Ketchum Arts Commission Members
Ketchum Arts Commission members are volunteers appointed by the Mayor. These individuals fulfill specific roles on the commission; their appointments are based upon KAC members' majority recommendation to the Mayor.
All commissioners are active in and passionate about the arts and have particular interest in providing art appreciation opportunities for the public. Commission members are professional artists, architects, builders, engineers and art professionals, or simply have an appreciation for artwork's positive and compelling contribution to humanity.
If you are interested in becoming a member of the Ketchum Arts Commission, please contact participate@ketchumidaho.org.
Caleb Spangenberger, Chair
Caleb brings over 15 years of architectural experience in residential and commercial design to his role as Project Architect at Williams Partners Architects here in Ketchum. Before joining Williams Partners, Caleb practiced architecture in his home town of Atlanta on various commercial projects throughout the country. Caleb moved to Ketchum in 2014 to work with Susan Desko in the custom residential market. Caleb has a Masters of Architecture from Texas A&M University. Part of his graduate program included studying and teaching in the historic and dramatic landscape of Barcelona, Spain. Caleb's studies, travels, and work experience have ultimately added to his passion for integrating art into the built environment. His time on the Arts Commission is spent with an interest in improving the daily experience by contributing to the backdrop of the Wood River Valley and Ketchum.
Carter Hedberg, Vice Chair
Carter first visited the Wood River Valley over 25 years ago and fell in love with the natural beauty of the area, as well as the charm and unique character of Ketchum. After a career in the field of residential and commercial interiors in Minneapolis, MN, Carter and his husband Wayne, moved permanently to Ketchum in 2006. He became immersed in the nonprofit community and in 2015 he was named Director of Philanthropy at The Community Library in Ketchum. Carter led a successful capital campaign to renew and renovate the 40 year old Library building, and served as a member of the Design Development Task Force for the project. The renovated Library was honored by the American Library Association and the International Interior Design Association for excellence in library interior design. He has volunteered for multiple nonprofit organizations in the Valley including: Sawtooth Botanical Garden, Mountain Humane, and St. Thomas Episcopal Church. He holds a B.A. in International Relations from Hamline University in St. Paul, MN and is CFRE, Certified Fund Raising Executive.
Claudia McCain
In 2007 at the request former Mayor, Randy Hall, Claudia McCain helped research and establish the Ketchum Arts Commission. She presided over the Commission from 2008-2015. After a hiatus, she returned to the KAC in 2018. Previously, she served on the KAC’s Cover Art, Art in City Hall, Art on Fourth and Governance Committees. She holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in sculpture from Stephens College. First visiting the Sun Valley area in 1965, Claudia continued to vacation with her family until she became a permanent resident in 1980.
She has devoted her life to the arts as an artist, business person and advocate. From 1985 - 1997 she was co-owner of River Run Gallery in Ketchum. For over thirty years she has been a stage actor, and for over 20 has been a proud member of Actors Equity Association. Her past accomplishments include chairing the Sun Valley Gallery Association, presiding over the Wood River Arts Alliance, President of the Sun Valley/Ketchum Chamber of Commerce, and board member of New Theatre Company. She was awarded Arts Advocate of the year in 1997. Current boards include Board President of The Liberty Theatre Co., SUN Airport Art Committee, and KAC.
Meredith Skillman
For the past 8 years, Meredith Skillman has served as Registrar at Gail Severn Gallery in Ketchum. She has over 10 years’ experience working in galleries, including Timothy Taylor Gallery, London. Growing up in a family of professional musicians, Meredith has a life-long love for music and the performing arts and is formally trained in vocal performance as a spinto soprano. Locally, she has participated in St. Thomas Playhouse productions, including the role of Maria Von Trapp in Sound of Music and Cinderella in Into the Woods. She also sings with St. Thomas Church Choir. Meredith holds Bachelor's degrees in Art History & American History from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, a Master of Arts in Contemporary Art from Sotheby’s Institute, London, and recently gained certification for Fine Arts Appraisal as an Associate Member of the Appraisers Association of America.
Jill Lear
Jill Lear is a painter whose trees in the landscape are a means of transcribing not only the experience of being in, and thinking about, Nature, but also the way in which we process the world around us. Jill’s large-scale works on paper have been exhibited in San Francisco, New York, Seattle, Dallas, Austin and Los Angeles Her work has been acquired by the permanent collections at Boston Children’s Hospital, The American Institute in Taipei, One World Trade Center, Wright State University Art Museum in Dayton, OH, as well as the Philip Isles Collection, New York. Jill trained formally at the New York Studio School and holds degrees from Southern Methodist University and The Chambre Syndicale of Haute Couture in Paris.
Sophie Sawyers
Sophie is an educator with interests in culturally responsive and social emotional learning. Before joining the Sun Valley Museum of Art in 2021, where she is now Director of Learning and Engagement, Sophie was a Third Grade teacher of Math, History, and English Language Arts in New York City. She earned a Master of Arts in Curriculum and Teaching from Teachers College, Columbia University and a Bachelor of Arts in Government and Education from Bowdoin College. For as long as she can remember, Sophie has loved art, travel, books, and the outdoors. She has hiked all 211 miles of the John Muir Trail in Northern California, enjoys painting flowers with watercolors, and is happy to call the Wood River Valley home
Mylan Chacon
A Native Idahoan, Mylan spent much of his life exploring the West, having lived in California, Nevada, and briefly, Washington. Every winter, Mylan would come to the Wood River Valley to witness its majestic beauty and in 2008 decided it was where he wanted to plant his roots. Finally, 3 years ago, he returned home to Idaho, bringing with him all the experiences of his career, adventures, and newly established family.
Mylan has been fabricating and installing public sculptures for artists, collectors, and businesses for over 14 years and serves as a sculpture conservationist for U.S. General Services Administration. Currently, he is managing the fabrication of museum exhibits such as a large project in Kuwait. Mylan holds a bachelor's degree in Graphic Design and a Master of Art in Sculpture from California State University Northridge. While in graduate studies, the seeds of his career sprouted, working for Juicy Couture producing and fabricating elaborate window displays for their 87 stores nationwide. From there he expanded the use of his skill set, navigating through numerous industries including luxury retail, restaurants & resorts, Art Galleries, Museums, and Public Art.
Staff/Community Liaisons
Eryn Alvey, Ketchum Events Manager and KAC City Liaison
Travis Jones, Ketchum Community Development Corporation
