Ira McEachern, a resident of Valrico, is vice president of Las Damas de Arte, an organization which was created to promote and support art activities in the community.
In March, Las Damas de Arte held its 2012 Sunday In the Arts at the Tampa Preparatory Smith Black Box Theatre in Tampa. This annual juried art show featured more than 50 acclaimed Tampa Bay area women artists including Valrico resident, Ira McEachern.
At the Sunday In the Arts, McEachern exhibited several creations. The first was a pair of masks called, The Springs, and the second was a painted bench complete with hand painted cushion. “My art is different. I like to challenge myself and make different things,” said McEachern.
McEachern alo shares her craft with others in workshops and classes. She teaches at the Hyde Park Art Studio as well as at the Brandon Montessori School in River Hills and the Riverview Montessori School at Rivercrest. She will also hold private classes and workshops for six or more adults or children. McEachern is a talented artist who clearly loves to share her wealth of knowledge and creativity with others.
McEachern has been involved with Las Damas de Arte for more than five years and currently serves as the vice president. “I joined because it is a good organization that raises money for scholarships and art grants. It is also a great place to meet fellow artists,” she said.
Events such as the Sunday In the Arts raise money to fund scholarships for students at the University of Tampa, University of South Florida, Hillsborough Community College, local schools and other nonprofit organizations with art needs.
Since 1985, Las Damas de Arte has donated more $215,000 in scholarships and grants to worthy institutions and schools such as Dover Elementary School and the Hillsborough Community College Foundation, Inc.
Visit www.lasdamasdearte.com. For more information or to take a class or workshop from Ira McEachern, please contact her 486-9831.
