Program and Operations Director, ArtStart

Ashley McLaughlin, a Rhinelander native, has always been passionate about nonprofits and the arts. McLaughlin is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point where she studied public relations and communication and focused on nonprofit work.

She has lead community nonprofits for over 15 years, most recently as the Director of The Fix Is In, Inc., a mobile spay, neuter clinic. In 2015, McLaughlin began as a gallery assistant volunteer and coordinator at ArtStart. Her passion for the organization grew, and in early 2017, she joined ArtStart staff as the Program and Operations Director.

From childhood to adulthood, McLaughlin has participated heavily in arts education. She enrolled in art classes throughout her education in the Rhinelander School District and at Nicolet Area Technical College. Her areas of artistic interest are in ceramics, soft pastel drawing, and acrylic painting.

Beyond ArtStart, McLaughlin enjoys the northwoods lifestyle and the uniqueness of Rhinelander’s bountiful lakes. She and her young family recreate through watersports, kayaking, fishing, snowshoeing, dog walking, hiking, and biking.

City of Rhinelander Alderperson, Social Service Aide/Kinship Care Coordinator for Oneida County Dept. of Social Services

Carrie Mikalauski has been the District 3 Alderperson for the City of Rhinelander, Wisconsin since April 2020. In her role as Alderperson, Carrie sits on the Planning and Zoning Committee and represents the City as a Site Team Member for One Nation One Project.

Carrie works for the Oneida County Department of Social Services in the Protective Services Unit. This unit is in charge of all the protective services for both children and adult. Carrie is also a Kinship Care Coordinator, which includes a caseload of families providing care for their child relative that has been placed outside of their parental home.

Carrie has been married to her husband, Brian for over 25 years and they have one adult daughter, Kaydee. In Carrie’s spare time she enjoys spending time with her family and friends, camping, watching/playing sports and serving her community. Carrie also loves the companionship of her two dogs, Cooper and Korbin.

Community & Cultural Development Director , ArtStart

As Community and Cultural Development Director for ArtStart in Rhinelander Childs focuses on Arts Based Community Development in rural settings. She leads collaborative community projects that span sustainability, economic development, youth advocacy, and cultural inclusion. Recent projects include working with local youth on a skatepark feasibility study for the CIty of Rhinelander, gallery and public art curation for Nicolet College, co-coordinating Project North, a music, art and sustainability festival, and launching a Northwoods JEDI initiative. Prior to moving to Rhinelander Childs was Director of Artists Services and a consultant for rural placemaking at Forecast Public Art in St. Paul, MN. In this role Childs designed professional and economic development training programs for artists and communities. Childs studied at the University of MN where she created an individualized degree focused on Art and Social Change with emphasis on Urban Studies, Geography, and Art. In addition to her work with ArtStart, Childs owns a frame shop and art gallery with her husband Jaron who is also an artist. The couple live in the woods with their two children, two dogs, a mess of chickens and lots of gardens.

Artist

Norma Dycus Pennycuff is an analogue photographer and cyanotype artist living in Eagle River, Wisconsin. A change of studio locations brought her to ArtStart of Rhinelander Wisconsin, where she is currently an artist in residence. Norma often draws on past experience working with families experiencing dementia or autism to influence the workshops and events she designs. She can be found on instagram at @artistic.norma

Artist

Witt Siasoco is a community-based visual artist living and working in Minneapolis, MN. Witt's practice is rooted in conversation and making art that catalyzes civic dialogue and collective action. Throughout his career, Witt has created community-engaged projects including This Home is Not for Sale, an Americans for the Arts' Public Art Award recipient; Drawing on Rice Street, a large-scale installation distilling over 200 conversations with St. Paul residents; and Carry On Homes Northeast, an installation focused on immigrant participation in the 2020 Census. You check out more of Witt's work at wittsiasoco.com.