YAA Member Spotlight: Nancy Boileau
- Roth Preap
- 11 minutes ago
- 2 min read
Nancy’s journey with the York Art Association began in the mid-1980s, sparked by something as simple as an extra credit drawing class. That class opened a door she didn’t expect. She was encouraged to keep painting and soon found her way to YAA, where she became a member and spent years exploring different media, discovering both technique and confidence along the way.
Today, Nancy continues to be an active presence in the YAA community. She enters exhibitions, attends openings, and participates in the programs and gatherings that keep the Association thriving. She promotes YAA whenever she can, sharing her experiences with anyone who is curious about getting involved. To her, one of the best parts of membership is having a gallery so accessible. "Having a gallery at your fingertips...is a coveted privilege for an artist."
When Nancy reflects on what YAA means to her, she says, “YAA brought making art into my life. It keeps me sane.”
She is also proud to have served as president of the Association, grateful to have contributed even a small part to an organization with more than 120 years of history. The friendships she has formed through YAA remain especially meaningful to her and she considers them one of the greatest gifts of her involvement.
Her memories at YAA are wide ranging, filled with moments that still make her smile. She often thinks back to her early painting classes with Reuben Gambrel and the many canvases she worked through until the moment he would finally say, “Ok, let’s leave it.”
Looking ahead, Nancy is excited for the future. She is eagerly awaiting YAA’s move into the Little Green Church and hopes to enjoy the renewed energy she expects the new space will bring. As she puts it, she wants a good stretch of time to be part of what comes next.
She reminisces about a saying painted on the side of the Marshall Street building: Discover art, Discover yourself.
“I love that saying,” she says. “By becoming a YAA member, I discovered art. As for the second part… well, that is an ongoing work in progress.” She hopes others in the community will give themselves the same chance to explore their creativity, especially those who say they cannot draw. Many discover after just one class that they are far more capable than they ever imagined.
If you’re a YAA member, instructor, or volunteer and would like to be featured in a future spotlight, please contact our office—we’d love to share your story.
