ABOUT SVA SAVANNA

By Blake's Dad

After Blake graduated from high school he was trying to find an art school that would give him a  scholarship. None of the major schools had offered him anything, then his art teacher told him about a new school forming in Savannah, Georgia. We needed to be there by early afternoon the next day, so we made a quick trip of 22 hours  to Savannah. He showed his art and met some of the faculty and the rest is history. The Charter class of SVA Savannah was to be housed in a Ramada Inn and the "so called Scholarship" involved federal loans, which we are still paying on. Art was something Blake had always wanted to do and this was at least an opportunity for him to pursue a life time goal. There were so many more questions than answers. Blake had never been away from home except when visiting grandparents and Savannah was 20 + hours away. The town, faculty, ownership was all unknown. The only thing we did know was that New York School of the Visual Arts was the mother School with a good reputation . I suppose at a time like this, you say a prayer and hope you have done the right thing. Lots of changes and challenges occurred in the next four years. The following year, Blake was housed in an antique townhouse with several other students. The last year he lived in a high rise with his fellow student, Mike. During this period of time, we lost my Mother and stepfather and Blake was unable to attend his Grandmother's funeral. The only time he could come home was on special occasions, like Christmas or Thanksgiving. He flew him home a few times and several times we made the trip to pick him up by car. This was the routine that we went through at the end of each year. Blake was given a 1964 Ford in 1992 and this was his car for high school and for SVA. The Ford made at least four roundtrips to Savannah, which is another story altogether. During the third year, we began to think that there was a strong possibility that the school might close. The Charter class might become the first and last class to be in Savannah. They were having pressure from a school already established in Savannah and they wanted SVA out of Savannah. They did not appreciate the competition. We continued to have faith that Blake was learning much art and prayed that he could graduate, so that all of his work would not be in vain. We were told at the beginning that there would be dorm facilities available, but after the 2nd year, we began to wonder if this would happen. The New York School of the Visual Arts was the main campus and the ones funding the new school, so we thought they would stay in Savannah and complete their initial plans. This was not to be. New York gave in to the established school in Savannah and declared that the Charter class was indeed the last in Savannah, so even if Blake graduated, his school would no longer exist!! He did graduate in May of 1998 and was a Charter member of a now defunct School of the Visual Arts of Savannah.

June '98, Return from Savannah Celebration!! Blake, Dad and beloved dog Cosmo, now deceased!!

During Blake's four year stint, he became a frequent visitor at Charlie's Brown's, one of the best hamburger places ever. Without Charlie and his wife, Blake would have been even skinnier.

Charlie and Wife at Blake's graduation