KATHY ADAMS
When she makes art, she calls upon the powers of the Universe to guide her. Evoking the Earth, the Wind, the Fire and Water, she is able to create and bring to life the Spirit of Our Mother Earth in what ever form she decides to dwell in.
SARAH BETH AYERS
Residing in Springfield, Illinois Sarah Beth Ayers earned a Bachelor's Degree with honors from the University of Illinois Springfield in 2011. Sarah is the recipient of numerous awards including the Springfield High School Gold Key Award, the College of Santa Fe Student Show Award, and various other juried exhibition designations. Having exhibited work in New Mexico, New York, and Illinois, Sarah thematically represents organic and figurative subject matter by way of paint, print and pencil.
MARY BROOKS
Mary Brooks graduated from Western Illinois University with a degree in Art Education. This past year, she taught Kindergarten through Fourth grade. Her goal in teaching at the SAA is to create an exciting and stimulating environment, where we can learn about the wonderful world of art.
JANICE CHAN
Janice H. Chan is an architect, designer, and artist. As an architecture graduate of Cal Poy in San Luis Obispo, Chan has always enjoyed art classes in a variety of media. She is active with arts in the community, participating in city-wide art exhibits and donating artwork and cards at fundraising events. She is a member of the Sangamon Watercolor Society (SWS), Illinois Prairie Pastel Society (IPPS) and Third Thursday. Recently she has won several SWS People’s Choice awards for her watercolors and is the designer of the 2011 city ornament, on behalf of the IPPS and Lincoln Memorial Garden, benefitting Saint Joseph’s Home. Her upcoming solo exhibit, “Chan’s Shengxiao” will be at the Vachel Lindsay Home on August 20th 2011. This and other works may be seen at Facebook.com/janicehchan.
SARAH CHATHAM
http://newbeginningsphoto.blogspot.com
http://nbpstudio.com
TISH COOK
Author Laetitia “Tish” Cook was born and raised in Springfield, Illinois where she attended public schools and graduated from Springfield High School in 1967. Immediately after graduation, Tish began a career with Illinois Bell that spanned 32 years. For the last 20 years of her employment, she was an instructor, and wrote much of her own technical training material. After retiring in 1998 she began a genealogy project in search of her ancestral roots. It was then that she decided to put her writing skills to work and wrote her first novel, When You Speak My Name. Unsuccessful in getting her work published via traditional methods, she chose self-publishing as a way to tell her story.
WILLIAM CROOK, JR.
From an early interest in R. Crumb and the underground comix movement, Bill Crook has gone on to be a skilled recorder of the landscapes and architecture of Central Illinois with his meticulous style of pen and ink crosshatching. Crook is currently an adjunct instructor of art at both MacMurray College in Jacksonville, and Lincoln College in Lincoln, Illinois. In 1990 he started Prairie Press in his basement producing fine art prints and note cards, and in addition to other subjects he has completed over twenty-five prints of the State Capitol Building.
DONNA FORD - DORTCH
She studied the elements of Expressive Art, under the teachings of the well-known James Murray at Lincolnland, where she received her Applied Science degree in ‘81. She furthered her education in Fashion Design at the Fashion Institute of Design an Merchandising of San Francisco. Currently, she is the owner of The Majestic in Springfield, IL.
Sr. MARY FRAN GORMAN
She began “playing” with clay over twenty years ago. The feel and pliability of clay began a voyage of discovery that has never stopped. Both throwing a pot on the wheel and exploring the qualities of clay in hand building offer endless possibilities used alone or combined.
JOYCE FURBECK-HARRIS
RHIANNON GURLEY
Rhiannon Gurley is the founder of RhiannonsArbor.com. She is community and creativity consultant focusing on Green communications, creating communities within organizations, and coaching those to pursue their dreams and talents further. Holds a M.S. in Management of Organizational Behavior from Benedictine University and B.A. in Visual Communications from Northern Illinois University. Rhiannon has received numerous nationwide art awards including having art displayed at the Nashville Frist Museum, Illinois State Fair and Vanderbilt University Medical Center. Guiding kids to experiment and empower themselves as creatives is her talent; served an Art Director for Springfield's Boys and Girls Club and Jacksonville's 4-H Summer Camp.
CATHY HAWKINSON
After recently retiring from teaching, Cathy Hawkinson has been devoting her time to ceramic and other artistic endeavors. She continues her ceramic training at Manatee Art Center in Bradenton, FL, as well as studying at Illinois State University, Blackburn College, and under the tutelage of Elkhart, Girard, and Tom Turner. Her work has been exhibited at the University Club of Chicago, the Manatee Art Center, 6 solo shows in FL, and several art fairs in IL. Her wheel throwing and hand built art pieces are primarily functional in design with a retro style, currently expanding into Raku finishes. Cathy loves the Raku process and describes it like the piece has been baptized with fire and water.
TERRY JONES
JEAN KIRCHNER
For the last 36 years, Jean Kirchner has been a talented instructor for the SAA and a member since 1962. During that time, she has served on various committees and taught classes from all media from painting and drawing to jewelry. Jean has been a teacher for grade schools, high schools and Springfield College (currently known as Benedictine Springfield College). She received her B.F.A. from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and went to SIU Carbondale for her graduate studies. You can find her work in private and public collections.
ASHLEY MOORE
Ashley Moore is an Adjunct Professor of Art at Lincoln Land Community College this fall, teaching Art Appreciation. She received her Masters of Art from EIU in May 2011, with an emphasis in oil painting. She has been involved with the SAA for years through classes and volunteering. This will be the first SAA class that she is offering.
WILLIAM NORRIS, JR.
He is an Online Graphic Specialist/ Web Technician for State Journal-Register and life-long fan of comics. In is spare time, he teaches young children the benefits and techniques of martial arts.
SHERI RAMSEY
MEGHAN REESE
Meghan Tippy Reese has been a Metals and Jewelry Instructor at the SAA since 2001. She graduated with honors as Valedictorian of the College of Liberal Arts at SIU-Carbondale, 2000. Currently, she is a practicing studio artist in jewelry (find ‘Reese Art Studios’ on Facebook), a member of “Studio on 6th” Co-op; a mom to six-month-old Breanna, and wife to Blake. Meghan uses traditional methods of silversmithing—torches, hammers, saws and forming tools—with an emphasis on fabrication.
ROBERT RITZ
http://facebook.com/bob.ritz
SUE SCAIFE
Sue Scaife first became interested in soft pastels and particularly pastel landscapes in 1992. Although basically self-taught, she has studied with many nationally recognized pastel artists including Bob Rohm, Elizabeth Mowry, Albert Handell and Richard McKinley. Through study in and outside the studio, Sue continues to develop her own technique and style. She is a member of the Illinois Prairie Pastel Society, Gateway Pastel Society, Illinois Artisans Program, Prairie Art Alliance and the Springfield Art Association, where she has facilitated an open studio class for nearly 15 years.
ERIN SVENDSEN
In June, the SAA welcomed Erin Svendsen as the new Education Coordinator. She most recently was employed as a set painter for the St. Louis Muny, as well as, a gallery assistant for Bruno David Gallery, and an art teacher for the South Broadway Art Project. Erin received her B.F.A in Painting from the University of Illinois Urbana–Champaign, 2008.
SHELLEY WILCOXSON
I started weaving in November of 1984 when I inherited my "Grandmothers Loom". I now am up to 5 looms. I weave Rag Rugs, placemats and mug rugs. The name of my business is "Grandma's Loom". I feel like I am keeping the family tradition alive doing the same thing that my Grandmother had done since the late 40's, using recycled fabrics to make beautiful and useful things for the home.
POPPY VINCENT
Poppy Vincent has been making fine gold and silver jewelry since 1974. She first started teaching lost wax casting and fabrication at the SAA in 1988. Since then she has continued to learn and teach various metal-smithing techniques. Poppy is currently fascinated with the age old art of enameling. This is a way to incorporate her years of painting with her metal-smithing skills and create beautiful pieces of art. Poppy will be attending the Enamelist Society Biennial Conference at Arrowmont the week before her Enameling class starts and sitting under the teaching of famed enamelist Ricky Frank. She is sure to come back inspired and eager to try new techniques.