With great pleasure the members of artCentral’s Board of Directors and I introduce to you Alexandra Burnside and Kalee Hinspeter—two remarkable women who are poised to take their seats at the board table of artCentral as we launch into a brand new year.
Welcoming Alexandra and Kalee with me are artCentral’s hardworking, visionary current board members including Betsy Flanigan, president; Jane Ballard, secretary; Jackie Boyer; Maddie Capps; Wendi Douglas; Doug Osborn; Jason Shelfer; and Kerry Sturgis; as well as our dedicated Membership Coordinator Bev Sturgis.
Alexandra and Kalee will be splendid additions bringing fresh new perspectives, genuine enthusiasm and well-rounded skill sets to add to the expansive diversity of our multi-talented board members.
Alexandra spent much of her childhood in El Paso, Texas and Webb City, Missouri, where she graduated with honors from Webb City High School. She earned her BSEd in Art Education from Pittsburg State University in Pittsburg, Kansas. While there she worked for three years as a gallery assistant in the Harry Krug Gallery in Porter Hall on the campus of PSU.
Student teaching brought her to Carthage in 2012. Hired after graduation, Alexandra has been an Elementary Art Teacher in the Carthage R-9 School District since 2013. At Fairview Elementary in Carthage, she teaches kindergarten through third grade students.
An eight-year member of the Missouri Art Education Association, Alexandra serves as the District 9 representative for Missouri. She works closely with Art Feeds to provide therapeutic art to students and at artCentral as a super popular art educator during summer artCamp. She has passions for fostering creative development in children, arts advocacy and making a positive impact in her professional and personal life.
As an artist Alexandra was recently on the team of local artists who transformed the shop and business windows on the historic downtown Square turning them into a magical winter wonderland with silhouetted scenes painted in white.
Alexandra enjoys thrift shopping, ballroom dancing and baking pies. Her home that she shares with her sister Alyssa, her cat Dinah, and her dog Zeus is a 1960’s time capsule filled with her favorite Mid-Century Modern decor.
Alexandra says, “I’m thrilled to be invited to work with others who value the arts and artCentral. I’m looking forward to seeing the behind-the-scenes workings of the gallery. Perhaps my years of experience as a gallery assistant and in the field of education will be valuable contributions to the Board.”
Kalee Hinspeter is a native of Shawnee County Kansas. She spent most of her youth in Joplin, Missouri, and graduated from Joplin High School. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management, Human Resource Management and Marketing from Missouri Southern State University in 2017.
Kalee brings with her both hospitality and retail experience, as well as a solid background in business administration. She is the Office Manager for Schmidt CPAs and Advisors in Carthage and Rolla.
Kalee resides in the neighboring Carthage community of Webb City. There she shares her home with her eight year old son, Carter, and their two dachshund-chihuahuas, Dexter and Lily.
Beyond the hours Kalee devotes to working for the Schmidt firm and spending time with her family, she enjoys cooking, gardening, crafting, music, furniture restoration and a variety of DIY projects.
Kalee tells us, “I’ve always been most happy when expressing my creativity. I truly appreciate all forms of art. I love when I’m able to feel a connection to the beauty and uniqueness of an artist’s work, especially ones that are deemed frivolous to the ordinary eye. I am humbled and eager to begin serving the Carthage community and beyond through artCentral. I am thankful for the opportunity to promote the mission of this wonderful nonprofit organization.”
Kalee has already pitched in to help in perfect timing. When the pandemic necessitated artCentral cancelling the much anticipated Opening Artist Reception for the Annual Membership Exhibition, special take-home-a-party bags were presented to each participating artist in appreciation for their creating a terrific exhibition inspite of the pandemic’s challenges. When one more item was needed to complete the party bags, Kalee was instrumental in facilitating that donation.
With great pleasure we look forward to having Alexandra and Kalee join as board members with artCentral’s community of artists and art lovers moving forward together into 2021 to give to Carthage and our neighbors the grand art that enhances life for all of us in our small town and beyond.
