Madeworthy’s Fort Worthies: March/April 2020

With the launch of Madeworthy, we wanted to have a page dedicated to local people, places, and events that add to our city. Originally called “Be Seen,” this page was renamed “Fort Worthies” in our first anniversary issue. Here are the Fort Worthies we featured in our November/December issue.

2019 was a big year for AlanaKayART! Not only were new products developed, but now, AlanaKayART can be found in boutiques across the DFW area. Selected by the readers of Fort Worth Magazine as Best Artist, Alana Kay (the genius behind AlanaKayART) completed her largest art instillation and made her debut at Art Basel, an international art fair held annually in Switzerland, Miami, and Hong Kong. Closer to home, Alana partnered with John Worley to create a giant, Fort Worth-themed painting for National Coloring Day. Children and adults joined the celebration in Clearfork, coloring in a section or three. (The one-of-a-kind piece will be auctioned at the Jewel Charity Ball to benefit Cook Children’s.) in 2020, Alana is excited to expand her lines of fashion, accessories, and home décor, but she is most passionate about collaborating with other creative minds, especially women. Like her art, Alana’s journey is delicate yet truly beautiful.  

Founded by two Fort Worthians with performing in their blood, the Slaughter Family Arts Awards seeks to “recognize and promote excellence and effort in the fine arts community,” by giving multiple scholarships to high school students. J. Mack and Rebecca Slaughter are former performers. Rebecca is a life-long dancer who performed with the School of American Ballet in New York City, while J. Mack is an actor/singer/songwriter-turned emergency medicine physician, who in his spare time, runs a nonprofit called Music Meets Medicine. Together with their three children, they are thrilled to be continuing the Slaughter family’s long tradition of philanthropy (a predecessor founded what has become Baylor University Medical Center in Dallas). Awards will be given for Dance, Theater, Music, Voice, and Visual Arts. Proceeds from the award event will support a student-driven fine arts outreach program for underserved communities.  

Fort Worth Country Day (FWCD) has named Alexis Stern as the next leader of its Bass Upper School. A Texas native, Stern holds an Ed.M in Teaching and Learning from Harvard University and a B.A. in History from UT Austin, as well as having 13 years of teaching and leading experience in public, private, and independent schools. “I am most excited about joining an educational community that seeks to support student growth as well-rounded, thoughtful, resilient, and empathetic young adults,” Stern said. “I am inspired by FWCD’s faculty who are committed to their continued growth as educators and their focus on institutional priorities, including a clear commitment to making sure FWCD is a place where all are welcome.” Stern succeeds Steve Stackhouse as Head of Upper School, who will retire at the end of the 2019-2020 academic year. Eric Lombardi, FWCD’s Head of School, said, “Alexis’s teaching and leading experience, along with her passion for teachers, for students, for pedagogy, for school, and for education made her our first choice.”  

If you or someone you know has done something wonderful, please contact our editor at lee@madeworthymedia.com.