about us

Sandra is an artist living in Auburn. After retiring from retail management, she now pursues her passion for art, painting, and all things beautiful. Over the past few years, she has developed an artistic niche previously unfilled. Her work focuses on women’s rights, empowerment, famous female figures of the past and present and their contributions to society. Sandy grew up in Auburn and often paints local historic figures, scenes, buildings and promotes her hometown through art. She is on the board of the Finger Lakes Art Council as President.

A member of the National League of American Pen Women and Women March Seneca Falls Committee. Credits: *Gallery Show- Women’s Rights National Historic Park – February/March 2018 *Award of Merit 2018 - National League of American Pen Women, National Biennial Art Award “Osborne Hotel Circa 1917” *Award of Merit 2020 – National League of American Pen Women, National Biennial Art Award “Harriet’s Threads,” on display at the Pen Arts Gallery Washington DC *The Women’s Right National Historic Park – Mural of The First Women’s Rights Convention 1848 Seneca Falls NY. Her work is available for purchase throughout the Finger Lakes at the following locations: The Equal Rights Heritage Center – Auburn NY The Seward House and Mansion – Auburn NY The Susan B Anthony House and Museum – Rochester NY The Women’s Rights National Historic Park – Seneca Falls NY.

You can also visit her Retail Boutique, Studio and Workshop Artistic Impressions, opened with her partner Bill Clark in March 2021. This unique destination and shopping experience is located at the historic Willard Memorial Chapel, 17 Nelson Street in Auburn. Explore one of a kind original paintings, prints, greeting cards, hand crafted jewelry with semi-precious crystals and stones, quirky brooches, gifts and “gentlework.”

Teresa Ringwood Hoercher was born in Auburn and is a graduate of Auburn Community College, and has a Bachelor of Arts degree from Nazareth College and a Master of Library Science degree from SUNY Geneseo.

Recently retired, Teresa’s occupations have included children’s librarian in Geneva and Henrietta, toy director in Rochester toy director and tutorial director at Cayuga Community College.

Teresa and her husband, Bill Hoercher, reside in Auburn and have four children and seven grandchildren. Teresa is a small business owner, The Postcard Project (thepostcardproject.us), the proceeds of which are donated to Auburn Education Foundation and Finger Lakes Land Trust.

Her interests include swimming, reading, knitting and — surprise — sending postcards.

Sydney Fischer is currently serving as the Executive Director of the Willard Memorial Chapel historic site located in Auburn, New York. She also works at Moro’s Kitchen in Skaneateles, and does website maintenance for local not for profits.

Outside of her professional commitments, Sydney enjoys reading, listening to music, and painting landscapes. This is her first experience on a board, and as an aspiring artist, she is deeply committed to the Finger Lakes Art Council’s mission of supporting and promoting local artists.

Creative Consultant Jesse Kline works by day as the Executive Director of the Downtown Auburn BID, doing public art projects, event planning, communications & marketing, and curating art shows at downtown venues.

Jesse is a three-time NYS Council on the Arts Individual Artist Grant Recipient. She was awarded funds to create painted murals & mosaics in downtown Auburn with other artists & community volunteers. Currently, she is Project Manager for BID’s Public Art Placemaking funded by the NYS Downtown Revitalization Initiative. Installs will include three sculptures, two murals and street pole panels on City streets, public parks, and exterior walls of private businesses.

Independently, Jesse has created and led Art for Auburn since 2010, completing 17+ projects including sculptures, painted, vinyl and croqueted murals, painted planters, mosaics and pedestrian & park signage.

Since 2004, Jesse has owned her own design business, completing residential and commercial projects including Prison City Pub & Brewery, Shepherds Brewing Co., The Sinclair of Skaneateles, and The Refinery at the Hilton Garden Inn, to name a few. Her colorful abode, humorously coined the “hotel no-tel,” was featured on an episode of HGTV’s Offbeat America.

A butcher, a baker and candlestick maker. OK, I never was a real butcher, but I’ve worked in a few kitchens and painted hundreds of candlesticks for MacKenzie-Childs a few years back.

Raised by an artistic and creative family, art has always been a big part of my life. I have studied art in Europe and later received an advertising and design degree. I have painted several interior murals and 11 exterior (some of which you may have seen in your local travels).

I am currently doing many types of freelance jobs, including set design and painting, logo design, signs, etc. Puppetry is a big part of my life, I make marionettes and create shows that join music, storytelling and expressive art like no other medium. I hope to inspire those that wish to create with less technology. My business (streetsmartart.com) embraces all these mediums.

I am excited to be a part of Finger Lakes Arts Council; it’s wonderful to be around other creatives. I hope that I can assist in many ways and help our community stay strong in the arts. It also helps to prevent me from being a hermit.

Kathleen Petrocci is a freelance designer and owner of Pocketbooks and Pages (pocketbooksandpages@gmail.com), which makes one-of-a-kind handbags and jewelry, uniquely handcrafted with upcycled hardcover books and pages.

Among Kathy’s occupations, she was a project specialist in interiors at Lowe’s, a project consultant at McClurg Remodeling, and office and billing manager at Westside Physical Therapy LLC.

Kathy resides in Auburn and studied interior design at Onondaga Community College.