Our Mission
Preserve. Educate. Share.
The CVC Legacy Project serves to preserve the photojournalistic legacy of Charlie Cole, making his works accessible for research and presentation; telling stories through exhibitions, and publications of images, and perpetuating his dedication to truth seeking and truth telling. It promotes the continuation of Charlie’s vision and the continued use of his work. In addition, the project allows for the opportunity to share the legacy structure with other artists, photographers and estate managers so they too can tend to their collections.
Upon his death in 2019, the project was founded, acquiring Charlie’s analog and digital works to begin archiving of his photographic works, and ephemera where it will be accessible for research by future generations, and secure its place in history.
Susan Cole
, Founder
Susan created the CVC Legacy Project shortly after her brother Charlie Cole died unexpectedly in his home in Bali, Indonesia. Officially kicking off the project on his birthday, February 28, 2020, we didn’t know within just a few weeks the COVID-19 pandemic lock down would begin shutting down the world as we had known it.
With a BA in Art History and a BFA in Fine Art Photography, Susan went on to work in one of the first museum digital imaging depts., at Yale Art Gallery and later moving on to the Seattle Art Museum to create their first Digital Imaging Department. Through the Joan Mitchell Foundation’s partnership with Seattle’s Artist Trust, she was one of the selected candidates to be trained in their first far-reaching, and much needed Legacy Specialist Training program. These experiences and training allowed for the structuring of the CVC Legacy Project collections and legacy management.
Heidi Devereux
, Marketing & Graphics Specialist
Heidi joined the CVC team in the fall of 2020 while working with Susan Cole at Windermere Mount Baker. Susan has been an inspiration to Heidi in her dedication to local artist and charities. Together they have worked on several fundraisers, office and charity events. Heidi was heartbroken to hear about Susan's brother Charlie dying unexpectedly, and has offered her skills in Marketing and Graphic Design to support CVC Legacy Project.
Heidi brings more than 30 years of experience to provide support to local non-profit organizations. From logos to web pages, and everything in between, Heidi creates professional and effective materials and marketing. She has coordinated many corporate and charity events. According to Heidi, "I love meeting and working with great people and being the one behind the scenes making these organizations succeed," she says. "Their success is my success.”
Susan Jones
, Associate Director
Joining the CVC Legacy Project in 2020, Susan “Jonesy” Jones has been instrumental in the grass roots building of the legacy project. From content development, to word smithing, she’s always willing to try something new to make the project work. With her creative visual eye, she’s collaborated in the visual as well as the content development.
Entrepreneurial in spirit and practice, Susan has ventured into soul-inspired personal projects as well as that which speaks to her own passions in nature.
Brian Marty
, Auction Software Support
Joining the CVC Legacy Project in 2021, the opportunity to work on this interesting and important project excites Brian as he hopes to collaborate with others in writing and other ad hoc tasks as the project progresses. His connection with Susan Cole goes back to the summer of 1987 when he worked for her parents at their mountain getaway resort in Tincup, Colorado. After graduating in 1988 with a BA in Comparative Religion he moved to Japan for what was intended to be a two year teaching position that turned into ten. In addition to teaching, more recently his experiences has been in financial services and community association management.
The Shunpike Partnership
With smaller projects, taking on 501(c)(3) nonprofit status process can be daunting and possibly unnecessary. Fortunately for the CVC Legacy Project, Washington state has a a fiscal sponsor called Shunpike.
Shunpike is the 501(c)3 non-profit agency that empowers artists through equitable access to vital expertise, opportunities, and business services. Shunpike is an arts-focused nonprofit designed to partner with the legacy project to enable the 501(c)(3) to extend certain benefits of being nonprofit to the project without it having to go through filing by itself. The sponsorship is a contractual relationship between the 501(c)(3) nonprofit Shunpike organization and the CVC legacy project whose activities fall within the sponsoring organization’s mission.
Donations made to the CVC Legacy Project are made through Shunpike, and dedicated to our project. Under the Shunpike umbrella, donors and sponsors can receive full tax deductions, our project can apply for grants and fellowships, and Shunpike does the administrative office work, allowing those working and managing on the project to focus on our mission.