Meet Our New Board Member – Max Zelaitis

We are thrilled to welcome Max Zelaitis to our Executive Board. As an Engineering Executive, Max brings a fresh perspective to our board and Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEAI) Committee. Max’s blend of curiosity and strategy will be a great addition to our organization and he has already become a favorite with our artists without even setting foot in a studio yet. In our most recent North Shore Studio Meeting, an artist asked, “Where did Max go?” when Max needed to leave a bit early. 

In a new conversation series, studio artists will interview new board members to introduce them to our community. Max and studio artist Ted Gram-Boarini met on zoom this month for the first installment.

TED: How did you find Arts of Life and why are you interested in our work?

MAX: That’s a great question. I actually belonged to a network of people that are prospective board members, and I saw an advertisement for Arts of Life. I see many advertisements and this one is something that really spoke to me and got me excited. As a board member, you have to be behind the mission of what the people are doing, because otherwise it doesn’t really mean too much to you.

I’ve been involved in other nonprofits – one called Gigi’s Playhouse that helps with folks who have down syndrome. They actually had a benefit where they were utilizing art. That was something that made me excited. But then, ultimately, what makes me excited is knowing that the intellectually and developmentally disabled community needs a venue to express their art because at our core we are all humans. I feel that this community’s been underserved. So, if I can help that’s what I’m here for. 

TED: Yes, I agree. It definitely has been underserved, I agree. What are you passionate about?

MAX: So I’m a technology guy and so I do stuff with computers but I’m also very excited about people and making people realize their best selves. That’s that’s what I like to do. Actually, these are great questions.

TED: I have never done interviews like this before. 

MAX: That’s yeah no that’s awesome. Everybody’s got potential and trying to get people to understand or express their potential. Especially with within Arts of Life, I think there’s so much potential with the artists. To give everyone a voice is so huge.

TED: What kind of art do you like?

MAX: This is an interesting thing, Like I said I’m an engineering guy. So I’m all about math and numbers and what have you, but I’ve always had an interest in the other side of things. I really like Impressionism, but I also surrealism like Salvador Dali with the melting clocks. And at the Art heist, I purchased a piece of artwork from Tim Stone. He works in the Chicago Studio. So any pointers, you can give me, I would appreciate. What’s your favorite type of art?

TED: I did a graphic novel previous to this. I have also done watercolor and acrylic. I really like that watercolors help me to tell a story whereas acrylic is more styling. Right now, I’m working on a piece now based on a movie called Big Hero 6.

MAX: I love how vibrant the colors are. Which is funny because the Tim Stone piece I bought was a graphite and paper so it was just black and white. To see this – beautiful colors.

TED: Do you have any ideas to bring to the table to help us grow?

MAX: So that’s interesting because when I first heard the question I thought maybe a little bit more of the organization. I know we have two studios. I would love to see more beyond Chicago, going regional by partnering with other organizations. One of the things that I bring to the table is being a team player. I love connecting people, even though they come from different backgrounds, or have different interests, and I really enjoy that I really enjoy watching people grow and teams grow. That’s something that’s very important to me. 

TED: What things do you find easy and what do you find hard? 

MAX: That’s a good question. What I find easy is making people happy. It brings me joy personally, and then it brings me joy that I’m bringing joy to others. What I find hard is sometimes when people fight, and it’s hard to have that difficult conversation to bring the people together and it doesn’t always work.

TED: I totally get it. I find painting easy. And music.

MAX: That’s one thing we share, then. I also have a love of music.

TED: What kind of music do you like? 

MAX: So, for one, I played trumpet for 20 years but I like almost any kind of music, except for country music.

TED: I’m the opposite because I like everything except classical. 

MAX: See, and we can when we can be different, and still get along with each other.

TED: We are actually planning another record and we could use a trumpet player

MAX: I’m a bit rusty. I haven’t picked it up in probably five or 10 years but, yeah. Ted I just really wanted to say, I really enjoyed talking to you today.