Jon Hinkel has been a block carver and printer since the age of 10, with his primary medium the multicolor block print. All of Jon's work is created and produced at The Tight Squeek Press, which serves as both a design studio and a production shop.

Jon's work has always been narrative-oriented, combining figurative, landscape and still-life elements based on his original designs and drawings. Chosen images are refined and transferred to blocks, then hand carved or engraved. The blocks are printed by hand as proofs, with presswork often extended to produce limited edition runs.

Jon's academic foundations lie in geology and art, while his pressroom experiences were gathered as a commercial pressman and bindery worker for many years.

Martin Dean is the owner of Duluth AV Logistics, a company specializing in audio-visual installation and in providing equipment and technical services for events of all kinds. With over 30 years of experience in both the Northland and the United Kingdom, Martin has worked on everything from intimate weddings and non-profit fundraisers to music concerts, art installations, major conferences, film festivals, and even world film premieres. He has also played a key role in initiating, planning, and running two major fan conventions dedicated to music.

Originally from the UK, Martin emigrated to Duluth in 2002 after living in both rural East Anglia and cosmopolitan London.

Through his involvement with SOLCA, Martin aims to share his extensive event and technical expertise to enhance all programs held at the venue. His goal is to help curate dynamic musical experiences that benefit artists, delight audiences, and strengthen the sustainability of the organization.

Susanna Gaunt is an award-winning mixed-media installation artist and instructor living in Duluth. Using mediums such as weaving, photography, embroidery and collage, she analyzes the human condition through a philosophical and scientific lens. Inspired by historic European curiosity cabinets, natural history museums and personal specimen collections, she tangles human anatomy with animal taxonomy, creating works that encourage curiosity and reflection.

Susanna holds a BFA in Painting, Drawing and Printmaking from U of M Duluth and a BA in Philosophy from Boston College. Her work has been shown in solo and juried shows throughout the region. She taught photography for 10 years at Rocky Mountain School of Photography and currently runs the Youth Photography Club at Duluth Art Institute. She looks forward to additional teaching opportunities and engaging more with community through the Spirit of the Lake Community Arts.

Alison Aune is an artist and art educator. She was raised in Amherst, Massachusetts and later her Minnesota-Nordic roots drew her to Duluth in 1985, where she earned her MA in painting at the University of Minnesota Duluth. After working on her PhD at Ohio University and in Norway, she returned to Duluth and in 1991 she was hired as the Education Coordinator at the Tweed Museum of Art.

Since 1999, Aune has been the area chair and professor of Art Education at UMD, where she develops museum and community learning opportunities to promote meaningful art engagement for all ages. She is active at Spirit of the Lake in providing creative art experiences for children.

Theresa Hornstein is a retired biology teacher who now runs a small artisanal business, Grey Lady Designs.

She is the president of the Nice Girls of the North Arts Cooperative and teaches classes in natural dyes, felting, crochet, knitting, embroidery, and upcycling.

Peter Spooner is an artist, educator, curator and art appraiser, who is thrilled to serve on the Board of Directors at SOLCA.

He worked for 35 years as an art educator and museum curator. After leaving the Tweed Museum of Art in 2012, he opened an art appraisal business (Archive Arts, LLC) and continued teaching at local colleges. He has served on numerous boards and grant panels, including Minnesota State Arts Board, Illinois Arts Council, Jerome Foundation, Duluth Public Library, Arrowhead Regional Arts Council, The Artists Fund and the Duluth Public Arts Commission. Peter and his family have enjoyed living in Duluth's Lakeside neighborhood since 1992.

Susan Ranfranz was born and raised in Minnesota, grew up near Lake Minnetonka, which instilled her love and appreciation for water and inspired  her move to Duluth in 1984 to be by Lake Superior. She graduated from UMD, married, built a home in the country, started a family and embarked on a 30 year career teaching visual arts for Duluth Public Schools, mostly at Laura MacArthur Elementary and East High School. She focused her teaching on creative problem solving skills and freedom of self expression, as well as the fundamentals of art, art history, goals, standards and assessments. She really enjoyed collaborating with local artists as guests in her classroom and truly loved her work and students.

Since retiring from teaching, Susan is staying involved in the community in new ways! Joining the SOLCA board is part of this adventure. She enjoys all art forms, she listens to her heart to form an idea or an intent which then determines the medium for her projects. Susan’s favorite medium is clay because it is versatile, tactile and from the earth which grounds her. She is excited about serving on the SOLCA board to support and enrich the Lakeside art community. She plans to teach classes; to connect people and encourage self expression.

Nancy Lewis is certified as a Waldorf Early Childhood and Grades Teacher with over 30 years of teaching experience who started her career as a public school K-12 art teacher.

She is currently in the process of becoming a Certified Educator of Infant Massage (CEIM) through the U.S. chapter of the International Association of Infant Massage (IAIM).

Her passion is facilitating young children in experiencing outdoor nature play in a variety of environments, as well as in creating arts and crafts in the Waldorf tradition. She also enjoys teaching parent/ child craft & play groups.

Hella Wartman grew up in New Jersey, and has lived in Duluth for a total of 25 years.  She obtained her BA in Psychology from Franklin & Marshall College in PA, her teaching certification in special education from the University of Utah, and her Masters in Leadership Development from Walden University. Hella has worked in the field of special education for 40 years, and is currently working as a part-time instructional coach with charter schools across Minnesota.  

In her spare time, Hella loves to sing in the oral tradition.  Hella has participated in song circle leadership training from Littlebird Song Leader Flight School and is a certified Full Voice Coach using Barbara McAfee's Five Elements Framework.  Hella has been leading community song circles in the oral tradition in Minneapolis and Duluth for the past 10 years.  This is the third year she has been offering monthly community song circle opportunities at SOLCA.  The community song circles have been growing in popularity, and have been attended by up to 35 singers!  

Hella currently lives in the Lakeside neighborhood, just blocks away from SOLCA, and is looking forward to deepening her connections with the SOLCA community as a song leader and Board member.

Amy Varsek comes to SOLCA after more than 30 years working in the museum and gallery field. She continues to curate and install community exhibitions while also exhibiting her own work.

In addition to her arts practice, Amy is an Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) practitioner based in Duluth and a content editor for a nonprofit organization serving families and professionals throughout Minnesota.

Inspired by trying new things and sharing joy with her community, Amy is honored and excited to serve with SOLCA