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League Marks 50 Years

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By CHERYL KUCK

Tribune correspondent

Published: January 7, 2009

In 2009, the Brandon League of Fine Arts will celebrate 50 years of generating interest in the arts through educational programs and service to the community.

At the league's annual Christmas party Dec. 8 at the Center Place Fine Arts and Civic Association in Brandon, the new board of directors, who will be responsible for taking the organization forward marking a half-century of local art support, was presented to its members.

Doreen Donovan retains the presidency after having served two previous terms. Roxanne Tobaison is the newly elected vice president. She held the office of president in 1994 and 2005. Minnette Webster is the interim secretary, and Felix Velazquez serves his second term as treasurer.
Brandon area artists and art lovers organized the league in 1959 as the Brandon Area Art Center. In 1977, the name was changed to The Brandon League of Fine Arts.

Through the years the league has presented exceptional events, such as the Brandon Tour of Homes and the annual Members' Show. Members have offered countless outdoor exhibits and paint-outs open to the community, as well as free instructional workshops and demonstrations - including a calendar of original paintings depicting historic Brandon.

The league maintains a close relationship with Center Place and provides support for monthly art exhibitions there, in addition to providing art scholarships for local high school graduates.

In 2008 a new cooperative was formed with other existing groups. The Brandon league joined the North Tampa Art League, Tampa Realistic Artists and the Westchase Painting Society to form the Hillsborough County Visual Arts Alliance.

"Our members united to exhibit and promote the arts in the hope of eliminating total localization of arts venues and create an expansion of opportunities for artists throughout the county in these difficult economic times," Donovan said.

The league's Web site is www.blfa.us and has information about events, member portfolios and an interactive arts forum.

General membership meetings are at 7:30 p.m. the third Monday of each month, except in June and July, in the Mook Gallery at Center Place, 619 Vonderburg Drive, Brandon. Call (813) 685-8888.

Memberships are open to all interested artists for 2009 through Jan. 31. For membership information, call Judy Johnson at (813) 677-8817 or Melinda Albritton at (813) 681-1131.

Arts Around Town

•Artist Wilma Hall will show her watercolor expertise at Pat's Corner, the store displaying works of local artists and artisans at Center Place, 619 Vonderburg Drive, Brandon. For shop information, call (813) 685-8888.

•Valrico acrylic artist James Vann exhibited work at the November and December Center Place show, "The Natives are Loose." He also showed his cultural art at a recent special Kwanzaa event at the Polk Museum of Art in Lakeland. Works included an original calendar he created teaching children about the African-American holiday. The Kwanzaa calendar celebrating the season remains on sale at the museum, 800 E. Palmetto St., Lakeland. Call (863) 688-7743 or go to www.james vannart.com or www.cafe press.com/jamesvannart.

•The Patricia B. Odiorne 2009 Scholarship of $1,000 will be awarded to a graduating high school senior who is a resident of greater Brandon. Applying students must have a grade-point average of 2.5 or more and be actively involved in artistic or community service. Interested students should contact their guidance counselors for an application. Scholarships will be awarded at the annual Center Place fundraising banquet. For information, call (813) 685-8888.

•The Central West Region of the Florida Committee of the National Museum of Women in the Arts will present a show at Center Place through January. The exhibit will feature all mediums and styles of art. The opening reception will be from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday. Gallery hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Call (813) 685-8888.

Cheryl Kuck is a media member of the Greater Brandon Arts Council. She can be reached at wkuck@tampabay.rr.com.

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