Editor

There have been several plans made for the Mt. Zion school building in the past, but this most recent plan being made by the Friends of the Mt. Zion Institute (FOMZI) includes a Midlands Tech presence on campus, and the beginning of a prestigious art school.

FOMZI made their presentation to council first. In the course of the presentation, it was reported that they had met with representatives from Midlands Tech, and even though Tech is working with the county to open the QuickJobs facility on the bypass, they are still interested in locating their classroom-based courses at Mt. Zion.

The impact of what could locate at that campus could have a positive economic effect on all of Winnsboro and Fairfield County.

World-renowned artist Dru Blair, who is a Fairfield County native, made a presentation at the last meeting to the Winnsboro Town Council, discussing his plans to move into a restored Mt. Zion Campus.

Blair began his presentation with a brief overview of some of his artwork. He has created his brand of photo-realistic painting for such clients as Budweiser, Coca-Cola, Keebler and United Airlines to name a few.

Blair also paints a lot of military art, and answering the question of why paint photo-realistic paintings instead of just taking a picture, he explained to council, “the paintings I do are those kinds of images that you can’t capture with a camera,” he said. He showed a painting of an F-14 Tomcat flying over the water with a “rooster tail” of spray behind it, a shot that would be impossible to capture with a camera.

Blair numbers among his patrons and fans of his work the Director of the Central Intelligence Agency, Barron Hilton and Ray Guggenheim, of Guggenheim Museum fame.

“The Blair School of Art has enjoyed a surprising popularity, including selling out all workshops for the past nine years,” Blair said.

“The art trade magazines have proclaimed my school as the best airbrush school in the world,” Blair said. He told council he wants to bring his Blair School of Art to Winnsboro.

Blair had returned to his home in Fairfield County, and actually started relocating his school in Blair, when he learned about the Mt. Zion restoration efforts. He became convinced that the upper floors of the historic school building, with their large windows perfect for artistic lighting, would suit his needs better. The presence of the Blair Art School could also have a positive impact on downtown businesses, Blair believes.

Blair’s students, representing a diverse class of ages and cultures, come from all over the world, spend on average $500 to $700 in food and lodging during his workshops, Blair said.

“Two of my European instructors are also planning on taking up permanent residence in Fairfield County,” he added.

“We plan to offer classes in oil painting, acrylic, airbrush, sculpture, watercolor, digital art, computer animation, drawing, photography, pottery...film and video production and faux finishing. In later stages, we would also offer courses in music, theater and culinary arts. I envision a general arts school at that location, with a broad spectrum of arts,” he said.

Blair closed his presentation by stating that he was in discussion with some of his wealthier patrons and benefactors about the restoration of the Mt. Zion campus and he believes that there might be funds available from organizations like the National Endowment for the Arts as well.

In his address to council, FOMZI member Bill McMaster first thanked council for staying the wrecking ball, and giving this group of dedicated and determined people the chance to save Mt. Zion.

“You didn’t have to do what you did, but you did it, putting a lot of trust in me (and the friends) and I want to express my gratitude,” he said.

“Your decision to demolish the buildings has actually spurred the energy to put fort this private effort (to save it).”

He told council about the Blair School of Art: “the Dru Blair School is very real; it’s not a potential, it exists. It will go, and it will locate somewhere, and it will be successful, based on what you’ve heard from Dru’s presentation...Dru has a vested interest here, and I’m pleased that he would consider putting something into the downtown core of Winnsboro that has this potential...I hope that we can try and increase the odds that that vision (and that patronage) could locate here.”