DAC Team
Vanessa Thomas
President
Vanessa Thomas is Co-Founder and President of the Dublin Arts Collective, bringing together her passion for the arts, community building, storytelling, and creative advocacy. A writer, freelance journalist, floral photographer, and owner of Fables & Flora, she has a diverse professional background spanning communications, marketing, information management, project management, and health science. Vanessa is committed to creating opportunities that connect artists with the wider community and demonstrate the value of the arts in building vibrant, thriving communities. Her contributions have been recognized with the Alameda County Arts Leadership Award (2021), the City of Dublin Mayor’s Award (2019), and a Citizen of the Year nomination (2017). As President, she looks forward to championing creativity, strengthening partnerships, and helping DAC—and the artists it serves—continue to grow and flourish.
Ken Nakamura
Treasurer
Ken is currently a Financial Service Representative III with KeyPoint Credit Union and has been with the company for over 15 years. He is passionate about helping his community, regularly engaging with individuals to improve their financial well-being. As our Treasurer, Ken's dedication and expertise greatly benefit our organization.
Ranjini Venkatachari
Secretary
Ranjini is a fine artist specializing in colored pencils for over 18 years, drawing inspiration from her rich cultural heritage. She completed her Still-life Atelier Training at Gage Academy of Art in WA and works out of her home studio in San Ramon, CA. Ranjini teaches colored pencil classes locally and across the US. She is a juried member of the International Guild of Realism, American Women Artists, and NAWA. As Chair for the San Ramon City Arts Advisory Committee and Secretary of the DAC, she is deeply involved in her community. Her extensive experience and commitment to both art and community engagement make her a valuable member of our team.
Sawsan Wolski
Community Liaison & Philanthropy Advisor
Sawsan is one of the three Dublin Arts Collective founders and the owner of The Frame Company and Art Gallery in Dublin. In the gallery, you will find local fine art on display, including paintings, drawings, pottery, jewelry, photography, and other fine arts. Many know her as a businesswoman but not as an accomplished artist. She graduated from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and the Institute of Art, Baghdad, with degrees in painting, drawing, animation, and design. Currently, she serves on the Alameda Art Commission to represent District 1 in Alameda County. She belongs to and supports many organizations that focus on women's social and economic empowerment both locally and globally.
Sara Arasteh
Technical and Analytics Lead
Sara is a computer engineer, artist, and art lover who, despite working in the tech industry, never stopped exploring and mastering new artistic techniques. She loves to tell stories through her artwork, which often features a surreal theme to bridge fantasy and realism, creating a vibrant world filled with colors and emotions. She joined DAC as the Lead of Technical and Analytics, aiming to merge her technical knowledge with her love for art. Her goal is to create a user-friendly platform that brings artists and art lovers in our community together, fostering the growth of both individual artists and the artistic community as a whole.
Gina Gabriell
Programs Advisor
Gina Gabriell is an artist, author, and illustrator who tells stories through a diverse range of mediums. Her creations translate thoughts and questions into tangible art forms, reinvent and connect through paint. She studied sculpture at the California College of Art. For the past years, Gina has been crafting props for film and television that are collected all over the world. Her multidisciplinary approach to storytelling and experience in visual arts make her a valuable addition to our team as a program adviser, bringing a unique perspective and creative expertise.
Marc Casad
Art Circuit Chair
Marc Casad is a Bay Area artist with more than 30 years of experience exploring realism, Impressionism, Fauvism, and abstraction across a variety of mediums. Inspired by the light, color, and energy of Northern California. Marc describes himself as a lifelong “learning artist” who believes creative growth happens just beyond our comfort zones. As Chair of the Dublin Arts Collective’s Art Circuit, he brings that spirit of curiosity, experimentation, and continuous learning to the program. Working alongside a dedicated team of artists, Marc is focused on creating opportunities for local artists to exhibit their work, build connections, and engage with the wider community. His vision is for the Art Circuit to be more than a place to display art—it is a platform for discovery, collaboration, and artistic growth.
Mike D’Amelio
Scary Art Show Co-Chair, Website advisor
Mike D’Amelio, driven by a lifelong passion for art, views it as a powerful means of storytelling. Drawing from personal experiences, he invites audiences into his complex world, allowing them to make their own connections. While studying Fine Arts at SUNY Purchase College, D’Amelio gravitated towards abstract expressionism and neo-dadaism, exploring various mediums to find his artistic voice. Post-college, he balanced a successful career in Design while continuing to experiment with his art. Inspired by his daughter’s innocence and freedom on a canvas, his artwork truly found its voice. He is Co-Chair to the Scary Art Show and helps with web design.