France Jones Highsmith was born Mary Frances Cole to Edward and Helen Jones on June 2, 1927. Fanny grew up in Fort Atkinson, attended Hoard School, Emery Junior High School, and graduated from Milwaukee Downer Seminary in 1945. She attended Wheaton College in Norton, MA for 2 years before transferring to the Rhode Island School of Design in Providence where she graduated with a BFA in Fashion Illustration in 1950. In 1965 Fanny moved to Phoenix, AZ where she concentrated on her education and attended classes to become a Certified Art Teacher. Fanny also completed her Master of Fine Arts in Arts Education and an Education Certificate. She taught Middle School Art for many years and later ran the Art Program for Washington Elementary in Phoenix. We are grateful that her daughters, Betsy and Kate, have allowed us to honor Fanny’s design sense and artistry by holding this show.
The Frances Jones Highsmith Art Show will feature works done throughout Kim Karow’s lifetime- highlighting her use of detailed drawings in silverpoint, graphite and mixed media collage. The show will also feature pottery by artist Mark Skudlarek, whose works are done at his home using a three chamber Japanese inspired Kiln -and- Brian & Angie Szabo whose Native American heritages influence the natural materials they use to create their art.