James Pelican
Site Director
James Pelican (he/him) is the Site Director, co-Facilities Manager, and producer of the Chautauqua Revue and other theater-related events. He has been overseeing the Facilities Department since 2001. Since 2009, he has managed the upgrading of OAEC’s facilities, including the construction of the new Guest Housing buildings, the Meeting Hall, the Upper Nursery, and the rebuild of the Barn. Major remodels have included the main office, the kitchen and dining rooms, the dormitory yurts, and the old meeting room/studio building. He and fellow staff member Jim Coleman built the North Garden Theater. He delights in bringing a sense of whimsy and beauty into the facilities work.
When not taking care of the built environment of OAEC, James lives a double life as a clown and actor. He studied clown at the Dell’Arte School of Physical Theatre, and acts and directs with local theater companies. He’s also part of a clown ensemble, Clowns On A Stick, that has worked together since 2003.
On Staff Since: 2001 Email Phone: x108
In Their Own Words
My work at OAEC:
In my role as Site Director, I work with all of the on-site department managers to assure cohesive, efficient, and fully realized stewardship of OAEC’s buildings, infrastructure, guest facilities, land, and managed landscapes. I continue to oversee the maintenance and development of all of OAEC’s buildings and infrastructure with my co-Facilities Manager, Chris Santana. I also manage the theater and the staging of the annual Chautauqua Revue.
Why my work matters:
I’m inspired by the work that OAEC does, so overseeing the management of the buildings and grounds feels good. It doesn’t hurt that the wildlands, gardens, and buildings are all beautiful.
The best advice I ever received:
Ronlin Foreman, a great teacher of clowns, encouraged his students to cultivate the following attributes of the clown: 1) clowns are invincible, 2) clowns have no memory, and 3) clowns are ferocious. I’ll let you figure out why all that matters.
