Grafenwöhr. “Creative Art Fundamentals School and Studio”, or “CAF” for short, has existed since 2014. Ten years later, “Grafenwöhr’s Art Association” was founded.
Christine Anne N. Fiala (second from left) was elected chairwoman of the new Grafenwöhr Art Association. Shannon Geraghty (right) is her deputy and Judith Brown was elected treasurer. Mayor Edgar Knobloch conducted the election. Photo: Renate Gradl
At that time, “CAF” was mainly used by the Americans of the United States Army Garrison-Bavaria in Grafenwöhr, Vilseck and Netzaberg. Since 2017, “CAF” has been a permanent fixture in Alte Amberger Straße and teaches art to students from Germany, America and other countries in Grafenwöhr. With the founding of an art association, another dream of Christine Anne N. Fialaknown to students and parents alike as “Ms Chris”, comes true.
In Germany since 2001
Chris has lived in Germany since 2001, serving in the US Army. She moved to Grafenwoehr in 2011 and retired from the US Army Reserve in 2015 with permission to stay in Germany, but she does not speak German. She says, “Art gives a voice with a language and conversation of its own to empower those who speak it with confidence, appreciation, originality, creative problem solving and joy – understand; create; enjoy!”
“Grafenwöhrs Art Association” founded
Last week the founding of the new association took place in the “CAF”, the headquarters of the association at Alte Amberger Straße 2. Mayor Edgar Knobloch took over the procedure and the elections. The mayor first made sure that the members present approved the statutes and then conducted the elections for the board and the assistant board.
Most of the positions are filled by German and American teachers, parents and artists, all of whom are contributing voluntarily to the development of the association. Christine Anne N. Fiala was elected chairwoman, and Shannon Geraghty and Treasurer Judith Brown.
Multiple awards for art
Chris was born in Jamaica but grew up in New York City since elementary school. A high-ranking officer (Colonel) in the U.S. Army, Chris earned a Master’s degree in Strategic Studies from the Army War College and a Master’s degree in Communication Arts with honors and a Bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts/Art Education Summa Cum Laude from the New York Institute of Technology.
Her dream of opening an art school came true at the age of 52 in Grafenwoehr during retirement workshops at the Tower Barracks Base. Still inspired by the innovative interactions that occur when students express their creativity and develop their own appreciation for art, the artist, now 62, has taken another step to share her love of art and teaching.
“Harry Potter Art Club”
“Creative Art Fundamentals School and Studio”, or “CAF” for short, has existed since 2014. Photo: Renate Gradl
“I have taught in classrooms from elementary school through college and continue to work with a variety of materials to both teach art and create my own work,” said Chris. Through the CAF, Chris has combined the best of her artistic and military experiences. One example is the Harry Potter Art Club, which combines technology, “magical” imagination and art.
Art education from 2 to 99 years
The goal of the new Grafenwoehr Art Association is to promote art education for students ages 2 to 99 by stimulating creativity and self-expression through visual art activities based on German and American cultural interactions through art education. “The artistic partnership between Germans and Americans is also very important,” says Chris.
And although the requirements to form the association have delayed the start of the annual summer program, it can now begin!
Information is available here.
The future potential of the “CAF”
In December 2019, Chris’ husband had to return to the USA to further his career. At that time, the artist was faced with the question of whether or not to accompany her husband. Mayor Edgar Knobloch, tax advisor Bernd Hentzschelyour neighbor Gerhard PappenbergerTower Barracks Customs Officer Virgil Bauer and also the senior military chaplain in 2019, the Catholic Father Colonel Hillencouraged them to stay in Grafenwöhr.
Their recognition of the achievements and future potential of the “CAF” eased her fears of remaining in Germany without her husband, who is also her best friend. Together they gave her the confidence to realize her dream over the years; a dream that she hopes will benefit Grafenwoehr, her adopted home. Her husband Otto continues to work as a strategic thinker for NATO Allied Command Transformation and will join her in Grafenwoehr once he has finished his work.
