PHOENIX: "BREAKING SILENCE #4"

ART SCHOOL WAS NEVER LIKE THIS WHEN I WAS AN ART STUDENT - 1955-1961

MISSA TEESHIRT DESIGNED BY TEXAN CERAMIC ARTIST RANDY BRODNAX

We have now come to the end of this year's session. It has been my distinct pleasure to introduce MISSA to you through the past four postings. This posting focusses on courses and happenings during the last week and many of the people that make it happen. The idea to start MISSA was mine, but the initial simple idea needed a team to bring it to fruition. Throughout the 28 years that it has been running a veritable army of people have been involved, from board members to instructors, technical staff, musicians, volunteers and kitchen staff. The opportunity to hold the school on the wonderful campus of Lester B. Pearson College of the Pacific has been most fortunate and hugely appreciated. We try to keep our course tuition at a little above break-even point to encourage participation by those who maybe financially stretched, but needing guidance. We offer bursaries to help in this direction and do special fundraising initiatives to develop a cache to draw from. MISSA has become a role model for other programs such as the Eye of the Dog School of Art in San Marcos, Texas. Billy Ray and Beverly Mangham, Founders of that School taught their inimitable courses for us again this year.

I received a comment on one of my Missa Blogs from Australia, bemoaning the current state of available art education with cutbacks from individual courses to whole departments and even institutions. This is happening all over the world. Art and culture are at the very foundation of humanity and the opportunity for personal expression one of our most important human rights.
There are many centers that have developed out of the insight and passion of the few.

It is not that difficult to start a cultural center. It needs vision, passion and push to achieve much that costs little, gives pride of accomplishment and saves sanity at the same time.

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PLENTY OF FOOD FOR THOUGHT AND ACTION.

WORN TO THE BONES

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I HAVE SO MANY IMAGES THAT I WILL HAVE TO DO ANOTHER POSTING IN A COUPLE OF DAYS TO ACCOMMODATE THEM. THE IMAGES SHOWN HERE ARE STAFF, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, TEACHING FACULTYAND ASSISTANTS.

DAVE SKILLINGS - EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

SHANA WATSON - EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT

TONY BOUNSALL - THE PREZ

JO-ANN RICHARDS - THE VICE PREZ

BARB LOVICK - SECRETARY

BETTY BURROUGHS (ON THE RIGHT) - AND TECHIE DAN

BILLY RAY MANGHAM (TEACHER) AND TECHIE STEVEN

PEGGY ELMES - CHIEF TECHIE

MISSING, OUT OF FOCUS OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE.

JUDI SCOTT - PAST PRESIDENT,
ANN PENNANT ( TREASURER),
ROBIN HOPPER - FOUNDING PRESIDENT EMERITUS, ISABEL TIPTON - FIBER SPECIALIST,
CAROL RAE - ART DIRECTOR,
DEBORAH CZERNECKY - PAINTING DIRECTOR
KAREL ROESSINGH - MUSIC DIRECTOR
GRETCHEN MARKLE - PAINTING DIRECTOR
MEIRA MATHISON - CERAMICS COODINATOR

TEACHING FACULTY - 2012