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Local Artists Get Brush Stroke Awards

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By CHERYL KUCK, Tribune correspondent

Published: October 3, 2007

Updated: 10/01/2007 11:22 pm

PLANT CITY - Artists with Plant City connections were honored recently at the second annual Brandon News & Tribune Brush Strokes Awards for Excellence in the Arts.
Art enthusiasts crowded into the Mook Gallery at Center Place Fine Arts & Civic Association in Brandon in mid-September to applaud recipients in 10 categories. Four of the recipients live in or have strong ties to Plant City.

They include:

•Phyllis Alexandroff, supervisor of Hillsborough County schools middle/secondary arts and humanities programs was named arts educator of the year. She is a Plant City resident and was a Plant City High School art instructor from 1975 to 1985. During her tenure at Plant City High, she coordinated the school's American Studies Abroad programs to London, Paris and Madrid, Spain. She was department head of fine arts and music at Armwood High School after leaving Plant City High. She became supervisor of secondary art and humanities for the county in 1989.

•A founding member of the East Hillsborough Art Guild, artist, author, speaker and educator Meletha Everett received the lifetime achievement award for her encouragement of all art disciplines. She initiated the work of the National Organization of Pen Women in Tampa Bay, holding the offices of president in both the Tampa branch and for the state of Florida.

An arts activist, Everett has been a founding member or sat on the board of almost every major arts organization in the Bay area. She conducts workshops all over Florida on card making and has written a workbook 'Cards Galore & More.' Her second published poetry anthology is soon to be released and follows her successful 'Poetry Montage.'

An art teacher at Center Place-Brandon since 1981, she also presents painting demonstrations for art groups, county schools and the Florida Strawberry Festival.

•MacDonald Training Center's chief executive Jim Freyvogel received the Non-Profit Creative Benefit to the Community award. The award was presented for the organization's art enrichment program, established in January 2006 at its Plant City center. MacDonald Training Center helps train the mentally and physically disabled.

•Fred Rothenbush of Ruskin, whose work has won awards at the Florida Strawberry Festival, received artist of the year honors. A fifth generation professional artist, Rothenbush's works are in the collections of five U.S. presidents and several Plant City residents, among others.

Correspondent Cheryl Kuck can be reached at wkuck@tampa bay.rr.com

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