Meet Our Team

Lindsay Hanley joined SAM as Head Curator in 2018. She has been working in galleries for most of her life and brings her years of experience to the Siskiyou Arts Museum. She presides over our Show Proposal Events, and has made many connections with artists and other art organizations during her 10+ years living in Siskiyou County. Lindsay manages all of SAM’s gallery exhibits, coordinates with the artists, and presents an annual art show calendar to the board for approval. As this work is very extensive and time consuming, Lindsay serves as an independent contractor for SAM. Lindsay also operates Elemental Framing, which is a fine art framing studio located on SAM’s lower level of the building, and is open by appointment.

“I am excited to be a bigger part of the Siskiyou Arts Museum. I live in Dunsmuir and would love to see it thrive. I think SAM offers something special to the town and Siskiyou County.”

Ernie has been a SAM volunteer since 2013 and on the board since 2014. He serves as Horticulturist for Dunsmuir Botanical Gardens. He was recognized for his community activities by being named Dunsmuir’s Outstanding Citizen of 2018. As one of the founding members of Dunsmuir Second Saturdays, he believes that promoting monthly events in Dunsmuir is an important way to support local businesses. Ernie enjoys talking to visitors both at the museum and in the botanical gardens, and finding out what brought them to Dunsmuir.

SAM’s Makers Space, where community members can come and work on their art projects, is one of Ernie’s projects. He loves taking nature inspired photographs and is a member of the Nature Printing Society where he enjoys printing with leaves and other natural objects he collects on his travels throughout the region.

Bob and Ellen married more than 50 years ago in Costa Mesa, California. And after 40 years of teaching all flavors of high school science and coaching tennis, he followed her to Castella – just off the River Trail. He enjoys travel, good books, and email chess with his brothers, and even manages to get on the river for a bit of fishing.

Coming from a family of artists, Bob looks forward to supporting the arts in Siskiyou County.

Ellen, with her husband Bob, moved to Castella full time in 2015 after retiring from 32 years teaching elementary school in Carpinteria, California. Ellen enjoys working with fabric, hiking, and travel. She is fully invested in working to keep SAM a vibrant and welcoming member of the Dunsmuir community.

Linda has been a volunteer at SAM from the beginning. She took a couple of years off and is now back and on the Board of Directors. Her desire is to recruit more volunteers. Being a volunteer at SAM one gets to share in the experience of being surrounded by artists, their creativity, thought processes and expressions through art. There are many ways to volunteer, visit our volunteer page or come in to pick up an application!

Alan and Cynthia retired to Dunsmuir in 2021. Originally from Portland, Oregon, they most recently lived 10 years in Oxnard, California. Alan’s background is in engineering and executive management, pastoral ministries, and non-profit leadership.

Alan is currently refurbishing their 100 year old Dunsmuir house, active with Revive Church, assisting in efforts for Dunsmuir’s health and revitalization, helping his daughter-in-law Cate with her local education initiatives at Cedar Grove Center, and serving on the Board of SAM.

Cynthia studied ceramics in her home town of Portland, Oregon. She and her husband Alan raised a family there together, and also helped plant and lead a large church. She reclaimed her time as a ceramicist after her children were grown.

In 2021 Cynthia and Alan made the move to Dunsmuir to live next door to their children and grandchildren. Cynthia works with Alan on home renovations, is active with Revive Church, helps the extended family with their full schedules, and is making more time for the arts, including ceramics and painting, and volunteering in SAM’s gift shop.

Originally from Los Angeles, Michael has lived and created art in the San Fernando Valley, Sacramento, Marysville, and since 2016, Dunsmuir. He is active within his communities, volunteering for and engaging with local events and holding a variety of positions with multiple organizations. Since his move to Dunsmuir, Michael’s experience producing painted, photographed, and multi-media works of art has guided him to join the Board of Directors at the Siskiyou Arts Museum. He is currently expanding his artistic toolbox by studying ceramics at College of the Siskiyous.