Staff Bios

Lex Leifheit, Executive Director
Lex Leifheit is responsible for providing artistic vision and strategic direction for all SOMArts programs, including the Affordable Space Program, Main Gallery Exhibitions, SOMArts Studio Series, Classes , Fiscal Sponsorship, and Technical Services. Lex has been a passionate advocate for the arts as a catalyst for change and community building for more than ten years. She helped launch Wesleyan University’s Green Street Arts Center and expanded adult programming and exhibitions as the Center’s Assistant Director. As producer and host of The Art Agenda, a radio show on WESU, she interviewed hundreds of artists about their work and helped community-based art find a wider audience in central Connecticut (2006–2008). As an artist and teacher, Leifheit directed award-winning plays while an artistic associate at Secret Theatre (1999–2004), taught playwriting to teenagers, founded the High Street Writers Collective, lived and worked in an artist co-op, and studied at the Moscow Art Theater. Administratively Leifheit has worked as Communications Director for the O’Neill Theater Center, been a member of the Emerging Leaders Council of Americans for the Arts, a grants panelist for the National Endowment for the Arts, and served on several nonprofit boards. She loves radical collaborators, storytelling, and art that explores boundaries, and is continually amazed by her good fortune to be living in San Francisco. Back to staff directory

Justin Hoover, Curator & Gallery Director
Justin Hoover is a Bay Area-born artist, curator and martial artist.  In his artwork he explores immateriality through sculpture, works on paper, video, and performance.  Born 1981, BA 2003 from Colgate University, MPA 2007 from Monterey Institute of International Studies, MFA 2009 from the San Francisco Art Institute, Justin works as Curator & Gallery Director at SOMArts Cultural Center, focusing on developing collaborative and experimental community-based curatorial projects.  In addition to beingthe founder/director of Radical Practices Auction House (2009–present), and founder/director of the Garage Biennale (2004–2009), he is also on the Board of Directors of the San Francisco Art Institute. Back to staff directory

Ernest Rivera, Director of Technical Services
Ernest Rivera began working for the San Francisco Arts Commission’s Neighborhood Arts Program in 1971. Over the past 40 years, he has worked with the SOMArts graphics department and Technical Services, assisted muralists with scaffolding set up and providing technical support, advice and equipment including sound, lighting and stage construction for cultural events. Rivera assisted in the establishment of five cultural centers in San Francisco and served as SOMArts’ Board President from 1994–2007, and Interim Director from 2007–2009. Back to staff directory

Rene Yañez, Director of Special Projects
René Yañez is an artist, curator and producer who lives and works in San Francisco Bay Area. A founder and former Artistic Director of Galería de la Raza, Yañez was one of the first curators to introduce the contemporary concept of Mexico’s Day of the Dead to the United States. Since the early 1970s, René Yañez has been instrumental in establishing the Day of the Dead as an important cultural celebration. Active as both a visual and performing arts curator, Yáñez co-founded the successful Chicano performance trio Culture Clash. Yáñez is widely recognized for his innovative art projects that promote a greater awareness of our culturally diverse city. He has curated numerous exhibitions including the art exhibit “Chicano Visions: American Painters on the Verge.” The collection features works by Chicano artists from around the United States. During its five-year, 15-stop tour, “Chicano Visions” was shown simultaneously with its companion cultural exhibit, “Chicano Now: American Expressions.” In 1998, he received the Special Trustees Award in Cultural Leadership from the San Francisco Foundation for his long-standing contribution to the cultural life of the Bay Area. He remains a strong role model and vital cultural force in the San Francisco arts community. Back to staff directory

Ed Varga, Facilities & Technical Operations Manager
Ed Varga is the Facilities and Technical Operations Manager. He brings over fifteen years of experience as a sound engineer, event producer and stage technician, as well as his beliefs in art as activism to SOMArts. He grew up in Wisconsin and has lived in Minneapolis, Madison, New York, Olympia, WA and Los Angeles. As a technician he has worked at venues such as the Walker Art Center, First Avenue, Capitol Theater, the Showbox and many, many others. He has travelled and worked nationally with several production companies and has toured with some of his favorite independent artists. Varga is also the founder and executive director of Homo A Go Go, an international festival of queer music, art, film, performance and radical activism. He has been a force in the queer independent arts and queercore movements since 1995 when he founded Homocore Minneapolis. Ed has also been a vocal activist in the FTM/Trans community. Back to staff directory

LaVette Virden, Bookkeeper
Mother, daughter, sister, auntie, cheerleader, Mom and Bookkeeper is La Vette P. Virden. As a native child of Frisco she has lived in many neighborhoods through out the city, Haight-Ashbury being her most favorite as it gave her a sense of style and freedom to BE without inhibition…though she has always hated being skinny so some shyness came from that. Her grandmother, Enola D. Maxwell was Executive Director of the Potrero Hill Neighborhood House for 28 years thus her introduction into the nonprofit world. She has been a little kid running around playing hide-n-seek to program participant, program coordinator, and bookkeeper for several non-profit organizations such as Booker T. Washington Community Center, Cultural Odyssey, Potrero Hill Neighborhood House and SOMArts. Her hobbies are reading, dancing, chocolate, shopping at flea markets and, just recently, boxing. Back to staff directory

Debra Bok, Fiscal Sponsorship & Administrative Office Manager
“I have worked at SOMArts since my children started pre-school, and they are now in college. In my years here, I have met many incredible people and have seen some amazing things—I never know what will greet me when I enter the door. I live in a houseboat on Mission Creek with my husband and son. I am the guardian of Radar the dog and Fred the cat. In my spare time I like to read and sail and I love spending time in Mexico.” Back to staff directory

Mary Molly Mullaney, Technical Services & Events Office Manager
Mary Molly Mullaney is a second generation San Francisco native, raising a third. If she hadn’t lost her fearlessness once she became a mom, she would probably be a taxi cab driver since she knows the city like the back of her hand. She comes from a family of “closet” artists that “keep their day jobs,” and loves to work on her arts and crafts at night. She started out as a drama major in college, but quickly ran from that department when she couldn’t take acting like a ping pong ball seriously. She ended up getting a bachelor’s degree with a double major from California State University, Sacramento, in Communication Studies, Media Production, and Film Studies with an emphasis in Screen Writing. Mary Molly came to SOMArts as an intern in 1999 for the Tech Services Department, and hasn’t left since. She worked her way up from Stagehand to Office Manager to Events Manager. She loves being surrounded by all the art and diverse performances that come through SOMArts’ galleries and theatre, and especially helping the diverse cultural celebrations throughout the city with the Tech Services Dept. Back to staff directory

Katie Gilmartin, Building Manager & Technician
Katie valiantly attempted to embody the anguished suffering artist, but chronic backsliding forced her to resign herself to a life of delight, abundance, and gusto. Her checkered past includes stints as a buoyant union organizer, fabulous faux drag queen, bona fide sex researcher, and deeply engaged college professor. She now teaches printmaking classes and creates prints at Chrysalis Studio in SOMArts, where she also works as a building manager. Her classes include “Luminous Linocut,” “Mesmerizing Monotype,” “Drawing for the Artistically Shy, Creatively Challenged, & Dexterously Doubtful,” and a special free class for Queer youth on drawing and printmaking. Check out her rave reviews on yelp, and her artwork at katiegilmartin.com. Back to staff directory

Dion Reiner-Guzman, Building Manager & Technician
Dion Reiner-Guzman is a SF native also raised in San Diego & Mexico. Dion has been an employee of SOMArts since 2001 building stages since age 16. He has been DJing 8+ years under the aka Dion Decibels. A graduate of Ex’pression College For Digital Arts he has been recording/mixing/producing music & doing live sound for 5+ years. Back to staff directory

Rio Yañez, Building Manager & Technician
From the moment he was conceived in an artist’s studio, Rio Yañez’ fate as an artist was sealed. Born and raised in San Francisco’s Mission District, Yañez is a curator, photographer, and graphic artist. As a curator he is a frequent collaborator with his father, Rene Yañez, and the pair have been developing exhibits together since 2005. He has exhibited in cities ranging from San Francisco to Tokyo. His re-imaginings of Frida Kahlo have included the Ghetto Frida Project, a series of prints, writings, and performance pieces featuring a thugged-out Kahlo. Yañez is also a founding member of The Great Tortilla Conspiracy, the world’s most dangerous tortilla art collective. Back to staff directory

Janessa Post, Community Outreach Fellow
As an emerging art professional, Janessa Post has worked in a variety of arts environments, including an outdoor arts festival, a visual arts education program and as an art auctioneer on a cruise ship. She completed her undergraduate degree in Art History at San Diego State University in 2008 and is now is working on a MA in Visual and Critical Studies at California College of the Arts’ San Francisco campus.  Since becoming the Community Outreach Fellow, Janessa has helped to promote and develop the many events held at SOMArts, and is happy to have found a home in the San Francisco arts community! Back to staff directory

Bobbi Dulaney, Gallery Administrative Intern
Bobbi Dulaney is an Experimental Video Artist, Activist, and Traveling Circus Artist. In her video work she explores “the harmonics of individual and collective identities” through multi-layered video portraits. She also works with the Dreamtime Circus as both event/tour coordinator and hoops/aerials performer. A recent graduate of California College of the Arts she received her BFA in 2010. Bobbi joined SOMArts staff in 2010 as well and works with the Gallery Director. She uses her expertise in video editing, and her passion for creative Community Arts Organizations to help with various projects including, the Mobile Arts Platform van, Dia De Los Muertos Exhibition, The Ramp Gallery, gallery installation, and administration. She is interning with SOMArts to become better acquainted with its operations in order to develop a related project. Back to staff directory

Aleta Lee, PR/Marketing Intern
A recent graduate from UC Berkeley, Aleta Lee received her BA in Mass Communications and a minor in Art Practice. Her experience as a student organizer and interest in art has motivated her to pursue a career in art education. Her future career goals include program development for museums and art non-profits and creating greater art accessibility and art services for inner city youth. Aleta is also the assistant editor/ marketing intern for www.MissOmniMedia.com, a premier online women’s lifestyle magazine based in SF. Back to staff directory

Natalie Rogers,  Design Intern
Attending San Francisco State University as a full-time student, Natalie Rogers is obtaining her BS in Visual Communications. Her experience on her high school’s annual yearbook, and pursuing classes in design has led her into the field of graphic design as a college student. Before moving to San Francisco, she grew up on the Monterey Peninsula, working at Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. and Corporate Kids Events, Inc. She helps with the graphic design of SOMArts’ projects, including Mobile Arts Platform and i live here: SF. Back to staff directory