Volunteer Spotlight is a series where we shine a light on one of our awesome volunteers each month. Spotlights highlight the personalities of our volunteers and share more about their connections to the Frye.
This month, we are spotlighting Sharon Griggins, one of our dedicated and talented Gallery Guides. We interviewed Sharon to learn more about her and her time at the Frye.
Hi Sharon! Can you share how long you have been at the Frye and why you decided to volunteer?
I've been a volunteer for three years. I wanted to volunteer at the Frye because it is a free museum, and I feel that art and information should be accessible for all.
What does your volunteer work at the Frye consist of?
As a Gallery Guide, I lead public and private tours of the museum.
What do you remember most fondly from your experiences at the Frye?
I really enjoy taking visitors through the shows from the Frye's Founding Collection. The museum has a very interesting history. People love hearing about the Fryes, how the museum came to be, and how it has changed over the years.
What is something others may be surprised to know about you?
I once taught English at a Benedictine monastery in New Mexico, where I lived with 50 monks.
Who are your favorite artists and why?
I am drawn to women artists like Georgia O'Keeffe and Frida Kahlo. These artists took chances and did extraordinary work when women were not really accepted in the art world. I also love that their work can be open to many interpretations.
Besides volunteering at the Frye, what do you like to do?
Now that I am retired, I teach and tutor ESL students, do some consulting work for public libraries, and volunteer for other nonprofits including a group that assists people coming out of the ICE detention center in Tacoma. I also serve on the boards of two great nonprofits—Team Read and Sound Health.
How have you been spending your time since the pandemic started?
I have always been an avid reader, but during the pandemic I spent a lot more time with books—I averaged a book or two a week. I perfected my bread making skills and also did exercise routines from online sources to counteract my increased consumption of homemade bread. Zoom meetings allowed me to keep up with the nonprofit organizations I am involved with.
What are some of your favorite things to do in Seattle?
I love to bicycle and hike, as well as walk with my dog through Discovery Park and Myrtle Edwards Park.
Anatol San Jose Steck
Development Coordinator