all about
damfino arts
We connect artists of all genres with art lovers through performances, exhibitions, cross-collaborations, education, and community projects
Who we are
We are a team of artists and art enthusiasts.
We endeavor to connect artists of every discipline with art lovers in the Seattle area through performances, exhibitions, cross-collaborations, education, and community works.
We support artists by providing them with opportunities to pursue their own creative endeavors and by inviting them to collaborate on a variety of innovative projects. Each interdisciplinary productions is brought to life thanks to the many incredible creators throughout the Seattle area.
Damfino Arts grew out of SeaPertl Productions, a sister and brother team consisting of Sydney M. Pertl and Miles Pertl, that focused on collaboration between visual arts and dance. However, as these works began to encompass more and more artists, we felt that the transition into a nonprofit would better serve the needs of our wonderful community.
We hope to see you at our next art show, performance, or event!
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The ones who make it happen
The sister & brother artistic director team
artistic director
Sydney M. Pertl is a visual artist and a specialist in all things hands-on and artistic. She has worked in every field from industrial shopwork to social advocacy, and has lived in many places around the world. Her artwork has shown in fine arts galleries across the U.S., and can also be seen in murals and other public works throughout Seattle. She has also worked as a director of photography, graphic designer, teacher, fabricator, prop maker, makeup artist, and costume designer. She has cofounded multiple organizations, including an art gallery still operating in Wisconsin, and a non-profit in Ghana, which delivered a shipping container of school supplies and books to rainforest communities. Her passion is in arts advocacy, and she believes that everyone deserves the chance to shine. One of her proudest accomplishments is co-founding Damfino Arts. She is excited to use any number of skills - problem solving and inventing chief among them - to showcase Seattle’s creators through groundbreaking productions. Her personal motto is a rising tide lifts all boats. She graduated from the Expressive Atelier at the Gage Academy of Fine Art and from Lawrence University with a B.A. in Fine Arts.
artistic director
Miles Pertl has spent his career as a dancer, choreographer, teacher, and union representative. He has lived around the world, first dancing for Stuttgart Ballet before moving on to Dutch National Ballet in Amsterdam. He returned to Seattle in 2016 to dance with Pacific Northwest Ballet, and was promoted to Soloist in 2021. He has worked with many incredible collaborators, bringing art to stages across Europe and America. While dancing brings him joy, his main passion lies in connecting with people, whether in the studio, classroom, or streets of Seattle. Everyone has a story, and Miles fully believes that a work of art is not complete without the voices of many. To that end, he has been a union representative at both Dutch National Ballet and at Pacific Northwest Ballet, fiercely advocating for best practices in the interest of his colleagues and for the broader dance world at large. Damfino gives him the opportunity to showcase many voices and to bring together a community of like minded people who want to work towards making Seattle and the greater Pacific Northwest a better and more artistic place for everyone.
Sydney and Miles, working within very different fields within the arts, have realized that by combining their multiple artistic skillsets results in a far stronger finished product than if one were to work alone. Their goals are to create an all inclusive community of artists, musicians, dancers, choreographers, costume designers (and every artistic practice in between) where the idea of cross collaboration is valued above all, and each artist can shine in their own respective fields.
KEY COLLABORATORS
on projects past and present
Communications
Specialist
board member
Iris Picat is a communications specialist with over ten years of experience working for and with the communities she lives in. Her work ranges from large-scale event planning and interpretive wayfinding to leading public engagement on several Seattle mega-projects, including their public art projects, and environmental and construction outreach. She is especially interested in creating connections and developing and fostering community partnerships.
public
event specialist
Leah Terada is currently a Corps de Ballet member with the Pacific Northwest Ballet where she has danced for the past six seasons. She received her dance training at the Dallas Metropolitan Ballet, School of American Ballet, Boston Ballet, Pacific Northwest Ballet, and briefly with the Royal Danish Ballet. She has also participated in workshops hosted by Regional Dance America, Vim Vigor, Batsheva Dance Company, and the Movement Invention Project among others. Leah enjoys teaching personalized approaches to creative movement both through her many choreographic works as well as in dance studios and classrooms across the United States. She has recently worked as the front of house manager for Skid Road Gallery as she is committed to understanding and helping artist realize their true worth in our community.
Social media manager
& media relations
Isabelle Hsieh has been deeply passionate and involved in the Seattle hospitality industry for over 10 years (mbar, Girin, Meet Korean BBQ, Frank’s Oyster House). Isabelle, or Izz, believes that food brings communities together and restaurants help to nurture these memories and connections. Working in hospitality management has helped her foster relationships with local farmers, local distilleries/breweries and collaborations with other local Seattle businesses. Joining Damfino Arts is an exciting new journey of connecting local artists with the local community of which she is thrilled to be a part.