The Community Fine Arts Center in Rock Springs, WY, opened its doors in the fall of 1966 but its beginnings were much earlier-1939-when the first painting was purchased to hang in the local high school. This painting is Shack Alley by Henrietta Wood, which became the nucleus of the permanent collection. Much more art was purchased over the years and as a result the CFAC holds several well-known artists works, including Norman Rockwell, Grandma Moses, and Salvador Dali; all purchased during Halseth’s time.
The gallery founder, Elmer Halseth, was a high school science teacher, who inspired students to raise funds which were used to purchase the art to hang in local classrooms. Mr. Halseth was the first director of the center, as well as a state representative and supporter of the arts until his death in 1991. Eventually the collection grew large enough to need its own home and a grant enabled Mr. Halseth to purchase the gallery at its current location, which was formerly a church. Today the CFAC is attached to the Rock Springs C Street Library, which historically was a separate building from the gallery, and a Carnegie library. The CFAC is also managed by the Sweetwater County Library System, in cooperation with School District 1, which owns Elmer Halseth’s original collection.
The Community Fine Arts Center has expanded since Halseth’s time to include a resource room, with an art library, study table, and photography and sculpture collection, the project of former gallery director and artist Deb Soule. The CFAC also houses the “Chinese Massacre Room” which contains paintings and artifacts dedicated to educating the public about this difficult chapter in local history.
In addition, the CFAC supports local artist through a variety of avenues such as school visits throughout the spring, educational visits on the Chinese massacre for local 3rd and 4th graders, a gift shop filled with local artists work (from which the proceeds go to a scholarship for local high school student or students wishing to pursue the arts) and youth arts month(s) which showcases local k-12 students arts from February-May each year.
We also have a rotating exhibit gallery, where artist from around the region are featured in artists exhibitions as well as community shows where any artists may submit work around a theme. Finally, the CFAC holds free community art classes, where anyone may attend classes on such subjects as candle painting, watercolor, print making, and collage, as well as a monthly artist meet up group, and an annual Plein Air competition.
And of course, the Community Fine Arts Center is fueled by the love and generosity of its staff. Pictured below, from left to right.
Denise Mosley, CFAC Assistant. Denise has worked with a variety of artistic media since 2002. She began her career with a degree in Art Education from UW and spent the following 15 years teaching high school art classes while perfecting her craft and honing in on her personal style.Pinstriping has been a staple in her repertoire since she began her artistic career and continues to be something that she offers to clients on their vehicles as well as in the form of art and home decor. Denise also works in painting and photography and enjoys a variety of art challenges by exploring new media and experimenting with artistic techniques.
Denise enjoys the interaction and collaboration she gets to experience working at the CFAC, as well as learning and teaching about the local and regional artists that are on display.
Amanda Romero, CFAC Manager. Amanda Romero is a lifelong artist and resident of Sweetwater County. She enjoys painting and drawing an has served the community as an artist and educator. Amanda began her work at the CFAC as assistant to the director in 2021 and was promoted to the manager’s position in 2025.
With her love for the arts, Amanda is committed to continuing the CFAC vision of promoting and cultivating the arts is southwest Wyoming, as well as focusing her daily work on collection management, developing classes, and encouraging the love of art and culture within the community.
Carrie Tuttle, CFAC Assistant. Carrie Tuttle has a background in science, writing and education. She is a published poet and writer and enjoys working on blending her interests in art, nature, and writing into mixed media collage pieces.
Carrie began working at the CFAC in 2025, after 2 years of working for the Sweetwater County Library system as a Substitute.
She enjoys educating the gallery patrons on many of the pieces of art on display, as well as managing the CFAC social media pages, and helping to teach classes to the community.
There is no admission charge to the Community Fine Arts Center. The Center is open Monday through Thursday, 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., Friday 10:00 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday noon to 4:00 p.m. Closed Sundays and major holidays.
The Community Fine Arts Center is a Culture Grows grantee of Wyoming Humanities, joining a cohort of 14 other organizations this year.
