Presidents
1981-82
1982-83
Mary Wyatt
1983-84
1984-85
Carolyn Riedel
1985-86
1986-87
Barba Graham
1987-88
1988-89
Susse Sherwood
1989-90
Leon Mead
1990-91
Dr. Pearl Tait
1991-92
1992-93
Rosemary Ferguson
1993-94
John Felton
1994-95
1995-96
Ken Echternacht
1996-97
1997-98
donalee pond-Koenig
1998-99
1999-00
Nancy Johnson
2000-01
2001-02
Bill Abel
2002-03
2003-04
Ann Kromhout
2004-05
2005-06
Nina Allen Freeman
2006-07
2007-08
Eluster Richardson
2008-09
Rene Lynch
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The Tallahassee Watercolor Society, now 150 members strong, had its
beginning in the late 1970's among a small group of dedicated
watercolorists who joined efforts to learn more about the medium and to
make the local public more aware of its merits.
Through the efforts of such local artists as Mary Wyatt, Mitzi Kessler,
Dr, Mary Jo Weale, Millie Van Aken, Vivian Sherlock and others, many
nationally known watercolor artists were invited to conduct workshops here
in town. This informal group began to grow and formally constituted
itself as a Society in October 1980, when the members drew up a set of
By-laws and elected Mary Wyatt as president.
Through the efforts of Dr. Mary Jo Weale, then chair of the FSU Interior
Design Department, the workshops continued for several years. The Society
was asked to participate in a large show, the first of its kind, at the
newly completed City Hall. The idea of conducting its own show took hold
of Society members about the same time and in 1985, when Barba Graham
became president, the artists began to plan seriously for the first
watercolor event in Tallahassee. The cooperation of Dr. Mary Pankowski,
then head of The Center for Professional Development on the FSU campus,
was crucial for mounting a large show since she made it possible for the
group to present a large exhibition in the Center.
The first of the Society's Annual Exhibitions opened in the spring of
1986 at the now-Turnbull Center. The Annual Spring Exhibition later moved
to LeMoyne Art Foundation in 1992 and changed its name to the Annual
Tri-State Exhibition, reflecting the participation of artists in the two
neighboring states, Alabama and Georgia.
The Society has consistently chosen to bring outstanding nationally
recognized watercolorists to serve as jurors and judges. Fred
Messersmith, AWS, Director of the Art Department at Stetson University,
and signature member of the American Watercolor Society, was the first in
a series of artists who have traveled to Tallahassee to judge these
exhibitions. Jurors such as Berniece Osborne of
Pensacola FL, Judi Betts, AWS, NWS of Baton Rouge LA, Frank Webb, AWS, of
Pittsburgh PA, Don Andrews, AWS, Fairhope AL, Pat Deadman, NWS, of
Texas, Mary Alice Braukman, NWS of St. Petersburg FL, Joy Shott, AWS, of
Bluefield WV, Maxine Masterfield, AWS, of Sarasota FL, and Marilyn
Hughey Phillis, AWS, NWS, of Wheeling WV, have
helped us maintain a consistently high level of quality. Artists from all over
Florida, and increasingly from Georgia and Alabama, are participating in
this annual event. More than 25% of the artists who exhibited in
the 1995 show were from the two neighboring states.
Organizations such as this one depend entirely on volunteers. No one in a
volunteer role works harder than the president of a small group such as
the Tallahassee Watercolor Society. We are thankful to the hardworking
board members and all the volunteers who keep TaWS a growing and thriving
society.
We have ongoing TaWS exhibition space at the Florida League of Cities and the
Big Bend Hospice.
The works of members of the Society are in many homes in this area. In
the
City Hall collection one will find paintings by Mitzi Kessler, Lynn
Conley,
Rosemary Ferguson, Mary Jo Weale and others. In addition, Bob Rubanowice,
Mary Jo Weale and "Bill" Rollo have served on the City Hall Art Advisory
Committee.
As a group, TaWS artists have mounted exhibits of their works at the
Wakulla Springs Lodge and Conference Center, the Junior Museum, the
Turnbull Center, Tallahassee-Leon County Credit Union, two branches of the
Sun Bank, at the Old Capitol, The Thomasville Cultural Center, and The
Colquitt County Arts Center as well as at The City Hall. Tallahassee
Watercolor Society members are represented in other exhibitions in
Tallahassee and across the state. Many are signature members of the
Florida
Watercolor Society, a group of approximately 1,000 watercolorists.
The Tallahassee Watercolor
Society welcomes new members residing in Florida, Alabama
or Georgia.
Those interested in joining may attend
meetings, held monthly during nine months of the year.
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