SONNY KAY - Executive Director
A transplant from the west coast, Sonny Kay is a working artist/graphic designer and founder of the cult record label, Gold Standard Laboratories. First passing through Hot Springs on tour with his own band in 2006, Kay returned to helm Low Key Arts in 2017. Its mission resonated with his lifelong interest in do-it-yourself culture and grassroots organizing, so he seized the opportunity to help steer this quickly-developing organization through its next series of milestones. Contact: kay@lowkeyarts.org
JEN GERBER - Film Program Director
A native of Arkansas, Jen Gerber built her film career in Chicago before completing an MFA from Columbia University. In 2018 she released her debut feature film The Revival and received a jury special mention at NewFest for “outstanding performances” and The Hollywood Reporter called the film “riveting." Jen freelanced for over a decade as a first assistant director where she worked with James Franco on The Sound and the Fury and Black Dog Red Dog starring Whoopi Goldberg, Olivia Wilde and Chloe Sevigny. Jen is the former Executive Director of the Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival. Contact: jengerber@lowkeyarts.org
BOBBY MISSILE - Artistic Director
Bobby Missile grew up in the South and has been organizing live events since the year 2000. He's toured the world in his many bands including his most recent musical project Ghost Bones. In January of 2006, Bobby moved to Hot Springs to open a DIY music venue called The Exchange. In September of 2013 he was hired by the Mercury Prize winning band Alt-J as their touring stage manager/guitar tech. He became the Artistic Director of Low Key Arts in 2016. If you have a question about the history of Hot Springs, Bobby's the guy to ask. Contact: missile@lowkeyarts.org
ZAC SMITH - KUHS 102.5 FM Director
Contact: zac@kuhsradio.org
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
CHERYL ROORDA - President
Cheryl Roorda has been a fan of Low Key Arts since before its conception. If she wasn’t at a Low Key event, she was probably watching all the kids. She is known locally as an accordion player for the “Itinerant Locals”, and in 2017 opened SQZBX pizza joint and brewery with her husband Zac. Zac is the station manager for KUHS, and Cheryl does her best to make sure the details are attended to. She also hosts a radio show on KUHS, “Your Permanent Record”, every Thursday afternoon from 3-5. She is not a native of Hot Springs, but she got here as soon as she could.
ROB COX - Vice President
Rob Cox is a recent addition to Hot Springs. In a past life, he was a videographer/production manager in the corporate and broadcasting world for over 25 years. After purchasing and remodeling The Happy Hollow, Rob left the television world and moved his family to Hot Springs in July of 2017. He is a lifelong music fan/collector and hopes to help forward the vision of Low Key Arts.
ANNIE GERBER - Secretary
Annie Gerber is a native Arkansan who has a Bachelor of Fine Arts in music from Ouachita Baptist University but later switched her main focus to film and photography. Annie spent several years working as a Teaching Assistant at the prestigious photography program at the School of Cinematic and Performing Arts in both New York and Los Angeles. For the past 4 years she has maintained her position as the Director of Operations for the Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival.
GIOVANNA SPLAWN - Director
Gio is a longtime Hot Springs native. Growing up in a musical and artistic family assured that she would be drawn to the arts in some form. Her parents were also very active in community service and instilled that into their children. She moved to Colorado in 2006 where she started her career in the dog grooming trade through Petco Corporation. She became a skilled professional, earning her Dog Grooming Certification. She completed courses in Grooming Safety, Canine Behavior, Pet First Aide, and became one of the only Certified Cat Groomers in the area. It was there that she married her husband Jeffery and welcomed their daughter, Ila, to the world. After returning to Hot Springs, she decided to open her own full-service grooming salon, Gio’s Paw Spa, specializing in the safety, comfort, and well-being of dogs and cats. She also became an active artist with the Little Rock and Hot Springs farmer markets. She enjoys pursuing her artistic hobbies and now teaches classes in tie-dye, paint pour, and water marbling. She is excited to continue to be active in the art community here in Hot Springs and to assist in helping all artists here thrive in an open, welcoming, and encouraging environment.
ASHLEY MISSILE - Director
Ashley was born and raised in Hot Springs National Park, Arkansas. She’s the Marketing and Communications Specialist for Visit Hot Springs. Ashley grew up going to Low Key Arts events and has been a proud supporter and Low Key Arts volunteer for over a decade. During her free time she enjoys creating music as the front woman of Ghost Bones and spending time outdoors with her dog Pecan.
BRENT CARROLL - Treasurer
Hailing from Poteau, Oklahoma, Brent moved to Hot Springs eight years ago to become a librarian at the Garland County Library. Since 2016, he and Erin Baber can be heard on Thursday mornings on ‘Checked Out’ - a library radio show hosted by KUHS that covers the goings on of the library, Low Key Arts, the town, and more. You can usually find him at events around town (whether library or LKA) or reading on his front porch.
MARYAN CALDWELL - Director
KARINA PRICE - Director
Karina Jo Price is an artist, poet, playwright, actress, songwriter, and more who loves seeing the creativity in Hot Springs thrive. Since graduating from UCA in 2017, she has traveled with her art across the country, owned a brick and mortar gallery, acted in a film that screened at Mann's Chinese Theater, and her artwork currently spans five continents. Community-wise, she loves being in the KUHS radio booth for her "Toxic Latte" show on Mondays from 8-10 AM. Karina enjoys finding a way to participate in Low Key Arts events in any way possible and loves the music, film, and creativity we bring to and from the community. She looks forward to serving on the board of Low Key Arts and the experiences yet to unfold.