Paul and Florence Thomas Art School Opens for Full 2009 Schedule

By Joel Frady

After a year of planning and a small course offering in the fall of 2008, the Paul and Florence Thomas

Memorial Art School in Glendale Springs will open their doors on Sunday, May 3, for an open house from 1 to 4 p.m. The event will give anyone interested the chance to tour the facilities before the school begins its full 2009 schedule on Thursday, May 7.

The school, which offered three classes when it had a "soft opening" in 2008, will offer approximately 40 classes between May and October ranging from drawing, photography and watercolor to writing, rug hooking and papermaking.

"The purpose of the school is to promote excellence in arts instruction in Ashe County, for Ashe County, and finding a facility and a vehicle for youth and the arts to make a significant contribution to many aspects of life in Ashe County," said Jane Lonon, secretary for the school. She said that the focus was to "pull all this together on the campus" of the school.

After extensive renovations, the school offers both lodging and classroom space. Lonon said that they held the trial run of classes in 2008 "to see if there was interest, if there was a need, and the answer to both of those questions was a very resounding 'Yes.'"

West Jefferson-based artist Stephen Shoemaker taught one of the classes in 2008 and said that it is a "great facility" that offers plenty of room and good lighting.

"We're fortunate to have a facility like that," he later added.

Lonon said that the 2009 schedule is comprised of classes "to give a little bit of everything and something for anyone that wanted to take classes, from the brand new beginning painter that's never had the courage to pick up a brush to the seasoned painter, professional artist, who is continuing to look for ways to grow and develop."

She noted that the school's primary focus is on the fine art.

"The school, equipment-wise, is not set up for equipment-heavy needs kind of classes like sculpture and iron work, pottery, anything that's going to take extra equipment, rooms and facilities," said Lonon. She noted that Florence Thomas's "main love was the fine arts and painting, and our first focus, in being true to her, is the fine arts and painting."

Lonon said that most of the classes are appropriate "for all levels and basically all mediums.

"The techniques that you would be learning when it comes to color, composition or form would be appropriate regardless of what medium you were choosing to use," she continued. "It gives lots of options for the student to be able to pick and choose."

She added that some craft classes will be offered, such as basketry, because they "don't want those kinds of activities to be lost, we want to pass on those instructional activities."

Shoemaker said that he "had a good time trying to get everybody involved in conversation and share ideas" with his 2008 class, and that once the students "got to know each other they became very comfortable in that situation. They would talk with one another and show each other what they were doing, what they were trying to accomplish. They fed off each other, and I fed off of all of them."

The first few classes to be held in 2009 are: May 7-8, Barbara Timberman, Drawing; May 14-16, Stephen Shoemaker, Dry brush watercolor; May 15-17, Cheryl Roberts, Rug Hooking; and May 18-22, Richard Tumbleston, process.

For a full list of classes, or to find out more about the Paul and Florence Thomas Memorial Art School, click to www.florenceartschool.org. Anyone interested can also contact Lonon at the Ashe County Arts Council at (336) 846-2787.