CALA’s Board Members

  • Jessie Arista (she/her), Co-chair

    What's your specialization or current job position?

    Antiquities Conservator, Getty Villa Museum

    What is your favorite place/museum/restaurant in LA?

    The Huntington and Quality Seafood at the Redondo Beach Pier

    Any hobbies or things you like to do in your free time?

    Play tennis!

  • Ellen Moody (she/her), Co-Chair

    What's your specialization or current job position?

    Associate Project Specialist for GCI working on the African American Historic Places, Los Angeles project

    What is your favorite place/museum/restaurant in LA?

    The Museum of Neon Art in Glendale, which has great programming featuring historic LA signs and contemporary light-based art, plus dangerously addictive classes that teach you how to bend glass over fire

    Any hobbies or things you like to do in your free time?

    Cooking and beaching

  • Christina O’Connell (she/her), Communications

    The Huntington

  • Elyse Driscoll (she/her), Secretary

    What's your specialization or current job position?

    Associate Conservator, Getty Research Institute

    What is your favorite place/museum/restaurant in LA?

    Leo Carrillo Beach, Eames House

    Any hobbies or things you like to do in your free time?

    Printmaking, gardening, and spending time with my pup

  • Carolina Benitez (she/her), Social Media

    Pre-Program

    What's your specialization or current job position?

    I am a pre-program conservation technician. I have previously worked with paper, wall paintings, and objects. There's a unique challenge to each specialty, it's hard to choose which one I love the most!

    What is your favorite place/museum/restaurant in LA?

    My favorite shabu-shabu place, Shabuya

    Any hobbies or things you like to do in your free time?

    Ceramics, crochet, painting, thrifting, hanging out with my cat & dog!

  • Abby Duckor (she/her), Seasonal Events Coordinator

    Fine Arts Conservation

    What's your specialization or current job position?

    Associate Objects Conservator, Fine Arts Conservation, LLC.

    What is your favorite place/museum/restaurant in LA?

    Huntington Gardens/ Mizlala

    Any hobbies or things you like to do in your free time?

     Surfing, hiking and making ceramics

  • Patrice Lejeune (he/him), Website

    LA Conservators

    What's your specialization or current job position?

    I am a furniture and object conservator in private practice. I specialize in pre-industrial and handmade furniture, and especially in veneered and marquetry surfaces and giltwood objects.

    What is your favorite place/museum/restaurant in LA?

    Norton Simon Museum, Tire Shop Taqueria.

    Any hobbies or things you like to do in your free time?

    Drawing, rock climbing, backpacking.  

  • Rita Cofield (she/her), Advisory Member

    Getty Conservation Institute

    What's your specialization or current job position?

    Associate Project Specialist for GCI working on the African American Historic Places, Los Angeles project

    What is your favorite place/museum/restaurant in LA?

    Watts Coffee House

    Any hobbies or things you like to do in your free time? 

    Hike, garden, rock climb

  • Ellen Pearlstein (she/her), Advisory Member

    UCLA/Getty Program in the Conservation of Cultural Heritage

    What's your specialization or current job position?

    Conservation professor at UCLA/Getty

    What is your favorite place/museum/restaurant in LA?

    Autry Museum/ La Puglia Restaurant

     Any hobbies or things you like to do in your free time?

     movies, cooking, baking, reading