ArtOrg would like to inroduce our summer instructors!

Andy Lum: Andy Lum is a 2000 graduate of Northfield High School and 2005 graduate of Carleton College with a B.A. in studio art and a teaching license for K-12 art education. He currently works as an art teacher, educational assistant, and after school supervisor at Prairie Creek Community School. Andy’s main artistic interests include drawing, photography, painting, and printmaking.

April Rypka: April is a St. Olaf graduate with a BA in studio art. She is currently back in school pursuing art direction in advertising, using her six years of experience in web & graphic design as a foundation. Her specialties: figurative watercolors, mixed media, and free hand clay sculptures.

Connie Halpern: Connie is the current program director for ArtOrg. She has a degree in art education from the University of Minnesota. Connie has developed classes and taught art to all ages as the previous owner of The Art Store. An artist, she enjoys drawing and painting especially sitting outside on her deck.

Cynthia Welle: Cynthia is an enthusiastic, inspiring and creative teacher returning again to teach another summer class. Last summer she taught a mask making class that ended with a performance. She is a licensed teacher and visual artist. She lives in Farmington where she likes to do art with her three sons. She teaches and paints and makes masks when she finds time. She also enjoys doing simple carpentry and wood projects. She enjoys camping and loves nature and the woods and likes to include that in her art. She has taught ESL classes in the past and has a passionate interest in other cultures.

Erica Ness: Erica Ness is a licensed art teacher and recent graduate from St. Cloud State University in Art Education. She specializes in fibers and painting, but has a variety of other interests in art. She assistant taught one of last years summer classes and has taught other classes for ArtOrg.

Jennifer Simpson-Dahl: Jennifer graduated from the University of Minnesota in the early 90’s with a Bachelors of Arts in English Literature. She is an avid reader, writer and gardener, and has worked in child care and the restaurant business alternately for the past 20 years. Jennifer managed the Art Store in Northfield for two years, and has dabbled in many visual art forms. She values the energy and creative spirit of children and loves to be part of developing and teaching programs at ArtOrg.

Katie Schmitt: Katie Schmitt earned a BA degree in Art History and Art Studio from of Gustavus Adolphus College. Katie was most recently employed as Curator of Education at Plains Art Museum in Fargo, North Dakota, where she developed educational programs and events for youth and adults. With over two years of museum education experience she brings a balance of art history and studio techniques to her teaching. Her focus is on creating an authentic learning experience. In her spare time, Katie enjoys working in ceramics, painting, and drawing. Katie and her husband have recently relocated to Northfield. They are excited to get involved and contribute to making Northfield an arts destination.

Katie Wall: Katie Wall has been creating since she was a girl. Finding objects outside and around the house, she began artistically putting them together to create sculptures in the sandbox and different exhibits in different rooms through out the house. Currently she is pursuing a degree in Holistic Psychology Through Expressive Arts at the University of Minnesota. Clay and mask making are two of her favorite art forms, but really she just loves to play, make, and express herself through creativity.

Paul Christianson: Paul Christianson is an artist who lives and works in Minneapolis. He was born and raised in Decorah, Iowa, graduated from St. Olaf College in 1991 as a studio art major, and completed the Art Apprentice program through the St. Olaf College art department the following year. Paul’s artwork since college has focused primarily on two subject areas: landscape and the human figure. These subjects are usually approached using memory as the main guide rather than relying on direct visual observation or photographic assistance. He has been a prizewinner at the Minnesota State Fair Fine Arts Exhibition, and his original artwork has been featured in the set design on TPT’s Arts on 2. Paul has also created a series of complex maze drawings that have been reproduced and sold under the name Artmaze. His original artwork is in private collections here and abroad, including a mural commission by the musician Prince. Paul is also a former K-6 camp counselor for YMCA in Minnesota.