Ariadne Albright
Ariadne (Ari) Albright is an artist and traveler who has spent three decades creating narrative paintings that explore themes of identity and belonging. Born in Cheyenne, Wyoming, Ariadne (air-ee-odd-knee) received her B.F.A. in Printmaking, from the University of Washington and M.F.A. in Painting, from the University of South Dakota (USD). Employed as an artist and art educator, Ari is the Arts Program Coordinator at Sanford Vermillion Medical Center (SVMC); a roster artist with the South Dakota Arts Council (SDAC); she initiated the arts in health curriculum at USD and serves as board member of the National Organization for Arts in Health (NOAH).
Rebecca Froehlich
Rebecca Froehlich is a communication professional and visual artist. She received her BFA in Painting from the University of South Dakota in 2017 and professional development as an Artist in Healthcare from USD & the University of Florida. She received her Master of Arts in Education at Augsburg University in 2022. She has experienced making community-based art in hospitals, independent living, dementia care, urban neighborhoods, rural small towns, and more. Her preferred media includes painting and fiber arts, but she always loves the opportunity to learn new projects. She also loves to get outdoors, take photos, and appreciate the beauty of nature.
Rosemary Buchmann
In 2021, I retired from teaching high school art, then transitioned to an artist in a healthcare career. A Michigan native, I transplanted to South Dakota in the early 90s. I have led workshops for art teachers and adults and taught children of all ages. My present work focuses on creatively engaging elderly populations within care settings and bringing arts interactions to adults with disabilities. I employ a variety of two- and three-dimensional fine art, crafts, and basic music experiences. I prefer to mesh a bit of art or music knowledge within the making and doing to provide participants a sense of accomplishment and originality.
Xiola Etherington
Xiola has been involved in music for as long as she can remember. Specializing in the horn, she has played in many ensembles through the University of South Dakota and is currently a member of the Northwest Iowa Symphony Orchestra. A musician by trade, she is working to learn instruments appropriate for bedside and healthcare environments, and she enjoys incorporating many modalities into her Arts in Healthcare work, especially creative writing and visual arts. She has always been drawn to caregiving, and loves that she has been given the opportunity to meld her two passions to better serve those in need.
Lindsay Seier
Lindsay is fueled by her passion for the arts. There is nothing more Lindsay wants than being able to serve others while using her interests. She is currently a student at the University of South Dakota working to complete her Bachelor of Arts in Painting, along with a minor in Art History and Psychology and a Certificate in Arts in Healthcare. Lindsay’s most used medium is oil paint currently, but is exploring ways to tie other modalities, such as dance and photography, into her paintings. She is a dancer outside of school and aspires to use dance and visual art in her future career to better the well-being of others around her. Lindsay found her purpose during her time as an intern at Sanford Arts Vermillion, and she is extremely eager to continue to mature in her arts in medicine education.
Heather Steffen
Heather has always been a creative spirit. She was born and raised in Yankton, South Dakota to a family who supported her every dream. She was a first generation student at the University of South Dakota, where she began to pursue her passions of psychology and art, especially painting. While in college, she traveled to London on an art history trip, Paris, Rome, and Amsterdam on a spring break art exploration, and Portland, Oregon on a health and wellness trip, where she had the opportunity to help homeless populations. It was through her studies, travels, and college job of in-home care for people with disabilities, that she discovered her desire to bring the arts into healthcare settings. She graduated in 2013 with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, and a double minor in art and art history. Now, Heather dabbles in all mediums of artistic expression, including writing, painting, and fashion design. She recently completed her first mural for a counseling service in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, where she currently lives. She also works with Creative Care LLC to bring wellness through the arts to various populations.
Sadie Potter
Sadie’s two greatest passions are, and have always been, music and helping others. Her favorite part of Arts in Healthcare is the meaningful engagement with participants that combine those passions, and she has had opportunities to do so with a variety of people including the geriatric community, advanced dementia population, and adults with disabilities. Sadie utilizes a wide range of instruments within her scope such as piano, ukulele, guitar, voice, and various percussion instruments. Although primarily a musician, she has experience with and interest in further exploration of visual arts materials.
Cyrus Albright
Cyrus (Cy) Albright is a quick study. His talent for computer science emerged early with achievements in robotics, pen-testing, coding and software development. His portfolio of technical skills is currently being used in several businesses – domestic and international- for engineering, entertainment and cyber security projects.
Ashley Zimmer
Although Ashley has many interests, creating has always had a special place in her heart. Ashley’s primary modality is oil paint, but she has a wide range of curiosity and adaptability when it comes to materials. Ashley currently attends the University of South Dakota, where she is finishing up her Art Education degree with a minor in Psychology, and will graduate in May of 2019. Her interests in arts in health were solidified when she took an Arts in Healthcare course her freshman year, and from then on she volunteered and became an intern for Sanford Arts Vermillion, and later at Sanford Arts in Sioux Falls.