Marianne Gerdes
Executive Director
Marianne met James Hubbell when she made a documentary for PBS in 2002 called “Eye of the Beholder.” But it was the Cedar Fire that came the year after that cemented the friendship. “We reached out to Jim to ask if we (husband Michael Gerdes, a photographer) could come and document the destruction. Jim invited us to join the family as they were first seeing the fire’s destruction. It was terrible, but at the same time so moving, because he was already talking of the experience as awe-filled.” Soon after, they became collaborators charting a path for the future of the property using the non-profit Ilan-Lael Foundation. Marianne has been Executive Director of the Ilan-Lael Foundation for 14 years, helping with transition of the private home and art studio into a public resource. She spearheaded the Ilan-Lael Center capital expansion which resulted in a new and uniquely Hubbell-designed space for events, workshops, meetings, and retreats. She also shares the Foundation’s passion for art and nature as expressed by James and Anne Hubbell, and which is made real through programs, workshops, and events that encourage people to explore their own creative inclinations. She’s continued making films, too: the latest, “Between Heaven and Earth,” is about the life and accomplishments of James Hubbell and was shown in film festivals across the U.S. and around the world. “I have the most amazing opportunity to work with one of the most creative souls on the planet,” says Marianne. “I learn from him every day, and I feel so fortunate to be able to help Jim realize some of his dreams, too.”
Laurel Costa
Operations Manager and Archivist
Laurel began working at Ilan-Lael as a mosaic tile artist for Hubbell Studios. But it wasn’t long before her many other talents were put to work by James. You might see Laurel repairing the roof of a building, or waist-high in a hole shoveling dirt, or photographing the art and nature on the property, or helping out in the studio forge or stained glass studio. Her skills are multi-dimensional. But her favorite place is in the art archive where she’s served as the Ilan-Lael Foundation Archivist since 2018. The Archive was launched via a generous grant from Deborah Szekely, her daughter Sarah Livia Brightwood, and Rancho La Puerta health and fitness spa in Tecate, Baja California, Mexico — not far from the Hubbells’ mountain home. She’s been tasked with organizing, cataloguing, and preserving the vast body of James’ work. Her efforts are vital for the long-term educational mission of the Foundation. “It is exciting for me to use my background, skills and creativity to build this archive and come up with organizational methods to preserve and catalogue James’ extraordinary creations. I had not expected to fall in love with this type of work but I am so happy to be involved in the preservation of art; it is such a critical feature of the art world. I feel especially lucky to be the archivist for Jim’s stellar body of work “. Laurel’s can-do attitude makes her a valuable team player. “Hubbell Hill is a truly special environment because you have the opportunity to learn everything having to do with art, fabrication and construction. I never thought I would learn how to use as many tools as I have, and at this point it feels like there is nothing I can’t learn, but most of all I have adopted the ‘no fear’ attitude it takes to create and build; that is what I value the most from Jim”
Rhi Burmeister
Communications Coordinator and Visiting Artist Liaison
Rhi Burmeister discovered Ilan-Lael in the Fall of 2022 by volunteering at a Camp Stevens garden event at Ilan-Lael. Little did she know that this initial act of community engagement would soon reveal a personal connection to the artistry of James Hubbell. She learned that she grew up carrying a Hubbell crafted crucifix as an alter girl at Coronado’s Sacred Heart Church. This serendipitous discovery fostered Rhi’s admiration of the foundation and she began to further support Ilan-Lael’s mission in the office space. “I’m passionate about bringing new folks into the Hubbell fold. It’s important to share with other San Diego locals what makes this art community so special”. Her contributions extend beyond managing their social media presence to actively participating in the planning and execution of diverse programs, including historic Ilan-Lael tours and engaging Corporate Retreats, all aimed at fostering a deeper appreciation for art, nature, and community.
Mati Moon
Arts Program Coordinator
Mati Moon, Ilan-Lael’s Arts Program Coordinator, initially began working here as Gardener where she applied her artistic touch to the kitchen and cut-flower gardens, and orchards, first planted by Anne Hubbell. Mati was raised by creative parents who encouraged her to express herself by using her hands. “I do ceramics and photography, and I paint. I’ve been working with India ink which is an interesting challenge. I find it a meditative practice to find something natural and sit with it. It’s a favorite ‘quiet time’ and I’m always surprised with what comes out.” Her interest in James Hubbell goes back to 2002 when she moved from Oregon to Julian, soon landing on staff at Camp Stevens, the Episcopal Church Camp which has several Hubbell art installations on its campus. “I visited Ilan-Lael before the Cedar Fire with a group from Camp Stevens. Jim gave us a tour and was talking about life and beauty and it immediately resonated with me.” Her place at Camp Stevens put her in a key spot to help the Hubbells with their evacuation during the Cedar Fire, and then to help break ground on a new garden one year later. Mati has helped the Foundation with Programs such as Watershed Explorers and is currently spearheading our impactful arts education program, The Harmony Project—Helping Arts Reach Marginalized or Neighboring Youth.
Ben Gadbois
Studio Foreman and Blacksmith
Ben Gadbois joined the Ilan-Lael team in 2019 when he helped build our caretaker cottage and a Visitors’ Bathroom nearby. His creative spirit and passion for craftsmanship make him an integral part of the Ilan-Lael family. As a blacksmith apprentice, Ben is able to unleash his creative side. His skills go beyond the forge; he is also a master of maintenance, carefully tending to our buildings and intricate mosaic repairs.
Cindy Mushet-Shriver
Stained Glass Studio Artist
Growing up in Julian and throughout her adult life, Cindy Mushet-Shriver has worked as James Hubbell’s and the Studio’s stained glass artist for nearly 40 years, and she continues to spearhead our glass projects today. Her other talents and passions make for a renaissance life: she loves dancing, bats, animal rescue, exotic and endangered birds, and horse racing.
Dan Thoner
Studio Woodworker
Dan Thoner has always had an eye for design. “I was first inspired by Jim’s art in 1979 when I went to the Triton restaurant on College Avenue. I was working as a carpenter because my father told me I could never make a living as an artist.” With all due respect, Dad was wrong.
Dan Thoner is an artist, craftsman, and graphic artist whose skills are now being employed for fine-woodworking projects, as well as for the care and maintenance of the Ilan-Lael’s buildings. “The job here is a lot of woodwork maintenance: windows and doors need constant care and polishing. General maintenance and repairs can be expected on buildings that have been here 60-plus years.”
Dan first met Jim in 2007 when he moved to Julian. He brought some doors to show him, and Jim immediately asked if he would work for Hubbell Studios. Dan’s first project was the chapel at Camp Stevens. And it grew from there. Dan worked on several doors over the years. He built all the custom cabinetry and many of the doors in the Ilan-Lael Center. He also maintains his own studio in Julian where he makes custom doors for clients. Dan is in his late 60s but has no plans to slow down. “I’m not going to retire ever. I will always be making things, working with wood and glass. Working at Ilan-Lael is my way of giving back by helping preserve the creative voice that spoke to me years ago when I first encountered Jim’s work. It opened up a new world for me and rekindled my desire to follow my own creative path.””
Dylan Hubbell
Ilan-Lael Caretaker
Dylan Hubbell, son of Drew Hubbell and grandson of James and Anne Hubbell, has grown up admiring his grandfather’s work. He graduated from U.C. Santa Cruz in 2023 with an environmental economics degree. He officially joined the llan-Lael team in February, 2024, helping with the maintenance of the property, from roof repairs to building French drains. With a love for art, he is grateful to learn and pick the brains of the master artists here at llan-Lael. Dylan also works part time with his father, Drew, at Hubbell and Hubbell Architects in San Diego.
Connor Hubbell
Ilan-Lael Caretaker
Connor Hubbell, son of Drew Hubbell and grandson of James and Anne Hubbell, started work here in April of 2024. He is passionate about making the world a better place. He hopes he can plan his part in sharing the inspiring life, philosophy, and art of the Hubbell family, as well as assisting Ilan-Lael in creating positive experiences in the world.
He is oft-guided by his grandfather’s sayings, including: “From this day, the center of my life, I seek not knowledge, but worship and expression of, the flower, which with the help of the gods I will try to plant again in the earth.”
Eric Indseth
Ilan-Lael Caretaker
Eric grew up with a love of Hubbell art and philosophy through his dad Bob Indseth, a long time admirer of Hubbell who every few years liked to go on the Father’s Day tours of Ilan Lael. On one such tour in 2022 Eric signed up to volunteer, warning the staff at the time “if you just let me come up whenever you need help you’ll never get rid of me.” He started in the garden and then became a docent, where he loves to gather and share all the wonderful stories of this place. Before becoming a staff member in 2025 he had dabbled in several fields over the years including investment, property management and event coordination but has found far more joy caring for trees, growing food, cooking for friends and community and learning to restore and create art. “A day spent working up here, even if its digging a ditch, is consistently both more relaxing and more inspirational then most ‘days off’ I’ve ever had.”
Top photo: flowing rooflines of the Big Studio and Kiva Gallery, by Laurel Costa
