Paula Morse, chair
Paula Morse, Hingham, chair of the Art Commission since 2004, has long been an advocate for public art and the preservation of historic properties and collections. She has been involved in curatorial, archival and publications work for the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston (Department of American Decorative Arts and Sculpture), the Hull Lifesaving Museum, and the Cohasset Historical Society, where she is currently planning and writing the interpretive text for the ca. 1754 Bates Ship Chandlery/Maritime Museum. She has co-authored the MFA’s catalogue of American sculpture and the Society’s architectural and social history, The First 250, Cohasset’s Earliest Houses and Places. She is a Massachusetts Historical Society Fellow and a former antique dealer with a shop in Concord.
Mary Leen, vice chair
Mary Leen, Charlestown, vice-chair, was associate director of the MIT Museum from 1994 until her retirement in 2021. She also spent nine years in university fundraising with a focus on individual and foundation support. Her long professional experience in museums and historical societies, includes the New England Historic Genealogical Society and the Bostonian Society. She has served on the boards of the Association of Academic Museums and Galleries, Custom House Maritime Museum, Ellis Neigh-borhood Association, Gibson House Museum, New England Chapter of the Society of Architectural Historians, South End Historical Society and Victorian Society in America/New England Chapter, and as chair of the New England Museum Association’s College & University Museums Professional Affinity Group.
Donna DePrisco
Donna DePrisco, Boston, is vice president and general manager of DePrisco Diamond Jewelers and Co. A certified gemologist, she frequently conducts appraisals and as an expert witness for law enforcement, was involved with the Kimberlite process hearings, which led to the passing of a law certifying that all diamonds entering the US are “conflict free.” She also is a trained musician, having studied at the Juilliard School, New England Conservatory, Boston Conservatory and Berkeley Schools of Music. Donna has served on the board of many charitable and philanthropic organizations including the Boston Public Library, the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, the New England Conservatory, Rosie’s Place, Catholic Charities and the Boys and Girls Clubs of Boston.
L’Merchie Frazier
L’Merchie Frazier, Boston, is an award winning national and international visual and performance artist and poet. Formerly Director of Education and Interpretation for the Museum of African American History, Boston/Nantucket, she is currently Executive Director of Creative/Strategic Partnerships for SPOKE Arts/Medicine Wheel as well as Director of Creative Engagement at the Transformative Action Project, Northeastern University School of Law. Her work highlights the reparative and restorative aesthetic approach to expanding the historical narrative, diminishing erasure, responding to trauma, violence and crisis through artistic activities and public art that mirrors community. She provides place-based education and interdisciplinary history pedagogy, programs, and lectures, and delivers diversity, equity and belonging workshops for corporations and municipalities. She has participated in numerous artist and poet-in-resident programs, and her work is included in collections across the globe. L’Merchie is a Boston Foundation Brother Thomas Fellow and Massachusetts Historical Society Fellow and is a member of the Colonial Society of Massachusetts.
Dawn Mahoney
Dawn Mahoney, Winthrop, full time artist, illustrator and private instructor, is currently the president of the Winthrop Art Association where she has been a member since 1979, serving in all areas of leadership, and chairing dozens of local programs and committees to bring the arts to the community. Each year she reaches countless residents through her design work, demonstrations, local exhibits, and private commissions. She also teaches at the Winthrop Senior Center. She is represented in many US and international collections.
Alison Nolan
Alison Nolan, Boston, is a principal of Blue Atlantic Fabricators which specializes in steel and aluminum custom fabrication for offshore wind, transportation, marine and heavy civil projects. Previously, she spent twenty-three years at Boston Harbor Cruises as General Manager and a 4th generation principal, where she oversaw the daily operation of BHC's 60-vessel fleet. Her responsibilities included developing new products, public bidding and procurement, contract management, and maintaining standards for customer service and product delivery. In addition, she directed the company’s marketing, public relations and digital profiles. In 2019 she led a strategic M&A transition for the corporation. Ms. Nolan is a member of the Board of Directors and Executive Committees of Boston Harbor Now, the national Passenger Vessel Foundation, Sail Boston, the Museum of Science, the USS Constitution Museum, SKAL International.