Melinda Vooss Creative Arts Festival

The second annual Melinda Vooss Creative Arts Festival was held Thursday, March 23. The entire CBA community was joined by the family of Melinda Vooss, CBA’s former art teacher who lost her battle with breast cancer in 2022. The event was celebrated with musical performances, poetry readings and maker creations, in addition to many student works of art.

Special thanks to CBA faculty members Rachelle Viar, Destiney Kooiman, Synnika Lofton and Jazmine Beatty for making the event such a success!

“It is truly remarkable how this community has chosen to honor my mom’s life and celebrate who she was as a person. Every aspect of of this art show had mom written all over it- a manifestation of her passions and who she was as a person. Art, passion, love, community, self expression, and joy stick out to me among the many themes integrated throughout this show that represent her. I am honored to be a part of such an amazing community and I know my mom would be overflowing (as she would say) to know that this is how she is being remembered. I cannot begin to express how appreciative I am to everyone involved. I was brought to tears several times during this event, not of sadness, but rather of warmth and happiness to see how much my mom was loved and how people have spent so much time and energy to celebrate her. The foundation my dad started in honor of my mom is amazing in and of itself, but the efforts he supports in honor of her and the love he has for her is inspiring.”

– Zoey Vooss, Melinda’s daughter

Click here to view a gallery of pictures from the event!

Melinda Vooss joined the CBA community in 2020 during the pandemic and worked tirelessly to build relationships with her students while supporting them in their creative endeavors. She worked with students both virtually and in her classroom on campus. While only serving at CBA for a short time before her illness, Vooss’ dedication to her students and her colleagues were deeply-rooted within the community. She is remembered for her bright smile, her big personality, and the warmth that radiated from within. To honor her legacy, the Vooss family has established the Melinda Vooss Artfully Yours Memorial Fund to support and promote the power of art in education.