Meet The Team

Our team brings together a wide range of perspectives and experiences, from visual art and movement to education and event planning, each contributing a unique skill set. What unites us? A deep belief in the transformative power of creativity to solve problems, inspire action, and connect people with causes that need their support.

Clare Cook

Founder & Creative Director

Clare Cook is a choreographer, educator, and arts leader based in Lafayette, LA. After earning her MFA in Dance from NYU Tisch and working in NYC for a decade, she returned home to found Basin Arts, a nonprofit arts incubator fostering sustainable creative practice. Clare creates dance works, leads community collaborations, and advocates for innovative arts models across Louisiana.

Her work spans choreography, teaching, and arts administration, with performances and programs impacting countless organizations. A passionate community-builder and proud mom of two, Clare continues to shape a vibrant, inclusive arts ecosystem rooted in connection, creativity, and care.

Kay Blanchard

BARE Walls Administrator

Kay Blanchard was born and raised in Lafayette, Louisiana. She has spent over 10 years working Downtown, growing her knowledge of the local art scene and expanding her reach in the community. Spending such formative years in the creative epicenter of Lafayette instilled in her a passion for culture, art, and supporting those who bring them all to life. She has been a painter, writer, flow artist, and self-proclaimed art historian, compelled by every art form she comes across.

Kay began her professional journey in the arts with Deuxieme Vie Creative, inheriting a passion for blending art and sustainability. Additionally, she was able to coordinate and curate shows for local artists. She later had the honor and pleasure of working with Lynda Frese to archive her life’s work. Now, working with the BARE Walls program, she feels right at home supporting artists once again.

Dirk Guidry

BARE Walls Program Director

Dirk Guidry, Lafayette, Louisiana based artist, creates large-scale abstract paintings, live event paintings, portraits, and murals. A 2012 BFA Painting graduate from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, Guidry's work is inspired by the Acadiana culture and his distinctive style is evident in his portraits and murals. His studio provides live painting experiences for nearly 55 events and weddings annually nationwide.

Guidry's work appears in private collections across the US. He has participated in The Other Art FairDallas, received ArtSpark funding, was the 2022 Festival International de Louisiane Visual Artist, and is a 2025 Top 20 Under 40 Acadiana Award honoree. He serves on the Louisiana State Arts Council and co-founded the BareWalls art subscription service.

Harper Gunn

Communications Manager

Harper Gunn is a communications professional and digital media specialist from Lafayette, Louisiana. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Strategic Communications with a concentration in Public Relations and a minor in Promotional Management from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette.

With a background in digital media, video production, graphic design, and strategic communications, Harper enjoys creating thoughtful, community-centered content that highlights local artists and creative initiatives. As Communications Manager at Basin Arts, she leads the organization's digital storytelling, marketing, and public outreach, helping connect the community with the people, programs, and experiences that make Basin Arts a vibrant creative hub.

Bethany Lejeune

Visual Arts Curator

Bethany LeJeune is an artist whose work consists of mixed media sculptures, installations, and video. She received her BFA at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette in 2019 and her MFA at the Vermont College of Fine Arts low residency program in 2022. Her work revolves around notions of care in relation to Southwest Louisiana where she’s from and often takes on themes of femininity, familial relationships, and bodily disfigurement. LeJeune holds curatorial practice with the Basin Arts collective in Lafayette, Louisiana, is an adjunct professor at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, and has worked for major art institutions in the area including the Hilliard Art Museum and the Acadiana Center for the Arts.

A'Myra Menard

Art Administration Intern

A’Myra Menard is a dancer, choreographer, and arts educator with over 15 years of dance experience. She earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, graduating Cum Laude.

A’Myra began her dance training at F.I.R.E. Expressions Performing Arts Conservatory, where she studied ballet, modern, jazz, contemporary, tap, African, hip-hop, and pointe. Throughout her career, she has performed in numerous productions while developing a passion for both performance and arts education.

As an educator, A’Myra has taught students of all ages, creating supportive learning environments that encourage confidence, creativity, technical growth, and self-expression. She believes in the power of the arts to build community and inspire lifelong learning.