Instructor Biographies

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Instructor Biographies

Gayla Betts

Gayla is a writer and artist living and working in Bloomington-Normal. Gayla is a familiar face at MCAC as her resume not only includes teaching PMC (Precious Metal Clay) workshops but also that she served as our Executive Director in 2001. Her background in Jewelry making stems in part from silversmith training with Illinois State University’s Jewelry and Metals faculty member, Dennis French.

Holly DeGrote

Holly has recently completed her MFA in Painting at Illinois State University. She has been teaching Painting and Drawing at MCAC for over a year.

Johnny Disco

Johnny has returned to Bloomington-Normal after completing his MFA in printmaking at the University of Washington, Seattle. Previously he had achieved his BFA with Illinois State, where he also focused in printmaking. Johnny’s works have been displayed in various galleries throughout the United States and is currently included in A Progressive Proof: Illinois State University Print Alumni Exhibition in our Brandt Gallery until October 13, 2007.

Rick Harney

Rick is a Peoria native living in Bloomington-Normal since 1977. After working for a church restoration company he went on to complete his Bachelor’s of Science degree in Art at Illinois State University in 1986. He is an accomplished sculptor of wood, clay and bronze. Rick’s teaching experience includes numerous wood-carving workshops throughout the Midwest and over a decade of teaching portrait sculpture with MCAC.

Joe Hooten

Joe completed his Bachelor’s degree at Illinois State University with an emphasis in Art Education. He has been teaching beginning and advanced techniques in ceramics at MCAC for the past year. He lives and works in Bloomington-Normal.

Benjamin Gardner

Ben is a painter and writer living in Bloomington, Illinois in the South Hill neighborhood. In his spare time, he enjoys reading literature and books on narrative theory, watching old horror films, and home-brewing and cooking.

Doug Johnson

Our very own Executive Director, Doug is a Bloomington-Normal native with an MFA in Painting from Northern Illinois University and a Masters in Studio Art from Illinois State University. His experience teaching is wide ranging and diverse. He designs his coursework to provide participants the opportunity to expand their creative skill set through the introduction of materials and techniques that help to place art concepts within an historical and aesthetic context.

Denise LeCount-O'Brien

Denise earned both her Bachelors and Masters in Art Education at Illinois State University. She is currently teaching art at Tri-Valley High School, where she also serves as Art Club Sponsor, Yearbook Sponsor, and is the Scholastic Bowl coach. Denise's ability and expertise are extensive as she has worked as a professional Batik artist and community educator. She has exhibited at various art fairs, including being one of the first exhibitors at MCAC's own Sugar Creek. Her approach to teaching draws from her European travels and focuses upon historic traditions in art.

Kilee Lidwell

Kilee has her BA in Art Education from Southern Illinois University and an AA from Spoon River College where she received an art scholarship and served on the Board of Trustees. She Currently teaches art in Gibson City and was nominated for Who’s Who Among Teachers for 2004. Kilee has received several awards for her work including the Best of Show in the Fulton County Art Show for a series of ceramic pieces.

Hugh Rosen

Hugh earned his BA in studio Arts and his teaching certificate at Illinois State University. He has exhibited works at the Freight House Exchange in El Paso and at the former Pigeon Gallery in Normal. He has done extensive work in ceramics and printmaking. Hugh is currently teaching Art full-time in Effingham, Illinois. View one of Hugh's current projects here: http://www.effinghamdailynews.com/archivesearch/local_story_236235927.html

Melanie Scott-Dockery

Melanie was born in Tell City, IN, a small town on the Ohio River. She completed her bachelor’s degree at the University of Southern Indiana in Evansville, IN and moved on to Northern Illinois University in DeKalb, IL to finish a MFA in painting. Since moving to Bloomington, IL, Melanie has been teaching Art Appreciation at Lincoln College – Normal and Heartland Community College, while continuing to work in her studio exploring visually the Buddhist idea of void and form being one and the same.

Sarah Stonefoot

Sarah completed her BFA in photography at the University at Buffalo in New York and came to Illinois State University where she is completing her MFA. Her interest in photography was sparked by its ability to merge the fantastic with the real, using staged images that include or depict elements of the natural world. You can view some of Sarah's work at her website: www.ilstu.edu/~sgstone

Sally Ann Walsh

Sally received her Master of Art in Art Education from the University of Illinois, Urbana. While her studio expertise ranges from ceramics to pastels, she has particular interest in drawing and painting. Sally has taught at the John C. Campbell Folk School, North Carolina, been a part of numerous local public school art programs, and currently teaches at Richland Community College.

Chris Wille

Chris completed his MFA in metalsmithing at Illinois State University and his BA in Arts at Eastern. His interests range from the historic to the contemporary, from tradition to the avant-garde. As he states on his website “I am a metalsmith interested in extending the tradition of jewelry and body adornment by incorporating wearable technology that either affect the viewer or allow the viewer to affect their environment.” Learn more about Chris and his creative endeavors at his website http://www.chriswille.com

Anna Wollenschlager

Anna is a native of Bloomington and enjoys teaching in the community. She received her BA from Eastern Illinois University and her MFA in painting from Illinois State University Her work has been shown locally, nationally and internationally. Anna has taught drawing at Illinois State University and teaches various drawing and painting classes at the Arts Center.

	Gayla Betts Gayla is a writer and artist living and working in Bloomington-Normal. Gayla is a familiar face at MCAC as her resume not only includes teaching PMC (Precious Metal Clay) workshops but also that she served as our Executive Director in 2001. Her background in Jewelry making stems in part from silversmith training with Illinois State University’s Jewelry and Metals faculty member, Dennis French.
	Holly DeGrote Holly has recently completed her MFA in Painting at Illinois State University. She has been teaching Painting and Drawing at MCAC for over a year.
	Johnny Disco Johnny has returned to Bloomington-Normal after completing his MFA in printmaking at the University of Washington, Seattle. Previously he had achieved his BFA with Illinois State, where he also focused in printmaking. Johnny’s works have been displayed in various galleries throughout the United States and is currently included in A Progressive Proof: Illinois State University Print Alumni Exhibition in our Brandt Gallery until October 13, 2007.
	Rick Harney Rick is a Peoria native living in Bloomington-Normal since 1977. After working for a church restoration company he went on to complete his Bachelor’s of Science degree in Art at Illinois State University in 1986. He is an accomplished sculptor of wood, clay and bronze. Rick’s teaching experience includes numerous wood-carving workshops throughout the Midwest and over a decade of teaching portrait sculpture with MCAC.
	Joe Hooten Joe completed his Bachelor’s degree at Illinois State University with an emphasis in Art Education. He has been teaching beginning and advanced techniques in ceramics at MCAC for the past year. He lives and works in Bloomington-Normal.
	Benjamin Gardner Ben is a painter and writer living in Bloomington, Illinois in the South Hill neighborhood. In his spare time, he enjoys reading literature and books on narrative theory, watching old horror films, and home-brewing and cooking.
	Doug Johnson Our very own Executive Director, Doug is a Bloomington-Normal native with an MFA in Painting from Northern Illinois University and a Masters in Studio Art from Illinois State University. His experience teaching is wide ranging and diverse. He designs his coursework to provide participants the opportunity to expand their creative skill set through the introduction of materials and techniques that help to place art concepts within an historical and aesthetic context.
	Denise LeCount-O'Brien Denise earned both her Bachelors and Masters in Art Education at Illinois State University. She is currently teaching art at Tri-Valley High School, where she also serves as Art Club Sponsor, Yearbook Sponsor, and is the Scholastic Bowl coach. Denise's ability and expertise are extensive as she has worked as a professional Batik artist and community educator. She has exhibited at various art fairs, including being one of the first exhibitors at MCAC's own Sugar Creek. Her approach to teaching draws from her European travels and focuses upon historic traditions in art.
	Kilee Lidwell Kilee has her BA in Art Education from Southern Illinois University and an AA from Spoon River College where she received an art scholarship and served on the Board of Trustees. She Currently teaches art in Gibson City and was nominated for Who’s Who Among Teachers for 2004. Kilee has received several awards for her work including the Best of Show in the Fulton County Art Show for a series of ceramic pieces.
	Hugh Rosen Hugh earned his BA in studio Arts and his teaching certificate at Illinois State University. He has exhibited works at the Freight House Exchange in El Paso and at the former Pigeon Gallery in Normal. He has done extensive work in ceramics and printmaking. Hugh is currently teaching Art full-time in Effingham, Illinois. View one of Hugh's current projects here: http://www.effinghamdailynews.com/archivesearch/local_story_236235927.html
	Melanie Scott-Dockery Melanie was born in Tell City, IN, a small town on the Ohio River. She completed her bachelor’s degree at the University of Southern Indiana in Evansville, IN and moved on to Northern Illinois University in DeKalb, IL to finish a MFA in painting. Since moving to Bloomington, IL, Melanie has been teaching Art Appreciation at Lincoln College – Normal and Heartland Community College, while continuing to work in her studio exploring visually the Buddhist idea of void and form being one and the same.
	Sarah Stonefoot Sarah completed her BFA in photography at the University at Buffalo in New York and came to Illinois State University where she is completing her MFA. Her interest in photography was sparked by its ability to merge the fantastic with the real, using staged images that include or depict elements of the natural world. You can view some of Sarah's work at her website: www.ilstu.edu/~sgstone
	Sally Ann Walsh Sally received her Master of Art in Art Education from the University of Illinois, Urbana. While her studio expertise ranges from ceramics to pastels, she has particular interest in drawing and painting. Sally has taught at the John C. Campbell Folk School, North Carolina, been a part of numerous local public school art programs, and currently teaches at Richland Community College.
	Chris Wille Chris completed his MFA in metalsmithing at Illinois State University and his BA in Arts at Eastern. His interests range from the historic to the contemporary, from tradition to the avant-garde. As he states on his website “I am a metalsmith interested in extending the tradition of jewelry and body adornment by incorporating wearable technology that either affect the viewer or allow the viewer to affect their environment.” Learn more about Chris and his creative endeavors at his website http://www.chriswille.com
	Anna Wollenschlager Anna is a native of Bloomington and enjoys teaching in the community. She received her BA from Eastern Illinois University and her MFA in painting from Illinois State University Her work has been shown locally, nationally and internationally. Anna has taught drawing at Illinois State University and teaches various drawing and painting classes at the Arts Center.