Womanspace - Instructors

CREATIVE ARTS INSTRUCTORS

SUE GILBERT ABARE studied at Ohio State University & at the Cincinnati Art Museum. She has taught privately and at the Kaleidoscope School of Art in Barrington. Sue exhibits throughout the Midwest & South, has artwork in many private & public collections, and tries to devote most of her time developing her own paintings.

CINDY BEAR is a self taught watercolor artist. She is a member of Rockford Art Guild and Rockford Area Arts Council. She enjoys teaching the fundamentals of watercolor. Her classes are designed to break down each technique by choosing projects that emphasize a specific technique. My motto is once you have learned the techniques there is no limit to what fun and creative way watercolor can be used. My favorite style and subject matter of watercolor is botanical.

RITA CARPENTER’s art includes photography, mixed media, mixed media with encaustics and watercolor. She started with watercolor in 2008 attending many International trips with Karlyn Holman. Rita began learning basic watercolor techniques and advanced from there. Her favorite is mixed media and travel journaling. She began teaching classes in 2016. She teaches in her studio and travels to other venues to teach. She organizes art vacations through her business Art on the Fly, LLC. The art adventures have been to Croatia, France and Spain.

LINDA EWALT is a retired art teacher who loves clay and working with the fantastic people in the Womanspace clay classes! She looks forward to helping students explore and expand their clay experience in a fun environment.

JAYMEE FEDOR graduated from Northern Illinois University in 2015 with a BFA in painting. She splits her time between teaching group art classes for all ages, giving private art lessons, freelancing, and painting. She specializes in creating supportive and inclusive environments where new artists feel comfortable and experienced artists feel inspired.

PEIGHTON FEI is a mother, growing artist, and local resident. She grew up in a small town nearby, and moved to Rockford three years ago to start her family. Her sun sign is Capricorn. Peighton sees divinity in everyday life, and uses the moon cycle and astrology as tools for mindful living. She takes interest in psychology, history, farming, and holistic medicine, and loves seeking new knowledge and creating new connections.

CHERIE HECK loves to play with art and has a serious addiction to art supplies. She teaches a number of art classes at Womanspace, and served as the Art Program & Volunteer Coordinator for several years. Her artistic talents are many and her beautiful creations have appeared in many of our art exhibits and fundraisers.

CRISTI HOPP KNIESS is an artist, teacher and proud member of many area art organizations. When asked why she enjoys being an artist, her reply was, "I realized that I am at my best when I lose myself in color. With my creations, I travel into a place of peace, healing and serene awareness of who I really am." Her work is on exhibit all around the Rockford area, including permanent installments at Mercy Health Hospital, Anderson Gardens, as well as businesses in the Rockford and Chicago areas.

JENNIE JOHNSON SIC enjoys every opportunity to throw on the wheel! Jennie has taken college level classes in Minnesota & Oak Park, IL, as well as, been mentored by a potter in Antigua, Guatemala. Jennie is so thankful to have found Womanspace, a place to throw, be inspired and teach.

STEPHANIE KRUGER is a professional photographer with 15 years experience in the industry. Her studio specializes in baby's first year, but she takes all types of portraits. "I try to take a fun, open mined approach to teaching so I can meet each student their current level." She is a proud mother to four young children, and in her spare time, she loves to make her children's clothes.

NICOLE LANDRETH is an artist and an organizer by nature, and a Creative & Performing Arts graduate from Auburn High school. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology, with minor concentrations in Visual Arts and Women & Gender Studies. Nicole was a resident artist with the 317 Art Collaborative in downtown Rockford, now serving on their board, and loves to engage with the community through the arts. Nicole's artwork spans across many mediums including pyrography, fiber arts, sculptural ceramics, and fluid mediums. Thematically and stylistically, her work is full of movement, color, and pattern. She is always trying to make her art dance! Nicole is also a bit of a tech-nerd and has developed a particular patience for helping people through their tech-related snafus!

MAGGIE MAGNUSON is an artist exploring the world of watercolor by taking a cue from the natural world, aiming to fill her work with light, color and a bit of whimsy. Coming from a background of multiple art interests she hopes to light a spark among fellow artists to bring enthusiasm and a lively outlook to their passion.

MISS AUBREY has an impressive history in the arts world as well as in professional sports training. Trained at The School of American Ballet, part of the New York City Ballet, Miss Aubrey spent years working with doctors specializing in sport and dance medicine to learn how to prevent injury in dance, sports and gymnastic classes. She works with professional sports players, Olympic athletes, and internationally acclaimed actors and singers. Her students work for professional dance companies, on Broadway productions and for networks including Disney, Nickelodeon and Netflix. She completed her professional dance training at the School of American Ballet, and has danced with national ballet companies in addition to her own work for networks and production companies such as Nickelodeon, CW, ABC, Universal Pictures and Warner Brothers. Her proven curriculum based on this exclusive work has earned her clients that range from professional and Olympic athletes to professional dancers singers and actors.

ANYA NELSON is a full time high school teacher who fell in love with clay when she allowed her college counselor to randomly pick an elective class for her that ended up being ceramics. She was so happy when she found Womanspace. It gave her an opportunity to reconnect with her passion and meet an amazing, creative, and supportive group of artists.

NANCY O'NEILL is a self proclaimed clay and glaze addict! She enjoys sharing creative pottery ideas and creating many wonderful wheel thrown and hand built pieces. Nancy is excited to be able to try her hand at instructing a class and share time in the clay studio with other like minded clay addicts!

LYNETTE PORTER is retired and happy to have found Womanspace and pottery. She admits to having a pottery obsession and wants to share it with others while learning from other talented artists.

KATHY RASMUS has been an art teacher for 38 years. Clay is her passion. She enjoys working with adults to create exciting works of art.

PAT SULLIVAN is a Rockford native who has recently returned to the area. She discovered fused glass at the Kemp Center for the Arts in Texas, and continued to study at the Sarasota School of Glass. She loves to share this fun and expressive art with others.

WELLNESS, HEALING & EMPOWERMENT INSTRUCTORS

MICHAEL BETTINE, percussionist, has been working with these instruments for over 40 years. He has written various books on percussion and released over 40 recordings under his name. His long running blogs, The Way of the Gong, Art As A Spiritual Practice, and Percussion Deconstruction, have been embraced by both the meditation/sound therapy, and percussion communities. He is also one half of the GONGTOPIA TAIRAKU duo, along with shakuhachi flute player, Brian Tairaku Ritchie (of Violent Femmes fame). Michael is also devoted to music education and has presented workshops on Gongs at the prestigious Percussive Arts Society International Convention (PASIC) in 2005 & 2012 and was the Artist in Residence at the 2016 MONA FOMA Festival in Hobart, Australia.

BETH CAMPISI is a Licensed Massage Therapist, Reiki Master/Teacher and Certified Chakra Instructor through Bridges of Unity. Her focus is helping others connect on the physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual levels to achieve wholeness and well-being using holistic and complementary modalities including working with the chakras.

ELAINE HIRSCHENBERGER is the Executive Director and CoFounder of Womanspace and has years of experience of practicing mindfulness and attentiveness. She received her degree in English from Alverno College and pursued further studies in art and design at College of DuPage, Rockford University and NIU. She is an active member of School Sisters of Saint Francis.

KATHY MOEHLING, RN is a Board Certified Holistic RN, Traditional Naturopath, Holistic Health & Life Coach, energy work practitioner in Therapeutic & Healing Touch, and a Massage Therapist with over 40 years experience. In addition to teaching tele classes in holistic coaching with Wisdom of the Whole (formerly Bark Coaching Institute), Kathy maintains a private practice in her home and at Womanspace.

MARY KAY MORRISON is an educator who has taught at virtually every level of the educational spectrum, while facilitating keynote presentations and workshop sessions internationally for the past 30 years. Her work includes integrating the theory and neuroscience of humor research into practical applications for both education and business. An international speaker, Mary Kay frequently conducts seminars on humor, cognitive research, and leadership. She is the founder and director of Humor Quest and provides workshops, seminars, and conferences through her business. As a member of the Illinois No Child Left Behind (NCLB) implementation team, she conducted “Train the Trainer” sessions for the State Board of Education on school improvement. She was AATH president from 2015-17 and is founder and director of the international AATH Humor Academy Certified Humor Professional Program. Her publications, Using Humor to Maximize Learning; Exploring Links between Positive Emotions and Education and Using Humor to Maximize Living are being used as texts for humor studies courses at several universities. Both are used for the groundbreaking international Humor Academy graduate program offered by AATH (Association of Applied and Therapeutic Humor). Her new book: Legacy of Laughter: A Grandparent Guide and Playbook was released in 2021

KYRA NAKAMATSU has found yoga to be a deeply personal refuge, a practice she has always returned to during life’s most challenging moments to reconnect, heal, and find peace. Through grief and transitions, her mat has been a place of grounding and renewal. Now, as part of her 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training, she is honored to share this practice with others. She chose Womanspace for its strong sense of community, empowerment, and personal growth—values that have been meaningful in her own journey. Grateful for the impact Womanspace has had on her life, she is excited to give back to this welcoming and supportive space.

JIM ROBERTS is a retired pastor who works with the recovery of soul through retreats, ceremonies, interactive classes, and using the arts to explore who we are, why we're here, and what we bring. He is co-founder of Manitoumie Center in Wisconsin, author, musician, and poet. Jim loves to teach native flute, drum and bring spiritual poetry and arts from around the world to life.

DEBORAH ROSE (formerly GAINES), owner and founder of Sacred Connections: Reiki, Writing, and Retreats, is also a licensed funeral director with over 25 years of experience in the profession. Deb is a Usui and Karuna Reiki Master Teacher, a writing instructor, and retreat facilitator. When she's not at work, Deb enjoys spending time with her family and friends, writing, hiking, and drumming.

AMANDA STIVERS Embarking on her yoga journey in 2006 amid personal uncertainties, Amanda discovered the transformative power of yoga. From self-taught beginnings to formal training at the Temple of Kriya Yoga and Prairie Yoga, she's committed to sharing its benefits. With a focus on Hatha Yoga, Amanda's teaching emphasizes alignment and awareness, fostering rejuvenation and grounding. She holds a 200-hour and 500-hour certificate, along with SUP Yoga certification. Beyond yoga, Amanda enjoys culinary pursuits, herbalism, and crafting, cherishing time with her greyhound, Lucy, and traveling with her husband.

SHIRAZ TATA came to the U.S. from India to get a doctorate in Counseling Psychology from SIU-C and then just kept moving up the state of Illinois to Rockford where she has lived for over 20 years! She is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist in private practice where she creates a safe space for people to share whatever may be weighing on their minds or hearts. She loves to facilitate discussions on diversity and all topics multicultural. She also enjoys teaching mindfulness and meditation classes.

VANNESSA VILLABONA. Art and dance have always been a refuge for Vannessa, a way to release, express, and reconnect with her inner self. As Colombian, dance is an essential part of her Latin roots, but it was in South Africa where she experienced a deep and magical connection with movement while going through a deep emotional crisis. There, she discovered that through Ecstatic Dance, she could heal and redefine her story through music and movement.

RHIANNON YANDELL completed her 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training at the Yoga and Ayurveda Center in Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania and holds an RYT-200. She is certified in Chair Yoga and holds certifications as an Ayurveda Specialist and End of Life Specialist. Rhiannon is Owner and Yoga Teacher at Sacred Peace Theory Yoga Studio in Rockford. She also teaches children's art and yoga workshops and camps through SmARTyPants Art Studio and adult classes at Rockford Art Museum.