This exhibition showcases artwork from eight talented artists, who are also instructors in the TSC Art Program, alongside their participants. Barbara Balzer is presently teaching the ongoing class “Clay: Pinch, Coil, Slab” on Thursday afternoons, with MJ Lord as one of her participants. Debbie Gaedtke leads several ongoing classes and workshops, including “Oil and Acrylic for Beginners” on Wednesday mornings, “Oil and Acrylic for Intermediate and Advanced” on Wednesday afternoons, and “Plein Air” during the fall and springtime on Thursdays, and Jackie Lloyd is one of her participants. Debra Sue Lachter teaches “Watercolor 104” on Tuesday mornings at TSC and “Watercolor 101 and 102” at Allegro on Tuesday afternoons. Mary Liz Tippin Moody the “Engage with Your Page” workshop on Tuesday afternoons, and Sarah Ray is one of her participates.

 

To purchase a piece, please contact heathhilary.mcrae@talgov.com and she will put you in touch with the artist directly.

For more information about the TSC Arts Program, please email heathhilary.mcrae@talgov.com. To register for art classes, please visit: https://www.tallahasseeseniorfoundation.org/art-classes/.

Click on the images below to view a larger version of each piece. Enjoy!

Come join us for an Artist Talk and Reception:

Thursday, November 13th
5:30 – 7pm
TSC Auditorium

We will have an artist talk where all eight artists will discuss their artistic journey, subject matter, creative process, and more. Appetizers and refreshments will also be served.

TSC Art Connects: Eight Artists in Conversation
An exhibition celebrating creativity, mentorship, and artistic exchange

Exhibition Overview
Eight Artists in Conversation brings together a diverse group of creators whose paths intersect through shared experiences, teaching relationships, and ongoing artistic dialogue. The exhibition highlights the dynamic interplay between learning and leading, inspiration and expression, and showing how creativity evolves through curiosity, community, and collaboration.

Artists

Mary Liz Tippin Moody
Born and raised in Tallahassee, Mary Liz draws inspiration from the region’s natural beauty. An illustrator, graphic designer, and fine artist, she works in watercolor, ink, pencil, and mixed media. As a dedicated instructor, she finds joy in guiding others as they discover their own creative flow.

Sharon Ray
A Midwestern native and longtime Tallahassee resident, Sharon works across acrylic, gouache, and watercolor, often integrating these into her mixed media journals and handmade books. A familiar face in the “Engage with Your Page” sessions, she continually explores new techniques while traveling, hiking, and spending time with her rescue dog.

Debbie Gaedtke
An award-winning artist and beloved instructor, Debbie captures movement and emotion, an echo of her years as a ballet teacher. Her paintings of sky, sea, and the human experience appear in galleries and public collections across the region, inviting viewers to look closer and “see beyond what we see.”

Jackie Lloyd
After retiring from a career in geology, Jackie found her passion for painting through the Tallahassee Senior Center’s art classes. Under the mentorship of instructor Debbie Gaedtke, she developed her artistic voice and now creates award-winning works that reflect memory, emotion, and the quiet wonder of the natural world.

Barbara Balzer
An international award-winning ceramic sculptor, Barbara’s figurative work is exhibited and collected around the world. With degrees in literature, law, and an MFA in Sculpture from FSU, she brings intellectual depth and human connection to her clay forms, continuing an ancient lineage of sculptors of the human figure.

MJ Lord
A weaver for more than forty years, MJ’s focus on tapestry weaving has led her to national and international exhibitions. Recently embracing clay, she now explores three-dimensional forms inspired by nature and garden life, expanding her artistic expression from fiber to earth.

Debra Sue Lachter
A retired educator turned watercolor artist, Debra finds joy in helping others express themselves creatively. Her work explores color, light, and emotion, and she believes art is essential to well-being. She teaches watercolor at the Senior Center and is active in several regional arts organizations.

Rachel McAllister
With degrees in Fine Arts and Textile Design, Rachel rekindled her passion for expressive art at the Senior Center after a long career in graphic design. Inspired by her lifelong love of animals, her recent works—especially her expressive crow series—reflect renewed energy, confidence, and curiosity in creative exploration.