Art & Volunteer Work Go Hand-In-Hand for Vicki Faull

For some, having a passion for the arts becomes a love affair for life.

Vicki Faull would probably agree with this. At the age of 22, Faull moved to Renton after her husband received a job transfer.  She had no idea what her future would bring. 
Born in Oregon City, Ore., art had been her passion in high school – drawing, painting, ceramics, even charcoal. 

Would that be the path life would lead her down here in Renton?

No.  Not yet, anyway. 

Instead, she landed a job as a teller at Community Bank, launching a 25-year career in banking that would eventually lead to Branch Manager of Renton’s Banner Bank.

But art was never far from her mind.  While at Community Bank, she was
introduced to the Renton Annual Art Show when the bank purchased pieces to hang in the branch.  She was also introduced to a fierce advocate for the arts, Norma Cugini. Cugini sat on the bank board and was already a seasoned arts volunteer.  Faull watched her from the sidelines, impressed by what this woman one woman was able to accomplish.

“Norma was a great female role model,” says Faull. “She showed me one person can make a big difference in a community.”

In 1991, with encouragement from the bank, Faull felt it was time to get involved, and chose the Renton Annual Art Show (RAAS) to lend her time and talent.  It was a good choice, because 20 years later, Faull is still volunteering with RAAS, having served 16 of those years as board chair. 

“The art show is considered a signature event within Renton River Days,” says Sonja Mejlaender, Festival Coordinator. 

Held at the Renton Community Center, RAAS starts with a Preview Party on Thursday, July 21 and runs through Sunday July 24.  Although it's a juried show, anyone can enter their work, including professionals, amateurs, even students.  A myriad of committed volunteers do everything from registering and cataloguing the art, to hanging pieces, setting up for the Preview Party, and then staffing the show for the three days of River Days.

“We have a solid group of people who have done it for a long time,” says Faull.

All the art work is for sale, and to put shoppers in a good mood, singers and musicians provide entertainment.

“I think it’s important to expose people to both visual and performing arts,” Faull says.  “We have background musicians at the Preview Party and all day long during the festival.”

Because the show is part of Renton River Days, it was natural for Faull to lend her talents there as well.  She joined the Renton River Days Board nine years ago, serving two years as President, helping to make all the decisions needed to stage the huge festival.  A little reluctant in the beginning to take on such a big task, today Faull can’t picture not having a voice in the important decisions made to run the event. 

Take the economic downturn in 2010 when the City couldn’t provide the same level of support as it had in the past.  The board was forced to figure out how to reshape the event with less resources.  The result - the board decided to drop Kid's Day and make it a three-day event.  Faull thinks it's the best thing they ever did.

“The kid’s activities are now scattered throughout the park, bringing more kids into the event over the weekend.”

Faull has devoted so much time to both events that she’s become a familiar face to
everyone involved. 

“Vicki continues to contribute as an engaged board member in numerous areas, currently serving as the Products & Souvenirs Co-Chair,” says Mejlaender. “If you happen to stroll through Liberty Park this year enjoying the activities, or go to the Renton Annual Art show at the Renton Community Center, it’s likely you’ll run into Vicki.”

Today, Faull has found other ways to lend her talents to the community.  She also
sits on the Renton Community Foundation Board and started Banner Bank’s “Giving Tree,” a year-round holiday tree in the bank’s lobby encouraging customers to support local charities.

“I understand the value to the community,” Faull says.  “There are just so many things that wouldn’t happen without someone stepping forward to volunteer.  It’s those activities that make our community what it is.”

Recently, Faull married attorney, Gary Faull, who just happens to sit on the board of First Savings Bank Northwest.  The union made banking, and art, a family affair. 

Tom Brokaw once said, “It’s easy to make a buck, but it’s a lot tougher to make a
difference.”

Perhaps, so.  And yet, Vicki Faull has learned to do both.