PLAYA Staff

Ana Varas

(she/her)
Executive Director

Ana Varas is an experienced arts administrator with over ten years of work across the academic, nonprofit, and private sectors of the arts industry. She most recently served as the Arts Program Manager at Pine Meadow Ranch Center for Arts and Agriculture in Sisters, Oregon.

Ana holds a PhD in Art History and Theory from the University of Essex, UK, where her research focused on community-driven art practices addressing socio-political and ecological issues. She is also passionate about promoting the intersection of art and science, recognizing the potential for cross-disciplinary collaboration to address complex global challenges. Throughout her career, Ana has been committed to leveraging the arts as a catalyst for social change and community engagement. Her leadership is grounded in her belief in the power of the arts to connect diverse communities and drive positive cultural transformation.

Outside of her professional life, Ana enjoys spending time with her family exploring the outdoors and connecting with nature.

 

Mindy Chaffin

(SHE/HER)

INTERIM PROGRAM MANAGER

Mindy Chaffin is a nonprofit arts leader and creative problem-solver who believes managing a residency program is an artistic medium all its own. The tools may be spreadsheets and email, but the work is really about creating a time and place where artists and scientists can see differently and follow unexpected connections. 

Her expertise spans residency and workshop development, operations and facilities management, exhibitions, and public programs that connect artists with community and place. She has worked at The Salem Art Association (Salem, Or), Sitka Center for Art and Ecology (Otis, OR), Volland (Alma, KS) and Hambidge (Rabun Gap, GA), as well as washed dishes in Antarctica and welded garden art in Indiana.

She is a practicing artist whose functional pottery is rooted in the belief that ordinary objects can create meaningful moments.

Shawna Negus

(she/her)
Cuisine and Lodging Manager

Shawna loves her job at PLAYA because she loves food and making people feel welcome. There’s so much pleasure in imagining and creating delicious entrees, salads, and desserts for the people who come here from all over the world. She also takes pride in readying PLAYA’s cabins for new residents. She grew up in this county but has lived in many beautiful places from Alaska to Arizona. Now she’s fortunate to call this area home again, as it’s her favorite place of all, where she has a wonderful garden, family, and many friends.

MICHAEL CARDOZA
(HE/him)
SITE AND FACILITIES

Michael brings to PLAYA a wealth of hands-on experience after working in jobs as diverse as a ranch hand, working construction, and managing maintenance. His positive attitude and willingness to roll up his sleeves and take on any task required to make PLAYA a better place makes him a wonderful asset to our team. When not at work, he enjoys lovingly restoring his still-running 1953 Chevy pick-up and spending time with his wife, son and daughter. His goal in this position is to make PLAYA a welcoming and well-kept place where residents can enjoy their surroundings and find inspiration for their work.