SOBA Board Members
Marie Burgeson
President
Mary Ann Burgeson (Marie at SOBA) was active in the Art world from a museum perspective while living in the Chicago area. She was on the auxiliary board of the Art Institute of Chicago and a founding member of the National Museum of Women in the Arts in 1981. After moving here she took painting and drawing classes at SOBA and now exhibits at our gallery. She says the talent and friendliness of the members are what makes leading the board such a pleasure.
Cynthia Van Nus
Vice President
John Kenney
Treasurer
Art allows us to look at the world around us differently. The relationships between shape, line, color and tone come to life and are constantly changed by light. John Kenney’s oil paintings are about the manipulation of light and geometric shapes. The direction and intensity of light controls image and texture. He finds inspiration in the every day. John’s art is an expression of what he sees and feels, whether as an abstraction or as modern expressionism. To see more, visit his website.
Jeanne Francisco
Recording Secretary
Jeanne Francisco and her husband, Bill, recently moved into the Low Country via Keuka Lake, NY and Siesta Key, FL. Jeanne got involved with SOBA through the many great classes she took (and still takes) at The SOBA Art School located next door to the gallery. Although she loves dabbling in any creative endeavor, she has focused in on oil painting as the perfect mindful pastime. She serves on the board to help support the efforts and talents of local artists.
Karen Richards
Membership Chair
Sandy Utsey Rhodes
Community Relations Manager
Sandy is a native of S.C. and attended Winthrop College. Starting at the age of 12 with oils, she continued with her art degree by teaching art in school and giving private lessons to adults as well. Her style has changed over the years but her favorite is the loose impressionism of the Old Masters. Sandy paints a lot of low country scenes on anything that will hold still-even furniture! She has completed many commissioned pieces. Murals and large screen dividers have also been a part of her art repertoire.
- 803-943-8749
Barbara Pecce
Director SOBA Art School
Barbara Pecce is a watercolor artist and teacher who has recently moved to South Carolina from Puerto Rico. During the 47 years she and her family lived in San Juan, she was a founding member and long time president of the Asociacion de Acuarelistas de Puerto Rico. She also taught watercolor at the Lisa de Arte in Old San Juan and at the Museo de Arte.
Barbara is now an active member of the Society of Bluffton Artists ( SOBA) and currently volunteers as Education and Workshop Coordinator at the SOBA Art School.
Lin Hilts
Staffing Manager
As the staffing manager, Lin Hilts’ duty is to ensure that the gallery is open to the public every day (except for national holidays). Thanks to the tireless efforts of member artists who display their artwork each month, the SOBA gallery’s exhibit changes regularly — the first Monday of each month or on the first Tuesday if the Monday is a holiday. Our artist members volunteer 3.5 hours on a day of their choosing. Staffing is critical to the success of the gallery to be open for business.
Kim France
Marketing Manager
Kim France came to the Lowcountry via Raleigh, NC and Cincinnati, OH. When she arrived, she had never held a paint brush. But, the Bluffton and Hilton Head scenes inspired her to try her hand at oil painting. Primarily self taught, Kim has nurtured her desire to improve artistically through workshops at The Art School which is run by SOBA Gallery and is located next door to the gallery. She serves on the board because she values the exposure that SOBA gives to her art and enjoys the camaraderie of the Bluffton Art community.
Pat Diemand
Gallery Display Manager
Pat Diemand began her journey as an artist as a young child, guided by her desire and natural ability. She was a member of the Western New York Artists’ Group in Buffalo, NY and the WA Project for the Arts/Corcoran in Washington, DC.
Diemand’s work has appeared in a variety of exhibitions over the years, including the Albright Knox Sales/Rental Gallery, Buffalo, New York; the Artful Gifts Exhibition at Art Dialogue Gallery, Buffalo, NY; and the Cumberland Valley Artists’ Exhibition in Hagerstown, Md. Locally, her work can be seen at Alexander’s Restaurant in Palmetto Dunes. She also teaches the Summer Art Camp for kids at SOBA.
