Behind the Scenes
MEET THE BOARD
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President
RACHEL HAWKINSON
I am Rachel Hawkinson and the current President of The Casper Artists’ Collective. I have a Bachelors in Fine Arts from the University of Wyoming, was awarded the Visual Arts Fellowship through the Wyoming Arts Council and have exhibited my work in many group and solo exhibitions throughout the state and region.
I am passionate about the arts and helping others succeed. I have had amazing mentors in the past and feel a responsibility to pass that on myself. Seeing artists grow into confident visual story tellers is the most rewarding part of being president of this incredible organization. The Collective is an inspiring group of artists that I am proud to be a part of and I can’t wait to see what we are able to accomplish as we grow.
Board Member
JAN LINDSAY
Jan is a wife, mother, grandmother and all around supporter of the arts! Throughout the years, she has mentored many artists in Casper and has helped shaped our artistic community. Jan is known for her intricate 3-D watercolor works that celebrate Wyoming's rich heritage.
Jan always goes above and beyond for the Collective. Her knowledge and love of the arts make her an indispensable asset to our board of directors.
Exhibit Chair
CASEY A. HANSON
I am a professional photographer, as well as an acrylic paint artist, and jewelry maker. I graduated from Casper College with an AFA in Photography in 2017/with Phi Theta Kappa honors. I have had several group and solo exhibits and am a member of the Works of Wyoming Gallery in Laramie, Wyoming. I am a contributing writer/photographer for Brutal Planet Magazine, and the house photographer for the Ford Wyoming Center. I am honored to be on the board of directors of the Casper Artists Collective. The multitude of talent with this group of artists is inspiring to me. I love to run and am a member of the Windy City Striders. Fishing and rock hunting are also two of my favorite things to do. I am always up for a great Wyoming adventure, whether it be in the prairie, the mountains, or on the water!
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Membership Chair
KATIE LIJEWSKI
I am the Membership Chair for the Casper Artists' Collective. I was a teacher for 17 years and enjoy seeing kids and adults learning new skills. I am co-owner of It's All About, LLC. We are a group of artists that work with epoxy resin, painting, wood working, sewing polymer clay, and whatever else we find of interest and can become good at or incorporate within our specialties.
I grew up around the arts, learning leather work, pottery, lapidary, painting, drawing, sewing and my favorite music. I am a pianist and singer having sung at many weddings, funerals and church services, as well as recording a CD. I am currently learning how to make jewelry with resin and gemstones as well as different types of rocks. Which has interested me for many years.
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Volunteer Chair
PAT FONNESBECK
I have had a love of art since I was a young girl. I took art classes in school and found that I had an artistic eye. I didn’t really get serious about it until I attended college. I took some classes from Harrison Groutage, a Utah artist and educator, at Utah State University, in Logan, Utah. He sparked my interest in drawing and oil painting. I married while in college and worked to help support my husband with his education and we started a family. I took some classes here and there and after moving to Casper where I managed to find time to work on my craft while mothering six children. I took drawing and portrait classes from Richard Jacobi at Casper College and he inspired me to do more, especially after our children grew to adulthood. I retired from the school district after 18 years and joined the Casper Artist’s Guild when it was behind Albertsons on CY. From that time to the present, I volunteered, took classes and served on several of their boards over the past 10years. Even though art hasn’t been a career (family was my focus), I have enjoyed supporting the arts in Casper, and developing my artistic talents. I have met many dear friends that share my interest in supporting the arts in our community.
Treasurer
AMANDA DISNEY
Amanda Disney works as a Commercial Strategists with IHG Hotels & Resorts and has 18 years’ experience in the hospitality industry. Prior to joining as the Treasurer for Casper Artists’ Collective, she has served on the Board of Directors with the Laramie Chamber Business Alliance, Laramie Kiwanis, Wyoming FCCLA, Associated General Contractors of Wyoming, & Powering Up Wyoming. She is the former Treasurer for the Casper Area Chamber of Commerce and currently serves as their Vice Chair. Amanda also enjoys volunteering and has volunteered many hours helping Laramie Kiwanis, Casper Rotary, and Jason’s Friends Foundation.
Amanda is passionate with being involved in the community and enjoys helping non-profits prosper. She says she may not have a creative bone as an artist, but she loves art and is a creative solutionist in the fields of revenue management, direct sales, direct marketing, and relationship management. Amanda looks forward to supporting the arts that Casper has to offer and helping The Collective grow, she appreciates the Mission and is enthusiastic about the possibility to develop a little artistic ability herself.
Amanda is a true Wyomingite and has lived in Cheyenne, Sheridan, Lander, Laramie , and currently resides in Casper with her Husband (Justin), Son (Braxton), Daughter (Braelynn), 15yo Pit Bull (Lily), & 6yo Golden Retriever (Maui). She enjoys doing anything and everything, as long as it includes making memories with Family & Friends.
Events Coordinator
LORI KLATT
I'm Lori Klatt, proud native of Casper, Wyoming. Art has been my lifelong passion, and I pursued it formally by earning an Associate's degree in Fine Art from Casper College. Painting is my preferred medium, whether it's with oils, acrylics, or pastels; each stroke on the canvas tells a story close to my heart. Beyond my artistic endeavors, I'm an active member of the Rotary Club of Casper, where I enjoy contributing to the community. In my personal life, I'm a mother to two wonderful grown sons and share my home with three cherished feline companions. Life is a canvas, and I strive to paint it with colors of love, creativity, and community spirit.
Marketing Chair
SARAH DERRICO
Sarah is a local Casper Realtor, Art Teacher and Artist who loves to work with a variety of mediums including mixed media, paint & charcoal. Her passion for art started at a very young age and has stayed with her through life's every turn. She believes that art is so powerful that it can transform lives and bring hope to those who need it. Through her work, she aims to inspire people to pursue their dreams and embrace their own creativity. This hope has led her to becoming a member at the Casper Artists Collective where all share similar values and strive to make this concept a reality.
Workshops Chair
CHERYL PAYTON
I am a small business owner and a lifelong artist. I am dedicated to my art, my lifelong philosophy that being an artist is about being an individual, and a searcher of beauty. I have entirely too much education in art (a needless and expensive 12 years - LOL), have taught art to all ages in schools for years as well as worked with I-Reach from time-to-time, and have owned and art-based business for 24 years (wow, time flies). My greatest joy has been teaching art and art history for 20 years and sharing the passion of creating. Making things with your hands, no matter the medium, is freeing, relaxing, cathartic, and my therapy. I hope to impart some of that passion to everyone I meet. I joined the Collective because the Statement of Intention so closely embodies my own philosophies and it is a thriving community of busy artists! I'm truly happy to be a part of a group of local artists again and look forward to all the possibilities.
Board Member at Large
JASMINE PLATT
Art has always been part of my life. I grew up with a dad who taught me how to draw, passing down skills and techniques that I still carry with me today. Through every stage of school, art was where I thrived—it came naturally, felt like home, and became a language I never stopped speaking.
In adulthood, I’ve always found my way back to my roots in drawing, then began dabbling in painting, and now I combine those drawing skills into my glass etching—each piece shaped by where I started and how I’ve grown.