Fall 2010 Center Instructors

Doug Billings graduated with a BFA degree in Printmaking from Mankato State University, MN. He was accepted into the printmaking graduate program at Wichita State University by the prominent and respected printmaker, Prof. David Bernard, and graduated with his MFA degree in 1982. Since then, he has continued to work steadily at his profession as a printmaker and has become a well-known fixture in the printmaking department at Wichita State University. He is a member/partner of Gallery XII and was the president in 2007. He is also a member and former president of the Artists Guild of Wichita.

Jordan Chalmers received his AA in Art/Design at Cowley College and went on to receive his BFA in Painting from Wichita State University in 2009. He is a multimedia artist that has shown extensively throughout the Wichita area and has had work published in the Oklahoman Review.

Susan de Wit taught ceramics at Newman University for five years. She greatly enjoys working with large groups of people to create collaborative community art. She is a Roster Artist for Arts Partners. She maintains a private studio in the city and is a founding member of Works of HEaRT, Inc., a nonprofit organization that works for social change through the arts.
Kathy Fathi is a silversmith and jewelry artist. She has a degree in English and Art from Wichita State University and has also completed her Child Development Association certificate in early childhood education. She has taught a variety of art classes with the Wichita Public School System and at City Arts.

Eric Frank is the owner of EJF photography studio in Wichita. He has been a painter his entire life but jumped into the photography world in 2000. He has a large range of photography experience. He has traveled shooting modeling images, architecture, and portraits. Visit www.ejfstudios.com

Julie Freige melted her first rod of glass in 2001 and knew she had discovered the medium to express her creative desires instantly. After moving to Wichita four years ago, she opened Beadazzled, a contemporary glass studio that supplies lampwork artists a place to expand their knowledge and meet other glass enthusiasts. She has been teaching for two years, captivating others and tempting them with the urge to melt glass.

Jim Gross began his study of art at the Center in 1961 and has been on the faculty since 1974. Gross earned an MFA from Wichita State University, which included a Guggenheim Museum studio visit. He is a member of American Abstract Artists. Jim’s abstract works were the subject of two solo shows in New York and the Wichita Art Museum exhibited his work in a survey of late 20th century art. His works are in the Whitney, the Guggenheim, the Met, and in a memorial exhibit of the World Trade Center. His work is illustrated in Pioneers of Abstract Art and a new book, On Edge, American Artists, NY. He received a special Wichita State University alumni award given by Governor Graves in 2001. In 2008, he showed at the Painting Center, Soho, NY.

Crystal Henderson is The Wichita Center for the Arts Creative Child Center Preschool’s Certified Director and Lead Teacher. She graduated from Southwestern College with a bachelor’s degree in Non for Profit Management, Business Quality Management, and Human Resource Development. Crystal is excited to begin her fourteenth year working with preschools.

Brian Hinkle graduated with a BA in Mathematics from Grinnell College before returning to Wichita to earn his MFA in Painting at Wichita State University. He has been teaching at the Center since 1996 where he previously served as the Gallery Director. Brian’s artwork is represented by Artworks, Inc. in Wichita, KS, Strecker-Nelson Gallery in Manhattan, KS, and Leopold Gallery in Kansas City, MO.

Anne Horton is a native of Wichita, Kansas. In the early nineties, she started painting in watercolor, then pastel and quickly began winning awards. Much of her subject matter is taken from her travels. Her painting expresses her perceptions of the people and places she has traveled. She is a member of Wichita Women Artists and Artist Guild of Wichita. She is a signature member of Mid America Pastel Society, Oklahoma Watercolor Society, Kansas Watercolor Society, and the Missouri Watercolor Society. She is also a board member of the Kansas Watercolor Society and is chairman of the Art Show at the Garden Show Art Show. She was chosen for the Garden Show poster in 2005 and 2008 and was awarded Botanica Poster for 2006 and 2008. “I like many subjects and all are a challenge, which is what my work is about. I also like to share the things that are beautiful and hope someone else will feel and see as I do.”

Leslie Kinder is the owner of Melange Jewelry and is also a Graduate Gemologist, gold-silver, and platinum-smith who loves to share her jewelry making knowledge and skills with students. A native of Wichita, Leslie earned a degree from the Gemological Institute of America and has been a featured speaker at numerous conferences around the world.

Jennifer Larsen received her MFA from the University at Buffalo and a BFA from Wichita State University. She is a working artist and teacher at (USD 259 Wichita) Northeast Magnet and Allen County Community College. She has traveled and studied in Italy as an Artist in Residence and most recently at the Kansas City Art Institute. Recently she is participating in various group exhibits locally and currently scheduled for a solo show at the E.B White Gallery in El Dorado, KS, and Mercer Gallery in Garden City, KS. She has also arranged a two-person show with her husband, who is also an artist at The Percolator in Lawrence Ks. Visit http://jenniferlarsen.wordpress.com/.

Lori Martin-Price earned her associate’s degree in Design from Hutchinson Community College and a BA in Metalsmithing from the University of Kansas. She is a professional artist who participates in various art fairs and is currently teaching high school art classes. She is a member of the Visual Arts Alliance of McPherson that raises scholarship money for local high school seniors. Visit www.llmpsilverworks.com.

John McCluggage is a native Kansan and received his training at multiple colleges and universities around the state. He has been an intern at the Archie Bray Foundation in Helena, Montana and a crew leader at the Odyian Retreat Center, in Northern California, where he built monumental bronze sculptures. John is the founder of Shika Studios and makes both functional ware and sculpture.

Babs Mellor is a professional sculptor. She has studied with many world prominent sculptors in the United States and Italy. Her sculptures are offered in select galleries and in numerous private and public commissions including “The Promise of America” at Century II, “Cardinal Newman” at Newman University, “All American Boy,” Newton, KS, “Sister,” Friends University and many more. Babs’ works have also been featured in museums, art publications and have received many artistic awards. She has been teaching classes at The Wichita Center for the Arts since 1974.

Mary Binford Miller received her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Painting and her Bachelor of Science in Art Education from Kansas State University. She has been trained as a classical oil painter and uses that approach in her teachings. She emphasized the color palettes of William Merritt Chase, Wayman Adams and Daniel Gerhartz. Mary spent 17 years in the commercial art field as a fashion illustrator and graphic designer for the largest newspapers in Oklahoma and Kansas. She has painted commissioned portraits of judges and three-star Generals. Along with her figurative and portrait work, Mary also produces western genre paintings and landscapes of the Flint Hills. Mary has also been a professional oil painter since graduating from college. She is an award winner in both commercial and fine art fields. Mary is represented by Southwind Gallery of Topeka, KS, The American Legacy Gallery of Kansas City, MO, and Artworks of Wichita.

Whitney Post obtained her Bachelor of Science from Kansas State University in Hotel and Restaurant Management with a minor in French Language. While studying abroad in Paris during the summer of 2007, she fell in love with wine. Upon graduating from K-State she decided that a career in the wine industry would be the perfect way to incorporate her love for the French Language and hospitality with wine! In January of 2009 she completed levels 1 and 2 sommelier certifications through the International Wine Guild of Denver. She now works as a wine consultant at Jacob Liquor Exchange.

Virginia Grass Simmons received her Masters in Educational Psychology from Wichita State University. She has won multiple awards in teaching and oil painting. Virginia is a professional painter whose work is regularly in national and regional level painting shows. Once being named Teacher of the Year for Sedgwick County, she now puts all of her talents into oil painting.

Paul Wingo received his MFA in Painting and Drawing at Wichita State University. He currently is full-time staff member at The Wichita Center for the Arts.
Paul has been teaching at the Center for 7 years.