Board Members and Staff
L-R: Nic Custer, Janice McCoy, Matthew Osmon, Michele Leclaire, Chris Waters, Mike Parker, Kelli Crump and Marissa Pierce
Not Pictured: Katie Cotton, Donovan Entrekin and Tunde Olaniran
Board of Directors
Nic Custer, President
A University of Michigan-Flint MBA recipient, Nic is employed by UM-Flint, working in the Office of Economic Development. A writer and performer, Nic has been awarded a residency by the Poetry Foundation, and has contributed to seven site-specific and verbatim plays. He hosts the monthly Open Mic at Buckham Gallery and serves on several community boards including Court Street Village Non-profit Housing Corporation.
Janice McCoy, Vice President
Janice McCoy is a visual artist with interests in printmaking, drawing and painting. Her paintings and prints have been exhibited across the state of Michigan. She is a graduate of the University of Michigan-Flint, having earned degrees in Visual Arts Education (BS 2018) and General Studio Art (BFA 2018). Janice works at MW Gallery as the Gallery Assistant & Programs Coordinator for the Mott-Warsh Collection, one of the largest private fine art collections of art of the African diaspora in the United States. Additionally, she is an artist collaborator with the Buckham Fine Arts Project, where she also serves as Vice President on the Board of Directors for Buckham Gallery. In addition, Janice also teaches part-time at the Art School at the Flint Institute of the Arts.
Donovan Entrekin, Acting Secretary
Donovan is the Director of the Art School at the Flint Institute of Arts. He earned an MFA from the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts and has worked in non-profit arts education at various institutions since 2004, including Interlochen Center for the Arts and the Pennsylvania Academy. Donovan is an accomplished painter, sculptor, and printmaker. His large-scale figurative works have been exhibited throughout the country.
H. Michael Parker, Treasurer
A life-long Flint resident, Michael Parker worked in the manufacturing industry before devoting himself to his interest in art and being a maker. With a focus on ceramics, glassblowing, and lamp working, Michael enjoys classes at the Flint Institute of Art.
Kelli Crump
Kelli Crump has an MFA in Acting from the National Theatre Conservatory, is a graduate of Central Michigan University, and has studied at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts and is currently earning an MA in Arts Administration from the University of Michigan-Flint. She is a recipient of the NAPAT Classical Acting Award and the VASTA Vocal Excellence Award presented by KCACTF. Kelli is a proud member of AEA and SAG/AFTRA.
Tunde Olaniran
Tunde Olaniran is a musician from Flint, Michigan. In 2014, Olaniran released their first EP titled Yung Archetype. Olaniran released their first full-length album in 2015 titled Transgressor. In 2018, Olaniran released their second full-length album titled Stranger. Click here for full bio
Matthew Osmon
A visual arts instructor at Mott Middle College in Flint and the Flint Institute of Arts, Matthew holds a BA from Columbia College and an MA from the University of Michigan-Flint. He is also a lecturer at the University of Michigan-Flint and has been extensively involved in the Flint arts community for years, serving as an instructor at Factory Two and curator at the original Red Ink Studios Flint. His artistic practice, board in scope, includes work in watercolor, silk-screening, graphic design, puppet-making, drawing, and screen printing.
Marissa Pierce
Marissa Pierce holds an MA in English & Literature and a BA in Communications, with a minor in African Studies from University of Michigan- Flint. She is currently a Public and Community Relations Coordinator at Flint Institute of Arts.
Christine Waters
Christine Waters is the former Associate Provost and Dean of Undergraduate Studies and Acting Chair, Program of Art and Art History, University of Michigan-Flint, Flint, Michigan. Her Academic Credentials include Master of Fine Art-Painting, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Master of Art-Painting, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Bachelor of Science-Art, University of Wisconsin-Madison. In addition, she has participated in many Workshops/Institutes, University Service, Committee work, and related activities.
Staff
Michele Leclaire, Executive Director
Michele Leclaire, who served as Exhibition Director since 2018, earned an MFA in painting from the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts in 2006, where she studied painting with Katherine Bradford, Vincent Desidario, and Irving Petlin. She widely exhibits her paintings and is represented in public and private collections throughout the country. In the role of Exhibition Director, she oversees exhibitions and exhibition-related programming. Leclaire works with the Buckham's Exhibition Committee and organizes the jurying process, the installation of exhibits, and scheduling of exhibition-related events. She developed new programming such as the Cider & Slides art talks to provide community members with opportunities to more deeply engage with contemporary artistic practice and ideas.
In November 2020, Leclaire was hired as Executive Director to ensure Buckham Gallery’s continued success. As Executive Director, Leclaire will further develop Buckham’s organizational capacity and community impact. In this role she will leverage the talent and enthusiasm of the Board of Directors and artist collective to continue to bring challenging, contemporary art to downtown Flint.
Katie Cotton, Gallery Assistant
Katie Cotton joined our staff in November 2020. She attended the University of Michigan-Flint with a Communication major with a concentration in photography. She has been a member of Flint Roller Derby for 12 years serving several board positions. For the past 7 years, Katie has done all of the social media and design work for FRD. Katie is from Goodrich, MI and currently resides in the College Cultural neighborhood of Flint with her husband, two dogs, and a lot of plants.
Benjamin Smith, Gallery Intern
Benjamin Smith is a Flint native and current student at U of M - Flint pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Art History and Criticism. He has been a part of the Flint creative scene for several years, contributing work to, and editing for, U of M Flint’s Qua Literary and Fine Arts Magazine. As part of an extremely artistic family with strong ties to the Flint art community, he has been surrounded by creative endeavors from an early age. Previously a visitor and frequenter of open mic nights at Buckham Gallery, he is excited to experience it from the role of intern.
Nic Custer, President
A University of Michigan-Flint MBA recipient, Nic is employed by UM-Flint, working in the Office of Economic Development. A writer and performer, Nic has been awarded a residency by the Poetry Foundation, and has contributed to seven site-specific and verbatim plays. He hosts the monthly Open Mic at Buckham Gallery and serves on several community boards including Court Street Village Non-profit Housing Corporation.
Janice McCoy, Vice President
Janice McCoy is a visual artist with interests in printmaking, drawing and painting. Her paintings and prints have been exhibited across the state of Michigan. She is a graduate of the University of Michigan-Flint, having earned degrees in Visual Arts Education (BS 2018) and General Studio Art (BFA 2018). Janice works at MW Gallery as the Gallery Assistant & Programs Coordinator for the Mott-Warsh Collection, one of the largest private fine art collections of art of the African diaspora in the United States. Additionally, she is an artist collaborator with the Buckham Fine Arts Project, where she also serves as Vice President on the Board of Directors for Buckham Gallery. In addition, Janice also teaches part-time at the Art School at the Flint Institute of the Arts.
Donovan Entrekin, Acting Secretary
Donovan is the Director of the Art School at the Flint Institute of Arts. He earned an MFA from the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts and has worked in non-profit arts education at various institutions since 2004, including Interlochen Center for the Arts and the Pennsylvania Academy. Donovan is an accomplished painter, sculptor, and printmaker. His large-scale figurative works have been exhibited throughout the country.
H. Michael Parker, Treasurer
A life-long Flint resident, Michael Parker worked in the manufacturing industry before devoting himself to his interest in art and being a maker. With a focus on ceramics, glassblowing, and lamp working, Michael enjoys classes at the Flint Institute of Art.
Kelli Crump
Kelli Crump has an MFA in Acting from the National Theatre Conservatory, is a graduate of Central Michigan University, and has studied at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts and is currently earning an MA in Arts Administration from the University of Michigan-Flint. She is a recipient of the NAPAT Classical Acting Award and the VASTA Vocal Excellence Award presented by KCACTF. Kelli is a proud member of AEA and SAG/AFTRA.
Tunde Olaniran
Tunde Olaniran is a musician from Flint, Michigan. In 2014, Olaniran released their first EP titled Yung Archetype. Olaniran released their first full-length album in 2015 titled Transgressor. In 2018, Olaniran released their second full-length album titled Stranger. Click here for full bio
Matthew Osmon
A visual arts instructor at Mott Middle College in Flint and the Flint Institute of Arts, Matthew holds a BA from Columbia College and an MA from the University of Michigan-Flint. He is also a lecturer at the University of Michigan-Flint and has been extensively involved in the Flint arts community for years, serving as an instructor at Factory Two and curator at the original Red Ink Studios Flint. His artistic practice, board in scope, includes work in watercolor, silk-screening, graphic design, puppet-making, drawing, and screen printing.
Marissa Pierce
Marissa Pierce holds an MA in English & Literature and a BA in Communications, with a minor in African Studies from University of Michigan- Flint. She is currently a Public and Community Relations Coordinator at Flint Institute of Arts.
Christine Waters
Christine Waters is the former Associate Provost and Dean of Undergraduate Studies and Acting Chair, Program of Art and Art History, University of Michigan-Flint, Flint, Michigan. Her Academic Credentials include Master of Fine Art-Painting, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Master of Art-Painting, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Bachelor of Science-Art, University of Wisconsin-Madison. In addition, she has participated in many Workshops/Institutes, University Service, Committee work, and related activities.
Staff
Michele Leclaire, Executive Director
Michele Leclaire, who served as Exhibition Director since 2018, earned an MFA in painting from the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts in 2006, where she studied painting with Katherine Bradford, Vincent Desidario, and Irving Petlin. She widely exhibits her paintings and is represented in public and private collections throughout the country. In the role of Exhibition Director, she oversees exhibitions and exhibition-related programming. Leclaire works with the Buckham's Exhibition Committee and organizes the jurying process, the installation of exhibits, and scheduling of exhibition-related events. She developed new programming such as the Cider & Slides art talks to provide community members with opportunities to more deeply engage with contemporary artistic practice and ideas.
In November 2020, Leclaire was hired as Executive Director to ensure Buckham Gallery’s continued success. As Executive Director, Leclaire will further develop Buckham’s organizational capacity and community impact. In this role she will leverage the talent and enthusiasm of the Board of Directors and artist collective to continue to bring challenging, contemporary art to downtown Flint.
Katie Cotton, Gallery Assistant
Katie Cotton joined our staff in November 2020. She attended the University of Michigan-Flint with a Communication major with a concentration in photography. She has been a member of Flint Roller Derby for 12 years serving several board positions. For the past 7 years, Katie has done all of the social media and design work for FRD. Katie is from Goodrich, MI and currently resides in the College Cultural neighborhood of Flint with her husband, two dogs, and a lot of plants.
Benjamin Smith, Gallery Intern
Benjamin Smith is a Flint native and current student at U of M - Flint pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Art History and Criticism. He has been a part of the Flint creative scene for several years, contributing work to, and editing for, U of M Flint’s Qua Literary and Fine Arts Magazine. As part of an extremely artistic family with strong ties to the Flint art community, he has been surrounded by creative endeavors from an early age. Previously a visitor and frequenter of open mic nights at Buckham Gallery, he is excited to experience it from the role of intern.