visual arts league of allen

Nominee for President:

Lacey Janovsky

Lacey Janovsky

A jack-of-all-trades creator with 15+ years in the art world, Lacey Janovsky (aka Foxy Dame) is all about making the local scene vibrant and accessible. Returning from a five-year hiatus with full momentum, she pairs her passion for trying every art form with solid experience in event coordination and marketing. Lacey’s goal as VALA President is straightforward—cheer on fellow artists, throw great events, and give the organization the extra push it needs to grow into something even more special.

Ranjeeta Shroff

My artwork is a true reflection of who I am in the moment. It also reflects growth and evolution as an artist and as a person.

I primarily use fluid art techniques with acrylic paints as I love the unpredictability and movement of colors on the canvas. The best part is being able to work through the composition while paint is flowing on the canvas. Fluid art's dynamic nature and vibrancy have kept me engaged and intrigued with this style.

My paintings are abstract works inspired by nature, with emphasis on the vastness of the skies, depth of the oceans, stillness of the mountains, movement in air or freshness of spring. They reflect my emotional state ranging from fierce bold florals, orange skies and ocean tides to the quiet and deserted landscapes with sand and sky.

​I pay attention to the abundance that nature and nurturer have provided us, bringing focus to gratitude, respecting others' perspectives, finding strength in pain and making conscious choices through colors and the flow of paint.
 
I strive to share the joy and peace I receive from art with the viewers. My work reflects my state of mind to arrive into a new piece without setting any template or boundary, not knowing the end result while using colors to express my emotions."

Goals for VALA: I have lived in Allen for 8 years and have been associated with Vala's work for past 7 years. I would like to grow VALA community and artists with VALA. I have been an artist at heart but worked in corporate for 30 years to pay my dues as a first generation immigrant to USA.

Now, I want to dedicate my time and effort to ART. I have consulting and management experience with a lot of companies which can be leveraged in growing our community stronger and wider.

Lalithanjani Pala (Anju) (Also nominated for Vice President)

I am a self-taught contemporary and abstract artist and art educator based in Plano, Texas. Originally from India, I have always had a deep connection with art and creativity. My artistic practice is multidisciplinary, and I work with alcohol inks, acrylics, oils, and mixed media. Over the past six years, alcohol inks have become my primary artistic language. Through this medium, I explore vibrant colors, fluidity, movement, nature, transformation, and mindfulness.

Alongside my own artistic practice, I am passionate about art education and community building. I have experience teaching art to both children and adults, and I enjoy creating welcoming spaces where people can explore their creativity, learn from one another, and gain confidence through artistic expression. My professional and personal experiences have helped me develop strong communication, organizational, collaboration, and interpersonal skills, which I hope to bring to my service on the VALA board.

My journey with VALA has already been very meaningful to me. I am especially thankful for the first opportunity I received through VALA to display my artwork in a VALA Art Call Juror Show. Being selected to exhibit my work through VALA was an important milestone in my artistic journey. It gave me the opportunity to share my work with the community, connect with fellow artists, and become more involved with the local arts scene. I am truly grateful to VALA for creating opportunities that recognize, encourage, and support artists.

Because of this experience, I see serving on the VALA board as a wonderful opportunity to give back to the community and contribute in a more meaningful way. I would love to use the experience and skills I have gained as an artist, educator, professional, and community member to support VALA’s continued growth.

My Vision for VALA: My goal is to help build an even stronger, more connected, collaborative, and supportive artistic community. I would love to help create more opportunities for artists to exhibit their work, learn new skills, share ideas, network, collaborate, and connect with the wider community.

I believe we are fortunate to have so many talented and diverse artists in our community. I would love to see VALA continue bringing these artists together and creating a platform where established and emerging artists can learn from one another, support each other, and grow together.

I hope to contribute ideas and energy toward exhibitions, workshops, educational programs, networking opportunities, artist collaborations, and community events that increase visibility for local artists and encourage more people to become involved with VALA.

I also believe that a strong art organization is built through strong relationships. I would love to help strengthen connections among artists, art educators, collectors, art enthusiasts, and the broader community. By bringing together the incredible talent we have around us, I believe we can make our artistic community even more vibrant, inclusive, and impactful.

Serving VALA would be more than simply taking on a board position for me. It would be an opportunity to serve a community that has already given me an important opportunity in my artistic journey, to give back, and to help create opportunities for other artists as well.

I would be honored to serve as Vice President or Secretary and work alongside the talented artists, educators, and arts advocates who make VALA special. I am excited about the possibility of contributing my creativity, experience, organizational skills, communication skills, and passion for community building to help VALA continue to grow and make a lasting impact on the local arts community.

I believe that when artists come together, we create more than individual works of art we create connections, inspire one another, encourage creativity, and strengthen the cultural fabric of our community. I would be grateful for the opportunity to be part of that journey and help build a stronger and more vibrant future for VALA. 

Veronica Medeiros

My Qualifications to Serve as Treasurer

I believe my professional experience, involvement in the arts, and commitment to VALA have prepared me to serve effectively as Treasurer.

I bring more than 15 years of experience in luxury retail, where I worked directly with significant financial transactions, high-value sales, clients, buyers, vendors, and corporations. This experience taught me not only how to manage substantial amounts of money responsibly, but also how to build relationships, recognize opportunities, negotiate, and develop strategies that increase revenue.

Throughout my career, I progressed into sales management and specialist roles, developing strong skills in communication, customer relations, business development, and revenue generation. I understand that financial leadership is not only about recording numbers—it is also about understanding where opportunities exist and finding responsible ways to grow an organization.

My connection to the arts and to VALA is equally important.

I have been a member of VALA for approximately nine years. More than a year ago, I joined the Allen Arts Alliance Board, where I have gained a broader understanding of nonprofit operations, community partnerships, programming, and the challenges and opportunities involved in supporting the arts.

My volunteer involvement has allowed me to complement my professional experience with hands-on knowledge of the local arts community. I currently serve on the Allen Arts Alliance Treasury Committee and have been involved with the Festival Committee for nearly two years. I also serve as the Volunteer Coordinator for Allen Arts Alliance, volunteer at the Blue House Too Gallery & Art Space. These experiences have given me an opportunity to understand the organization from multiple perspectives: financial, operational, artistic, volunteer, and community-based.

My Approach as Treasurer

If elected as Treasurer, one of my first priorities would be to establish a strong financial foundation.

I would begin by working closely with the existing leadership and forming a small, dedicated finance committee. The first step would be to thoroughly understand VALA’s current financial position, including its books, income, expenses, obligations, existing revenue sources, and financial procedures.

From there, I would work with the committee and board to establish a clear baseline and develop a practical financial plan with measurable goals.

My goal would not simply be to manage the organization’s existing finances. I would like to help VALA identify opportunities for sustainable growth while maintaining transparency, accountability, and responsible financial management.

Expanding Sponsorship Opportunities

One of the areas I believe has significant potential is sponsorship.

VALA can create structured sponsorship opportunities that make it easier for businesses and community partners to support the organization while receiving meaningful recognition in return.

Possible sponsorship levels could include:
Community Sponsor
Supports individual programs and community initiatives.
Arts Sponsor
Supports exhibitions, educational programs, and artistic programming.
Exhibition Sponsor
Provides financial support for a specific exhibition or artistic project.
Annual Sponsor
Provides year-round support for VALA’s overall mission and programming.

Sponsors could receive recognition through:

● Event signage

● Social media recognition

● Website recognition

● Exhibition recognition

● Inclusion in promotional materials

● Invitations to special events and receptions

● Opportunities for employee art experiences

● Opportunities to connect their brand with the local arts community

The objective would be to create partnerships that benefit both VALA and the businesses that support it.

Creating New Revenue Streams

I believe VALA should develop a diversified financial model rather than relying primarily on membership dues.

The goal would be to develop multiple sustainable revenue streams, allowing VALA to become financially stronger and less dependent on any single source of income.

Building a Sustainable Future for VALA

My vision as Treasurer would be to combine responsible financial management with an entrepreneurial approach to fundraising and growth.

I want to help VALA understand its numbers, establish clear financial goals, identify opportunities, and create partnerships that strengthen the organization.

I also believe that financial growth should always support the organization’s mission. A stronger financial foundation means more opportunities for artists, more meaningful programs for the community, stronger exhibitions, and greater visibility for the arts in Allen.

I am not seeking the position simply to manage a budget. I am seeking it because I believe my professional experience, nine years of involvement with VALA, nonprofit board experience, and understanding of the local arts community can help us build a stronger and more sustainable organization.

My goal is simple: protect what VALA has built, strengthen its financial foundation, and create new opportunities for it to grow.

Molly Ann Carruth (Also nominated for Secretary)

Molly is a surreal artist, illustrator, and science‑fiction writer whose work blends expressive mark‑making with imaginative, otherworldly storytelling. Her mixed‑media practice explores the space between reality and dream, creating textured visual narratives that feel both intimate and expansive.

She also serves as the project manager of Looking Over the Cliff, where she focuses on bringing creators together and developing special projects that foster collaboration and creative community. Her work across disciplines reflects a commitment to curiosity, connection, and building spaces where bold ideas can take shape.

Goals: 
I aim to cultivate imaginative, meaningful spaces where artists and collaborators can share work that expands creative possibility. I focus on building thoughtful connections between creators and special projects, ensuring each initiative is supported, elevated, and aligned with a larger vision of collective storytelling.

David Masterson

I paint from a place deep within my soul. Every experience I have lived—moments of beauty and loss, wonder and uncertainty, joy and transformation—moves through my spirit, into the brush, and ultimately onto the canvas.

For me, painting is more than creating an image; it is a conversation between the visible world and the unseen. This instinct is at the heart of what I call organic painting—art that remains alive, open to change, and capable of growing through the addition of new images and meaning over time.

That idea became central to David’s World, a series featured in Dr. Judy Rollins’s published study, “A Visit to David’s World.” Her research explored my paintings as a passive art intervention for hospitalized children. When personalized elements were added to the work, the children demonstrated high levels of well-being, involvement, and joy; the experience also brightened moods, reinforced positive identity, and stimulated imagination. The study affirmed something I have always believed: art can engage the spirit, create connection, and transform an environment.

My hope is that my artwork moves people to pause and ponder the mystery of life itself. I hope it awakens curiosity, invites personal reflection, and brings a sense of joy—whether quiet or profound. If a painting causes someone to feel, question, remember, or see the world a little differently, then the work has found its purpose.

Maninder Chahal

I'm honored to be nominated for Director of Membership at VALA. While I'm still relatively new to the organization myself, this role gives me an opportunity to work on continuing VALA's tradition of providing a positive and encouraging environment for its members.

I remember how welcomed I felt walking in without knowing anyone, and being a member here has taught me so much along the way. What makes me comfortable stepping into this role is knowing how supportive this community is. Being a member of VALA's Member Meeting Committee and Curation Team for almost four months now, I've had the opportunity to get to know the workings of VALA and the willingness of its members to guide and train new members as they find their footing. Volunteering through these committees has helped me form new friendships and learn from more experienced artists in the community.

I have been practicing art for five years and discovered my interest in Indian folk art styles during this time. I have been exhibiting my work since 2024. As an art instructor at an art studio and the organizer of my own recurring Kalamkari workshops, I've spent a couple of years stepping into new roles, networking and building professional relationships, and helping my guests and workshop participants feel comfortable trying something new while keeping them engaged over time. I'd bring that same warmth to VALA's membership.

I believe a strong community starts with people feeling genuinely welcomed, and I'd be glad to work towards achieving that for VALA in the upcoming year, with more member engagement and opportunities opening up for volunteering.