Florence Thomas Art School - Tony Griffin Materials List

Florence, The School

The Paul and Florence Thomas Memorial Art School, Inc., a private foundation, was created by Florence Thomas upon her death in 2007. She married Paul in 1931, had two children, and in January 1933 inherited a large farm, lying across the North Carolina and Virginia line. Tragedy struck later that year and Florence found herself alone, age 24, with two little ones, managing nearly a thousand acres. She persevered, never giving up her art, comforted by this transporting passion during years of great trial. The school was, thus, named partly in honor of her husband, gone for three-quarters of a century. It is a long name and so the school is usually called just 'Florence' or 'Florence Art School' (as with our web address). The school is on 10.3 acres just off Trading Post Road, in Glendale Springs. The site has several buildings, classrooms and lodgings and the campus itself, spread open to the south and the sun, is in a beautiful setting—a large pond, meadows, many trees, gentle hills, a wonderful view into the distance.

Florence Thomas specified in a trust that the school was to be founded and directed by three Ashe Countians—Melba Miller (a lifelong painting friend), Jane Lonon (director of the Ashe County Arts Council), and Robert Franklin (president of McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers). The directors searched for property in mid–2007 and settled upon the Glendale Springs place—truly a remarkable opportunity.

For further information about The Paul and Florence Thomas Memorial Art School, Inc. contact Meghan Minton, manager of the school, at info@florenceartschool.org.

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