the confidence to pursue artistic endeavors as a profession. Currently she volunteers at the Leesburg Senior Center in the ceramics studio and has been involved in the volunteer community off and on over the past three decades.
Audrey Caldwell
Director
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A near-native of Northern Virginia, Audrey moved here in pre-school. She grew up in Fairfax County and moved to Arlington County after college. She raised her family in Loudoun County and has lived in Leesburg for two years. Audrey has an MBA from George Washington University and has worked for associations, a small business. financial services and in the legal industry. Audrey has a passion for the arts and her favorite medium is watercolor. A marketing and communications consultant, she is also a travel blogger.
Linda Kreingold
Director
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Linda initiated and built the Leesburg Vintage Potter's Program, currently a thriving ceramic studio associated with the Leesburg Senior Center.
Gwen Pangle
Director
Gwen Pangle has been a resident of Loudoun County since 1977. She moved to the Town of Leesburg in 1994. Gwen runs a Real Estate company, Pangle and Associates, which is located on King Street. She is past Chairperson of the Leesburg Economic Development Commission and is currently the President lf the Leesburg Downtown Business Association. Gwen has a love for art and is keenly aware that development and support of the arts is a key economic driver in any community.
Mary A. Pender
Director
A native Virginian, Mary has made Loudoun County her home for the past 17 years. She has worked as an IT project manager for the County's Development of Building and Development since 1998. After obtaining her BA from the College of William and Mary as well as a few adventures in between, Mary then ventured to Austin to earn her Masters in Library Information Science from the University of Texas. She likes to keep her hands in the library world by working the reference desk part time at the Thomas Balch Library in Leesburg. Besides a love of art and architecture, her other interests include traveling , hiking, and volunteering for the Bull Terrier Rescue of Virginia. Mary lives in Leesburg with her six year old rescue named Eamonn de Bull Terrier.
Jim Sisley
Director
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A resident of Loudoun County, VA since 1994: Jim has more than 15 years of success in commercial real estate as a Broker. He is the founder/Owner of Paladin Real Estate, Simple Offie Space executive suites and Tryst Gallery. He is a member of the Loudoun County Planning Commission, past Chairman and current Commissioner of Leesburg's Economic Development Commission and a lay member of the Virginia State Bar Standing Committee on Lawyer Discipline for the 7th District. He was on the founding roster of the Public Art Commission for the town as well as Chairman of the appointed Task Force that established the Public Art Commission, for vice-chair of Leesburg's Downtown Improvement Association . Jim is a visual artist/painter with interests including design, architectural preservation and restoration, economic development and regularly volunteers with the goal of improving the economic resilience of his chosen hometown, Leesburg, VA.
Doris Kidder
Associate Director
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Doris Kidder has had a lifetime of involvement in the arts, including studying at the Pratt Institute in Brooklyn and the Art Students League in New York City. She has had numerous exhibits of her art work since the 1950's and specializes in watercolor. Since moving to Loudoun County in 1988, she has worked with many associations and commissions including the Downtown Committee and the Downtown Business Association, and in 1992 founded annual Martin Luther King Jr. March by obtaining sponsorship of the Bluemont Concert Series, Loudoun County NAACP, Douglass Alumni Association and the Northern Virginia Baha'i Faith. She is a life member of the NAAPC having held many offices within the organization. In 2008 she was appointed to serve on the Leesburg Planning Commission and was elected Chairperson in 2013. She is currently beginning her second term as Vice Chair. Before moving to Loudoun County , Doris was very active in Fairfax County was was employed with the Department of Housing and Urban Development for many years. Over her numerous years of service to the community she has been given several awards for her innovative and outstanding achievement.