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Lawrence Arts Center
940 New Hampshire St.
Lawrence, KS 66044
785-843-2787

Business Office Hours
Monday-Saturday 9am-5pm

Faculty

Featured Faculty

Katie Burt
Katie Burt is a graduate student in art education at the University of Kansas. In 2004 she received a BFA in Painting, also from KU. She has shown her work in Lawrence and the Kansas City area. Most recently she was involved in a two person show called "Farm and Function" at the Pi Art Gallery. Her work can be seen year round at the Pi in the upstairs gallery. Katie has received many awards including the Hollander Award and Nelson Scholarship from KU. She also received a Merit Award for a juried exhibition at the Bergen Sandzen Memorial Gallery in Lindsborg KS. Katie has taught many "Art Start" and drawing & painting classes at the Lawrence Arts Center. Katie is especially looking forward to having fun teaching art this summer!
Clark Walter
Clark Walter is a native Kansan from Norton, KS. He is currently finishing his BA in Visual Art Education at KU with an emphasis in Painting and a minor in Art History. Since moving the Lawrence, he has developed a deep appreciation for the diversity of people and cultures that Lawrence offers. He has been active in Big Brothers / Big Sisters program, football coaching, substitute teaching, a tutoring and has been a bible school camp counselor. He is a member of National Art Education Association, the Kansas Art Education Association, and was a workshop presenter and KAEA conference in 2004. Clark is loves teaching art because students learn to flex their minds and gain new perspectives. Fun Fact: Clark loves Thai food, and is excited for summer to start!
Whitney Jacobs
Whitney Jacobs is originally from Kansas City, MO. She is a recent graduate of the University of Kansas, receiving her Bachelors in Art Education. Her areas of focus are: textiles, sculpture, ceramics, photography and painting & drawing. She also has received her associates degree in Libral Arts form Johnson County Community College. She is certified to teach K- 12 art education and is a member of the Kansas Art Education Association. She is also a member of the Ladies of Lawrence Artists (L.O.L.A.), and the Ministry of Sculpture. Whiteny co-organized an exhibit of art work form the children's program at Ben & Jerry's this past March.. She has taught in many areas and classes at the Art Center, including working collaboratively with the Dance & Drama Programs in the Arts Center's after school integrated arts program "ArtSmart". Whitney also volunteers at the KU Medical Center Pediatric Unit creating art with patients. Last summer, Whitney backpacked around Europe, to finally see for herself all the things she had studied in Art History! Fun Fact: when Whitney isn't teaching or creating her own art, you might see her trying to master newly found interest in dirt bike riding....

Ceramics

Ben Ahlvers
Ben teaches Intro to Ceramics, Tilemaking and Dinnerware at the Lawrence Arts Center. He has a BFA from Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville and an MFA from Ohio University. His work is exhibited as numerous galleries and museums in the U.S., London, Spain and China. Ben says "I use clay because of its ability to show evidence of the makers hand and mimic other materials. The work I make is primarily figurative. I am essentially asking questions of myself and I believe the work reflects this process."
Email: bahlvers@excite.com
Deena Amont
Deena Amont is a high school art teacher at Lawrence High School , where she teaches ceramics, jewelry, and digital imaging. She received her certification in Visual Art Education from the University of Kansas with a concentration in Ceramics. She also has a Bachelor of Science degree in Plant Science from Rutgers University . She is certified to teach grades K-12, and has taught many classes at the Lawrence Arts Center for both children and adults. When she’s not making art or teaching, she enjoys gardening and keeping bees.
Larry Brow
Larry Brow earned an MFA from the University of Iowa in 1989 and has operated Please Touch Pottery ever since. His thrown pots reside in collections as far away as Australia, Canada, and Norway. His handbuilt clay armchairs can be found throughout the United States and at Diane's Artisan Gallery here in Lawrence. He taught Advanced Ceramics at the Arts Center from 1992-96 and looks forward to helping students make "really good pots."
Hollie Rice
Hollie Rice teaches a variety of classes at the Arts Center including Family Pottery, Intro to Ceramics, children's classes, Pottery, Metalsmithing, and Intermediate Ceramics. She has a BFA in Ceramics and Art History from the University of Kansas, and is currently completing her Masters in Visual Arts Education. Her work can be seen at the Olive Gallery in Lawrence, and in numerous other exhibitions in and around Lawrence and Kansas City. Hollie employs a variety of materials in her work; she often uses clay alone, but is not afraid to use metal, wood, glass, or anything else that can help to communicate a particular idea successfully. She prefers to work in clay because of its flexible nature and endless array of possibilities. Her current body of work is a collection of low and high-fired ceramic birthday cakes. Her cakes reflect her playful sense of humor, as does most of her sculptural work.
Email: hrice@ku.edu

Children's Classes

Ann Dean
Ann received a Bachelor of Arts in English at the University of Kansas, and went on to pursue a graduate certificate from the New York Institute of Photography. She has studied under several different photographers in the Lawrence area, and is currently teaching photography at the Lawrence Arts Center and working as a freelance photographer.
Whitney Jacobs
Whitney Jacobs is originally from Kansas City, MO. She is a recent graduate of the University of Kansas, receiving her Bachelors in Art Education. Her areas of focus are: textiles, sculpture, ceramics, photography and painting & drawing. She also has received her associates degree in Libral Arts form Johnson County Community College. She is certified to teach K- 12 art education and is a member of the Kansas Art Education Association. She is also a member of the Ladies of Lawrence Artists (L.O.L.A.), and the Ministry of Sculpture. Whiteny co-organized an exhibit of art work form the children's program at Ben & Jerry's this past March.. She has taught in many areas and classes at the Art Center, including working collaboratively with the Dance & Drama Programs in the Arts Center's after school integrated arts program "ArtSmart". Whitney also volunteers at the KU Medical Center Pediatric Unit creating art with patients. Last summer, Whitney backpacked around Europe, to finally see for herself all the things she had studied in Art History! Fun Fact: when Whitney isn't teaching or creating her own art, you might see her trying to master newly found interest in dirt bike riding....
Kirstin Wiegmann
Kirstin is an undergraduate of Ceramics at the University of Kansas. Kirstin also works as an artist's assistant at Van Go Mobile Arts. She has worked on various community art projects and shows. "Good art is not what it looks like, but what it does to us." - Roy Adzak

Creative Writing


Laurie Martin-Frydman
Sarah Kanning
Sarah Kanning's poetry and prose has appeared in FIELD, 5 AM, the American Poetry Review, and other publications. She earned her MFA in creative writing from Bennington College, and began teaching at the Lawrence Arts Center in 2003.
Sarah Smarsh, writing instructor
Sarah Smarsh holds an MFA in nonfiction writing from Columbia University. While in New York, she taught creative writing and studied under memoirists Frank McCourt and Honor Moore. Sarah has written for The Pitch, WNBC News-New York, The Paducah Sun and Lawrence.com. She is completing a biography-memoir-thingy of the grandmother who raised her on a farm in southern Kansas.

Dance
2007-2008 LAC Dance teachers

Candi Baker
( Dance Program Director) MA in Dance, Mills College. Over 40 years of teaching, performing, choreographing. Founder and Artistic Director of Prairie Wind Dancers (1987-2004) and originated the Pistachio, Popcorn, Pretzel and Peanut Cos. Recipient of a 1998 Lawrence Phoenix Award. LAC studio named for her in recognition for her contributions to dance in Lawrence& region.
Blue Barrand and Christie Curtis
(Ballroom, Latin) Delightful father/ daughter team. Numerous years of competition & awards. Long time Lawrence residents.
Deborah Bettinger
( Ballet Program Coordinator, Ballet Instructor) Extensive classical training, teaching experience and professional performance/choreography experience. Former Director of the Lawrence School of Ballet. Former member of PWD and Kaw Valley Dance Co. Artistic Director of Lawrence Ballet Ensemble, Youth Ballet Company, A Kansas Nutcracker and Snow Queen.
Whitney Boomer
(Jazz, Ballet) BS in Dance from K-State University where she performed with the University’s Repertory Company. She started her dance study at Washington Dance Studio in Manhattan, KS and taught ballet and jazz for the studio from 1998-2004. 4th season with 940 dance company.
Megan Corcoran
(Creative Dance, Pilates) Holds a masters degree in Dance Therapy from Antioch University in New Hampshire. Has taught in a variety of different settings including working with special need populations
Cynthia Crews
(Ballet, Character, Variations) Holds a BFA in Dance Pedagogy from the University of Oklahoma. Performed as a soloist and principal with the Tulsa Ballet Theatre, and also with Tampa Ballet, Tulsa Opera and numerous other companies and shows. Studied at Harkness Ballet and American Ballet Theatre in NYC. Over thirty years of teaching experience.
Hannah Cromwell
(Iyengar Yoga) Cromwell has been studying Iyengar yoga for over 20 years. As a certified instructor, she has attended numerous training and teaching workshops throughout the country including India where she studied with the Iyengar family.
Shannon Edwards
(Modern, Ballet) Recent graduate from Grinnell College in Iowa. Currently in her first year as an apprentice dancer with the 940 dance company.
Molly Gordon
(Jazz, Diverse Dance) Trained in L.A. and danced professionally with Celebrity Cruise Line, Six Flags and Disneyland. She frequently returned to L.A. for projects. Molly teaches in both Topeka and Lawrence.
Janice Griffin
(Child Parent Movement & Music) Holds a Bachelor of Music Education from KU. In addition to teaching at the arts center, Janice also teaches piano, violin and viola lessons. She also plays with a local musical group as well as her church with her daughter.
Leandra Monreal
(Tap) Currently studying biology and dance at KU. Hails from Topeka where she studied all dance forms and has 13 years of tap training with extensive experience with the youth.
Betsy McCafferty
(Prep Ballet) Dancing for over 15 years, with extensive study in ballet. Created roles for Lawrence Ballet Ensemble & was guest dancer with PWD.
Susan Reiger
( 940 DC Artistic Director) Rieger holds a Bachelors of Art in Dance from the University of Iowa and holds a Master of Social Welfare from the University of Kansas Directed aha! dance theatre for 14 years. Awarded Kennedy Center Award for Choreography in 2004.Rieger has toured throughout the Midwest, presenting residences, workshops and performances to a variety of audiences.
LaShane Starr
(Mexican Folkloric) LaShane began dancing at St.John’s Fiesta in 3rd grade. At age 16 she began training in Kansas City. For over 13 years she danced with “Fiesta Mexicana” in Kansas City, choreographing and teaching.
Rachel Sanner
(Ballet) Dancing since she was 3 at the Lawrence Arts Center, currently pursuing a degree from the University of Kansas. KU dance scholarship winner and has trained with various guest artists at the University.
Todd Wyant
(Ashtanga Yoga) Todd has extensive training in the various disciplines of Yoga. He is a gifted teacher and has been teaching for many years.

Drama

Jeanne Averill
Jeanne Averill has been teaching and directing for over 25 years. Jeanne was the 2000 recipient of the American Alliance for Theatre in Education John C. Barner Teacher of the Year Award. Nationally recognized as the innovative creator of the outstanding Experimental and Issue Theatre Program at Lawrence High School, Jeanne's program has featured residencies of some of the top playwrights in the field of theatre for youth, including Laurie Brooks, Sandy Asher, Ric Averill and Max Bush.
In addition to her work as a teacher, Jeanne is a professional actress performing in film, commercials and on stage. Jeanne teaches Acting for the Camera, Audition Workshops, and Improvisation and Issue theatre for the Drama Program.
Ric Averill
Ric Averill has been the Artistic Director and principal playwright for the Seem-To-Be Players professional children's theatre company since he and his wife, Jeanne, founded the company in 1973.
Ric writes both plays and music, with degrees in both Music Composition and Children's Theatre from the University of Kansas. Ric has received numerous Playwrighting Fellowships and been selected for five professional play development symposiums including the Kennedy Center's New Visions/New Voices, the Indianapolis Bonderman Youth Theatre Playwrighting Symposium and the Grand Valley Shakespeare Festival of New Plays.
Ric's plays, published by Dramatic Publishing, include The Seven Voyages of Sinbad the Sailor, Bird Woman: the Story of Sacagawea, The Princess and the Pea & other short plays, Alex and the Shrink World and T-Money and Wolf (with Kevin Willmott.)
Chris Blunk
Chris Blunk is a local filmmaker who, with partner Jeremy Osbern, started Through A Glass Productions, a small production company devoted to making short and feature-length narrative films in addition to commercial work. He lives in Lawrence with his lovely wife, T.J.
E-mail: chris@throughaglass.com
website: www.throughaglass.com
Christie Dobson
Christie Dobson received her BA in Theatre from KU in 1992 and worked as a professional actor, singer and teacher in Seattle for many years before returning to Lawrence with her husband and their 2 little boys. Christie is now pursuing a Master's Degree in Theatre with training in Drama Therapy at Kansas State University.
Jennifer Glenn
Jennifer Glenn is a long-time member of the Seem-To-Be Players and teaches many of the drama classes at the Arts Center, including Lil'Bees, Soon-To-Be Players, and the Seem-To-Be Apprentices. Jennifer also teaches in the Lawrence Arts Center's Arts-Based Preschool. She has a degree in Theater from Southern Methodist University in Dallas and is also an accomplished costumer.
Danny Rogovein

Drawing

Jeff Ridgway
Jeff Ridgway teaches Anatomy and Life Drawing, Portraiture and Oil Painting. He has a B.A. in Drawing from Truman State University and a B.F.A. and M.F.A. in Painting from KU. Jeff's work has been exhibited in Kansas City, Wichita, Denver, Las Vegas, Lawrence and Houston. His work is in collections throughout the United States, in London, Paris and Dusseldorf.
Jeff says, "I am a humanist. I believe in the value of that which binds us together as human beings, and I try to emulate that in my art."
Email: jbridgway (at) sbcglobal (dot) net
Christa Dalien

Fiber Art

Constance Ehrlich
Constance Ehrlich teaches classes in the book arts. She studied bookmaking with Hedi Kyle at Anderson Ranch in Snowmass, CO. Constance has a B.F.A from Kansas State University in graphic design and a M.F.A. in painting from the University of Kansas. Constance is a full-time artist and has exhibited her work nationally. You can see her work at the Lawrence Arts Center Gallery Shop, the Strecker-Nelson Gallery, Manhattan, KS, and at her website.
Email: cjehrlich@sunflower.com
Website: www.constanceehrlich.com
Christina says, "I investigate different aspects of identity loss as well as personal loss and how personal affects or keepsakes are collected and stored. I strive to use my voice as a narrator contemplating a manuscript of remembrance and processing history."
Email: zionsun (at) ku (dot) edu

Metalsmithing

Hollie Rice

Painting

Louis Copt
Louis Copt teaches watercolor, oil and figure painting classes . Louis holds a B.A. in Art from Emporia State University and he also studied at the Art Students League in New York. His work has been exhibited at many galleries and museums across the country, including the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art in Kansas City, the Beach Museum in Manhattan and the Spencer Museum in Lawrence. To see Louis' most recent paintings and get information on current and upcoming exhibits, please visit his web page.
Email: lcopt@direcway.com
Website: www.louiscopt.com
Paul Hotvedt
Paul Hotvedt teaches oil painting workshops for the Arts Center. He has a B.F.A. from the Tyler School of Art and an M.F.A. from the Maryland Institute College of Art. His paintings have been exhibited in Washington, D.C., Baltimore, Tucson and Wichita.
Web site: paulhotvedt.com
Email: blueheron@sbcglobal.net
Joan Parker
Joan teaches Painting the Natural Landscape classes at the Lawrence Arts Center. She earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts with honors from the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, CA. She has been a freelance artist in the motion picture industry and as an original greeting card artist at Hallmark Cards. Her work has been exhibited at the Reagan Presidential Library and Museum in California; Gallery International, MD; Galleries in KS, MO, WY, IL CO, CT and CA. She has participated in twenty five group exhibitions, national juried shows and several one woman shows. Parker has been instrumental in establishing Plein Air painting events in both Kansas and Missouri. She has a passion for the immediacy of painting outdoors and enjoys sharing her love with others.
Email: jbourgeois@kc.rr.com
Jeff Ridgway
Jeff Ridgway teaches Anatomy and Life Drawing, Portraiture and Oil Painting. He has a B.A. in Drawing from Truman State University and a B.F.A. and M.F.A. in Painting from KU. Jeff's work has been exhibited in Kansas City, Wichita, Denver, Las Vegas, Lawrence and Houston. His work is in collections throughout the United States, in London, Paris and Dusseldorf.
Jeff says, "I am a humanist. I believe in the value of that which binds us together as human beings, and I try to emulate that in my art."
Email: jbridgway@sbcglobal.net

Photography

Ann Dean

Preschool

Miriam Cain
Miriam Cain began working at the Lawrence Arts Center Preschool as a parent volunteer when her children were in the preschool. Miriam has a degree in Music Education from KU, with an emphasis in both vocal and instrumental music for grades K-12. She completed additional coursework in Early Childhood Education with emphasis on the exceptional child.
Allison Haworth
Allison Haworth began working at the Lawrence Arts Center Preschool as a parent volunteer when her children were in the preschool. Allison has a degree in Elementary Education from KU and taught first grade in the Lawrence Public Schools for 11 years.
Megan Hay
Megan Hay has a degree in Early Childhood Education and graduate hours in Early Childhood Special Education from the University of Kansas. She has experience teaching in Lawrence and Kansas City, Missouri. Three of her four children attended preschool at the Lawrence Arts Center.
Ann Johnson
Ann Johnson started teaching Integrated Arts for Preschoolers at the Arts Center in the fall of 1991. Ann received her degree in Early Childhood Education from Kansas State University. She taught in early childhood centers in Overland Park and Pittsburgh, Kansas after she finished college and was the director of a Mother's Day Out program in Overland Park before moving to Lawrence.
Heather Smith Jones
Heather joined the preschool staff in January 2004. She has a BFA in drawing and painting from East Carolina University in Greenville, NC and a MFA in painting from Kansas University. Heather has taught both children's and adult art classes at Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts in Gatlinburg, TN; at Kansas University; and as a private instructor in drawing and painting. Her work has been exhibited extensively and is represented in several galleries.
Leslie McCaffrey
Leslie Mccaffrey has degrees in Elementary Education and Public Health from Kansas University. She currently serves on the Board of Directors of several organizations which focus on children’s issues. Leslie’s children attended the preschool. Leslie is the art teacher in the 2007-2008 Pilot Pre-K Project in Douglas County.
Linda Reimond
Linda Reimond is the original director of the preschool program at the Arts Center and currently teaches in two classes. She taught kindergarten in Wichita and Tulsa before her daughter entered preschool. When that happened, Linda started preschool too, and she has never left. She has degrees in Elementary Education from Wichita State University and Early Childhood Education from Emporia State University. She is an adjunct instructor at Washburn University and has been part of an N.E.A. grant to train artists in early childhood arts education.

Printmaking

Christa Dalien
Tim O'Brien
Tim O'Brien has been printing by hand with moveabletype since 1984. He likes to talk about the "threedimensionality" of letterpress and loves the way a letterpress piece can catch light to make printed words into a piece of sculpture. The process of letterpress printing can be soothing; there is no way to hurry it. "Tactile design" is another phrase that comes up in the letterpress classes: this is nothing like the computer! Tim grows vegetables for his family, makes pesto for sale, and is passionate about the culture of agriculture.

Stained Glass and Mosaics

Shanna Wagner

Technical Theatre

Lee Saylor
Lee Saylor is the Lawrence Arts Center Technical as well as Resident Lighting Designer for 940 Dance Company, LAC Drama and Dance Programs, Thunderbird Theatre, and English Alternative Theatre. He is also the set designer for many of these. His lighting design credits include The Second Hand Dance Company, PBS specials and VH1. He joined the Lawrence Arts Center as Technical Director in 2001 after 16 years working as TD at The Lied Center of Kansas and The Anderson Center at Binghamton University. Lee also serves as Master Electrician for the American Heartland Theatre in Kansas City as well as Fly Master for Topeka Performing Arts Center.

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