Pioneers for The Holland Center’s Mission

Ron and Nicolette Bonnstetter have been volunteering at The Holland Center for many years, and their work has been fundamental to carving out our niche in community arts & education. They were instrumental in starting the Holland Gallery of Fine Art as well as the Sage Art Market. Ron has done educational talks about coffee etching, spelunking, brain science, and Native style flute music. Nicolette’s monthly art talk Art, Coffee, and Conversation now has a world-wide reach through Zoom and will be back to in-person starting in September. Both have also had their artwork exhibited in the Holland Gallery of Fine Art for seven years with sales that have benefited the community.

Q&A with Ron & Nicolette

Where are you originally from and how long have you been in AZ? Ron and I are from small towns in central Iowa, and we have lived in Arizona for eleven years. We’re so happy we picked areas with the small-town experience, it’s what we know and love. Growing up in a small-town setting, we learned that we need to step up and help each other in order to make a difference. Cave Creek and Carefree have that same ethic. Helping at Holland is our way of giving back.

Tell us about your family. We have one fantastic child Brieanna who lives in the valley and she has an amazing eye as a designer. Ron thinks the “eye” came from him! Ha! We’re glad she is near.

Where might we see you on a day off? I’m in my studio most off days; art is just in my DNA. On Ron’s days off, he will be working on an old car he’s been restoring for WAY too long, but it’s coming around!

Interests/hobbies: Ron is a master of hobbies. He’s a two-line kite flyer, old curler, makes didgeridoos, and has other hobbies that fill our home! We both love to read. We get several of our best reads from Chapter Two Bookstore—a great store in the back of Desert Foothills Library.

My most interesting job was: Teaching Art Methods and Art History courses. I also worked with young women addicted to drugs. The power of their stories and the art they created was a mountain of hope to see.

Favorite quote: “Be curious not judgmental”. –Ted Lasso