Feb 13th, 2013

LAKE WALES – Janie Howard Wilson Elementary honored the past, present and future during a special re-dedication of the Johnnie L. Batson Media Center and Art Gallery during a Chamber After-Hours event Tuesday (Feb. 12).

Batson family members spoke about their father’s work as first principal of Janie Howard Wilson Elementary School during the 1960s and 1970s. The media center entrance now features photographs of every former principal, including Josephine Howard and Beverly Lynne, who both attended the event.

The open house for members of the Lake Wales Area Chamber of Commerce was the debut of the new Art Gallery, housed inside the Media Center. During the re-dedication of the Johnnie L. Batson Media Center and the ribbon cutting for the new Art Gallery, guests raised glasses of sparkling white grape juice to toast the occasion.

The art gallery includes work that is being acquired from guest artists who visit students as part of an ongoing educational series initiated by art teacher Tiffany Weaver. Each artist’s visit is sponsored by a local business partner, who helps purchase at least one piece of work for the gallery.

PHOTO #1: Art teacher Tiffany Weaver poses with the red ribbon in front of the new Art Gallery.

PHOTO #2:  Bob Lynne (left), Howard Kay and Beverly Lynne admire the blue “carpet” leading into the Chamber After Hours event at Janie Howard Wilson Elementary.

PHOTO #3:   Art teacher Tiffany Weaver (center) poses with her in-laws Kay and Jim Weaver during the event. Jim Weaver, of Weaver, McClendon and Penrod law firm, sponsored the purchase of work from Haitian artist Patrick Noze, who visited the school in October.

PHOTO #4: The Silver Streak Chorus performed for the crowd at the Chamber After Hours event.