Stubbs #FlashbackFriday

This memory with our Beta Eta collegians Alicia, Gina, Alessi, Caleigh, Anna, Kellie and Franklin is from February 2015. Can't wait for Stubbs Educational Foundation's 2017 A Night on the Red Carpet!

Amanda Thompson - #COCA - #WCW - #WhyAlphaChi

What a treat to celebrate the #FineArts with our sister Amanda K. Thompson, initiate of Alpha Upsilon!
Thank you Tallahassee Democrat for this portrait of our sister!

25 women you need to know: Amanda Karioth Thompson

(Photo: Kira Derryberry)

If you believe that art is important, that a community prospers when it is surrounded by beautiful things, and that artists need the occasional helping hand to grow and create for all of us — then you probably have Amanda Karioth Thompson to thank.

For the last 10 years, as a smiling face of COCA, the Council on Culture & Arts, Thompson, its Education and Exhibitions Director, has curated public art shows from the State Capitol to the airport. She has served as liaison to schools and arts organizations and she has been a leader in bringing large scale art pieces to public spaces.

Additionally, Thompson serves on dozens of committees pertaining to music, art, and learning and her list of classroom volunteerism, arts mentorships and service organizations’ leadership stretch from local schools to the Junior League and Senior Centers.

So how did this Woman (we) Need to Know get that way?

Brimming with enthusiasm and intelligence, Thompson says that creativity is in her DNA. With grandparents who valued music and fine craft, visual expression and performing seemed to come naturally. “I had an epiphany in the third grade that I would become an art teacher,” she says. And in a way, that is her role at COCA. Thompson says that she is thrilled by the curiosity and bravery of working artists — and she strives to provide support and make spaces for that work to be brought to the public.

Thompson, who has two Bachelor’s degrees in art and a Master’s in Art Education from Florida State University, says that when she was hired at COCA a decade ago, she had a steep climb ahead of her. “All of COCA’s educational initiatives were built from scratch based on the expressed needs of this community.  As fulfilling as that has been, I have found myself, more than once, lamenting the absence of some kind of roadmap. I’ve learned so much from other educators and leaders in the arts and I try to take the best bits from each of them.”

She has grown from professional challenges and acknowledges her mentors. “We all have someone who has shown a demonstrated interest in our success. I have a list a mile long of people who have lifted me up and believed in me, even when I didn’t deserve it. Leaders need good models and I’ve had more than my fair share.”

Just as important as her job, Thompson feels strongly about volunteerism. As a child, she remembers Thanksgivings helping with dinners for the homeless, visiting the elderly in nursing homes, and making care packages for grieving families. “Volunteering gives you empathy and teaches you how to motivate others, work towards a common goal, and celebrate the unique talents of each individual.”

About empathy, Thompson says that both curiosity and empathy have helped her most in leadership roles. “It’s so important to be sensitive to someone’s talents as well as their insecurities. An artist’s work is essentially an extension of themselves and, very often, I’m putting it on public display. That can be scary. I spend a lot of time reassuring, validating and cheering people on.”

As a native Tallahasseean, she is fiercely loyal to this town. “This community raised me. It has nurtured my gifts, strengthened my weaknesses, and continues to show me love in unexpected and beautiful ways."

And though Amanda Thompson seems everywhere, all the time, in the arts community, it’s the support of loved ones that keeps her energized. “I have an amazing husband and incredible parents who instilled in me a deep sense of compassion for others and respect for creativity.  I’ve got some of the smartest and most generous friends imaginable and they’ve saved my tail a time or two. Being surrounded by people who celebrate my triumphs and steady me when I stumble is one of the greatest gifts I could have ever asked for.”

She coordinates and curates one of our favorites:  "Art in Public Places" program.

Who are our other stellar AXO sisters in this category?
Tracey Cohen (Epsilon Chi, UNC Chapel Hill)
Laura Rogers (Beta Eta, FSU)

Keenan Fishburne (Gamma Chi, Stetson)

#MacDowellMonth Sisterhood Spotlight

Thank you for this borrowed profile from Stubbs Music Center to highlight this  #MacDowellMonthMonday:

Barbara Willis: Piano Department

Since 1989 Barbara Willis has been teaching piano at Stubbs' Music Center.  Mrs. Willis received her Piano Performance degree from Florida State University.  Mrs. Willis has memberships in Alpha Chi Omega, Sigma Alpha Iota, Music Teachers National Association, Florida Music Teachers Association, Tallahassee Music Teachers Association, National Federation of Music Clubs, and National Guild of Piano Teachers.  She has served as pianist and organist at several local churches.  Mrs. Willis has been very active in having her students participate within recitals, student competitions and evaluations.  She has served as president of the Tallahassee Music Teachers Association.  

Stubbs Educational Foundation & Music School #TBT 2012 and 2013

We are so thankful to our alumnae who continue to support the #finearts and our sisters Joy S. Stubbs (Gamma Iota, UF), Eugenia Battle (Alpha Upsilon, UAL), and our Brother of #Hermes Chuck Stubbs (TKE, FSU).

20 Years of #finearts in music for #Tallahassee

More wonderful news from Joy and Chuck:  "The couple presented the Stubbs’ Educational Foundation with funds to establish the Frank and Virginia Brown endowment in memory of Joy’s grandparents. The Stubbs' Educational Foundation is a non-profit organization in North Florida that provides scholarships to children for music instruction.  Chuck and Joy believe that the study of music enhances education as a whole and that the endowment is a lasting way to commemorate Frank and Virginia."

Here we are in the center, bottom photo! Jenn (Theta Lambda), Britain (Beta Eta),
Joy (Gamma Iota), Amy (Zeta Upsilon). Magie (Pi), Tara (Beta Eta)

Chuck (TKE, FSU and Brother of Hermes) and Joy Stubbs (Gamma Iota)

Alumna Initiate Beth Blair in #CalendarGirls

Epsilon Tau Epsilon was so fortunate to alumna initiate Beth Blair (mom of Joy A. S. Stubbs, Gamma Iota - UF). Beth loves life, philanthropy and appreciates & partakes of the Fine Arts:  What a perfect example of a Real. Strong. Woman.

Make sure to catch Beth as Jessie at Theatre Tallahassee in the role of in Calendar Girls. This is the last weekend for the production! We also must note one of the production sponsors is COCA, and our sister Amanda works there!

Below we posted her appearance in "Love, Loss & What I Wore." Our alumna Erin (Iota Psi, Elon) said, "Beth stole the show!"

#AXO is in @ThomasvilleGA too! (@ThomasvilleArts)

Thomasville, GA is a perfect place for a date night or shopping trip from Tallahassee, FL. Check out this recent page from the Tallahassee Magazine for ideas:

And did you know, PLENTY of Alpha Chi Omega sisters live in and around Thomasville? the majority of our sisters in that area initiated at Beta Eta (FSU), Beta Sigma (UGA), Epsilon Pi (GA SW State U, Inactive)

Want to know more about that fun town? They are all over Instagram!
sweetgrassdairy
chophouseonthebricks
THOM magazine
Blue Coop
Kevin's
Plantation Wildlife Arts Festival

Check out some of their magazines:  http://www.thomasvillemagazine.com/, online magazines.

Pick up a copy of #THOM magazine (support the fine arts, of course):

And guess who we saw in the magazine? Our sister Britney (Beta Sigma, UGA and Certified Spinning Instructor at the YMCA)!

(she's seated on the left)

#WhyAlphaChiWed - Creative Collegians! @axo_fsu @xoxmeredith #FSU18

We are excited to showcase the design work of a Beta Eta collegian!

Best of Luck in your Digital Arts career pursuits Meredith!

http://www.mabdesigns.squarespace.com/

Tallahassee More Beautiful - #tbt

Follow up on  our previous post for our sister

Erin (Iota Psi, Elon)

Erin Boomgarden (Iota Psi, Elon)'s collborative work from graduate school in the FSU Department of Art Education and Art Therapy Association on the corner of Gaines and Railroad Square. 

Thank you sister Amanda (Alpha Upsilon, Alabama) and the Council on Culture & Arts (@COCABuzz) for noting this art on their website as "Outdoor Public Art"

You can celebrate MacDowell Month (when Alpha Chi Omegas everywhere take part in and support the fine arts) anytime you want thanks to Erin!

and enjoy her Etsy shop:  http://www.etsy.com/shop/SaturatedWhimsee

Photos courtesy of Utrecht Tallahassee

MacDowell Month w/ @AXO_FSU's Painted Wall

We appreciated Tallahassee's Council on Culture and Arts Highlighting the FSU Painted Walls as part of their "Outdoor Public Art" webpage.

Our sister Amanda works hard for @COCABuzz and we love the folks there!

See past posts about Amanda:

http://axoete.blogspot.com/2012/07/coca-for-kids-sharing-love-of-fine-arts.html

http://axoete.blogspot.com/2012/07/coca-art-in-airport-with-axo.html

http://axoete.blogspot.com/2012/04/another-sister-featured-for-art-and.html

http://axoete.blogspot.com/2011/03/i-spy-sisters-in-community_31.html

Another sighting of #FSU Nancy Smith Fichter for #MacDowellMonth & #WhyAlphaChiWednesday

Loved this photo of Nancy Smith Fichter (Beta Eta, 1949) from the Tallahassee Democrat and the Florida State University Archives.

We found this great article about Nancy too in the Tallahasse Magazine! We are lucky to highlight our own "fine arts super star sisters" during MacDowell Month.

#Stubbs Music Center and Stubbs Educational Foundation - #MacDowellMonth

Kicking off #MacDowell Month with an article about Stubbs (daughter-in-law is Joy, Gamma Iota) Music Center and Stubbs Educational Foundation from the Tallahassee Magazine.

Painting with a Twist Recap - #TBT

We had such a good time before recruitment started in August 2012 at Painting with a Twist!
In honor of our Founders' Day on October 15th, we celebrate ETE's sisterhood with this recap.

With alumnae from five collegiate chapters represented, we enjoyed snacks, drinks, cupcakes and the society of our sisters while we stretched our creative and artistic muscles!

In true Alpha Chi Omega form - we chose to paint peacocks in honor of Hera!

Kristen's masterpiece!

Kappa Xi (UWF) alumnae Danielle and Meagan

The amazing chapter advisor for Beta Eta (FSU) and author of Simply Southern Girl blog

Our president (Amy Z - Zeta Upsilon) has many talents!

Our Awards from #AXO Convention 2012 #TBT

We're playing catch-up and decided October (our founding month) was a great opportunity to reflect on our blessings from Convention 2012 in St. Louis, MO.

ETE worked SUPER HARD between Convention 2010 and 2012 and we were rewarded with FOUR alumnae chapter awards!

If you follow our tweets (@AXOETE) you might have caught us winning the awards back in July.


The box arrived; the excitement built!

We won the following:

• Domestic Violence Outreach
• Collegiate Chapter Support - Local
• PACE
• Fine Arts

We will use the neat Alpha Chi-themed awards as prizes for our sisterhood events!

More Legacies Shining in Tallahassee

How wonderful to see a legacy in the lead role at the Tallahassee Young Actors Theatre. Brynn is the daughter of Michelle (Epsilon Phi). Michelle is an Alpha Chi legacy from her mom Kay (BH). Michelle served as a Beta Eta advisor, is a Tallahassee Junior League member and remains very active in the Tallahassee community where she was raised.

Fine Arts Recap - Throwback Thursday

Why is this Fine Arts post a "Throwback Thursday"?
Because we revisit April 2011! Hey, it's never too late to highlight a sister's achievements!
And it is the perfect way to wrap up a month of busy fine arts activities.

"Catharsis and Sublimation"
The Florida State Art Therapy Association (FSU ATA) presented artworks by current FSU Art Therapy students.

The show occurred Friday, April 1st during the First Friday Gallery Hop at Fire Ants Studio in Railroad Square Art Park.

Our super talented sister Erin B (Iota Psi, Elon) showed two works of art that evening. In the photograph to the right you can see the mixed media works - the bird above her and the tree to her right.

(Feb 2013 update:  Erin graduated successfully and was married this past November in Tallahassee. We hope she and hubbie Ryan remain with us in Tallahassee for many years!)

We also featured Erin's work here:
http://axoete.blogspot.com/2011/02/macdowell-month-alpha-chis-celebrating.html

Engaging in Cultural Arts Helps YOU

 

How are you celebrating Alpha Chi Omega's heritage this month?

 

Stubbs Education Foundation for Music Scholarships

It's time for another "Party with a Purpose!"

What better to celebrate Fine Arts then with sisters as we support other sisters and musical talent?!

Stubbs' Educational Foundation, Inc. provides Music and Academic Scholarships
to students in the Tallahassee area.

Buy your ticket now and enjoy all the fun:

here we are last year - YES, we did have that much fun! Back Row (all Brother of Hermes members):  Marc, Chris, Chris Front Row:  Jenn (Theta Lambda), Britain (Beta Eta), Joy (Gamma Iota), Amy (Zeta Upsilon), Magie (Pi) and Tara (Beta Eta)

And here were are from year's past:
http://axoete.blogspot.com/2012/04/stubbs-educational-foundation-ss.html

http://axofloridastate.blogspot.com/2012/02/stubbs-educational-foundation-mardi.html

Celebrate Valentine's with Fine Arts & a Good Cause

Our Beta Eta sister Stefanie's son Brian was diagnosed with dystonia when he was in high school at Lincoln. Stefanie and Brian traveled to New York to find relief from the disease that struck him so swiftly and suddenly. Happily, he graduated from FSU May 2012 and is able to walk thanks to set of batteries implanted in his body. The family started a research fund to continue the research into this third most common form of neurological, muscle tremor disease.

Tickets for dinner and the Off-Broadway Musical performance of "I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change" on February 14th and 15th at the University Center Club at FSU will benefit the research program. curtainsforacause.com

http://www.tallahassee.com/article/20130211/NEWS01/302110018/-Curtains-production-raises-funds-awareness-disease

2nd Saturday Outing to Celebrate MacDowell Month

What better way to celebrate MacDowell Month than by enjoying local art and sharing with your family? Teach your children early about Fine Arts and the importance of supporting and loving art!


Second Saturdays at MFH both delight and educate
12:30 AM, Jan 13, 2013

Getting their fingers dirty with pastel crayons and creating art together on a Saturday afternoon will always be a fond memory for local mom Jennifer Humayun and her 10-year-old daughter, Ursula.

Humayun said they were just looking to spend a day at the Museum of Florida History when they stumbled into the Second Saturday activities. The group of about 20 parents and children took a tour of the museum’s temporary exhibit, Reflections: Paintings of Florida, 1865-1965. After the tour they recreated one of the works in the exhibit.

“It’s enriching because the kids don’t realize that they are learning about the history of Florida and then art,” Humayun said. “All these different aspects that are woven together — art, history and spending time with family — people should be out here. This will be a memory I never forget.”

Second Saturdays at MFH have been going on for years, said Bonnie McCluskey, museum program supervisor.

The program is always focused on an exhibit at the museum and is family oriented, added Jennie Brock, museum educator. In the coming months, activities on Second Saturdays will include story time about Florida wildlife and a recycled art project.

“It teaches the kids a sense of their history — what their environment was, where they come from — and I love that they are doing it through art,” said Antje Meissner, who brought her children to the museum for the activities.

“It’s difficult to get kids interested in art exhibits and I think they are doing a great job with that here,”she added.

Special guestPerdita Ross came for this month’s program and led the hands-on art project.

“I hope they took away that art is always about something,” Ross said, local artists and art educator.

“It has significance to where you live, what you see and history.”

“The kids were a lot of fun,” she added.

Ursula had a good time, plus she got to learn about sable palms being the state tree and about whooping cranes.

“I like drawing and being able to be creative,” she said. “And it’s really fun that kids get to learn about plants and Florida history — but in a fun way.”

MacDowell Month Ideas

From Daily Good, a list to grow your creativity that is perfect for MacDowell Month!

Art Every Day Tasks

Visit a museum or galleryTake a street art walking tourTake a photoResearch an artistCreate something handmade and give it to someoneSign up for an art classCreate a floral or stone arrangementMake a self-portraitDoodle for 10 minutes straightFrame something you have been meaning to frameSketch somebody and give them the pictureCreate a font type for your nameCreate a business cardCheck out an art book at the libraryBreak something. (You have to destroy in order to create!)Make a collageSupport the local arts scene by going to a local festival, music event, art show, play, museum exhibit, etc.Make a card for someone you loveMake an inspiration board (moodboard) for a future projectDraw some chalk art on the sidewalkMake origamiFinger paintIllustrate a song that inspires youAdd an art blog's RSS feed to your readerDraw the best part of todaySend a friend a link to your favorite artist's workCreate a place in your home to store your creative suppliesClose your eyes and draw for five minutesDraw yourself as a cartoonTake your camera with you on a walk and document the experienceCreate an artist’s workspace in your home