Focus. Sustainability. Legacy. These are goals that forward-looking organizations consider when reflecting on their achievements on short-term, mid-term and long-term outcomes. A new year encourages this, it’s natural.
The Studio had a productive 2019 — with much programming, events and exhibitions, and other plans set in motion that will come to fruition later this year.
I want to recognize our diligent and steadfast Board of Directors: Olivia Busceme, Sheila Busceme, Stephanie Chadwick, Treasurer Laurie Loescher Gordon, Allison Kainer, Kelly Murphy, John Rollins, Michael Saar, Sara Tuell and tenant representative Elizabeth Fontenot.
This board, these people, bring passion and knowledge to our group and work to help TASI deliver on its mission to bring art to the SETX community. Their efforts are on a volunteer basis — often on weeknights after their jobs and on weekends — to plan and secure the resources the organization needs for programming.
TASI hosted nine major art exhibits — including one juried show — congratulations Sajeela Siddiq for winning the TASIMJAE show and earning a solo exhibition premiering May 2. We also hosted nine BandNites, First Thursdays and some extra rental music events, kids’ summer ArtSkool and additional adult classes. Also, several smaller arts groups and individuals use TASI’s space frequently — which we often provide at no cost — to meet and organize.
We hosted a very successful fundraiser at Madison’s in November. A challenge for TASI is always to sustain operations, and our members, community friends and sponsors have supported us with these efforts consistently. Our relationships are the bedrock of our efforts. Seldom can any one group create a community’s culture. We all must do it together.
I know I’m missing some events and programming. It goes to show how much activity is associated with TASI and its people. People who complain about a lack of activities in Beaumont are wrong — there’s plenty going on — and not just at TASI.
Executive director Greg Busceme and many Studio tenants are frequently asked to participate in demonstrations, book spaces at art festivals, enter art contests and to donate works to charitable events all around the area. Greg and our tenants never hesitate to respond to these requests, even when they are at a moment’s notice.
One of the prime missions for TASI is furnishing affordable studio space to originating artists and our tenants. The ability for artists to have affordable spaces is a challenge, and our tenants help foster the TASI mission to achieve that.
How did we manage this? We have been very fortunate to have two wonderful ladies come into the TASI fold — I’ve been saving the best for last — assistant director Stephanie Orta and administrative assistant Michelle Cate. They have been persistent in their efforts, every day, to organize and execute office operations and do much of the very important detail work that keeps an organization running.
In addition to Sajeela Siddiq’s show mentioned above we will have four other shows to finish out our 2019-2020 exhibition season, at least four more BandNites and numerous other events.
Just passed was our crowning annual event — the Beaux Arts Ball Winter Wonder Wasteland fundraiser chaired by Shanna Hawa with Larena Busceme as her co-pilot. We exceeded our expectations, and we hope we exceeded yours, too. We have so many talented creatives that plan, perform, decorate and support the event. This singular event supports several yearly programs at TASI.
February is a busy month with Amanda Barry and Kailee Viator’s exhibition, “A Common Occurrence of Time,” debuting Feb. 1, and the US premiere of “After Mourning” on Feb. 8, directed by Elayne LeTraunik and written by Canadian playwright Mike Szuba.
You can read more about those events in this ISSUE and online at www.artstudio.org.
And, of course, we finish the month with BandNite — if you’re reading this, you missed the “Toast Show” that closed out January. Yes, we have great music and, occasionally, all you can eat toast. All. In. One. Night. See, you can’t find these things just anywhere. That is what The Studio brings — originality, creativity and a positive experience.
This brings us back to how I started — Focus. Sustainability. Legacy. The board serves The Art Studio, Inc. We’re always interested in your feedback about TASI, and our monthly meetings, held the third Tuesday of each month at 6:30 p.m., are open to the public. To speak or present to the board for official business contact The Studio or me on Facebook to discuss your request. General comments are welcome, and limited time is available at the conclusion of “new business” in the official agenda for the board meeting.
The Year of the Rat 2020 bodes to be another great year. We’re here, waiting for you…not in a creepy way, but in the way we want to see your face and have you enjoy some of the great fun we have going on.
By Stephan Malick, TASI board chairman