A Remarkable Story
Meet Amanda Rae Tanzl C’19 and Kelly Hodges C’23
Meet Amanda and Kelly
“You have to share art. You have to talk about it and keep it alive.” –Amanda
Salem College alumnae Amanda Rae Tanzl C’19 and Kelly Hodges C’23 met in an English class. At the time, they were both enrolled in Salem’s graphic design program, with Amanda minoring in studio art. Kelly later changed her major to studio art, focusing on painting.
Amanda and Kelly stayed in touch and remained close friends after they’d graduated. When Amanda rented a studio space downtown, Kelly rented one right around the corner. Before long, they were spending much of their time together in one studio, collaborating and helping each other with their art projects. Today, they collaborate in a more official capacity as co-owners of The Art Room, an art gallery and studio they opened in downtown Winston-Salem earlier this year.
Both women were non-traditional students at Salem College. Reflecting on her time at Salem, Amanda said, “I miss it so much. The professors, the people… we were both non-traditional students, but we got to meet so many cool people. And the campus is absolutely stunning.”
Kelly added, “My experience was great. I really loved going to school with the younger students. I have grandchildren their age, so it kept me connected and has really helped me with this experience with Art Room as well and connecting with the community. I loved being on campus. There were so many opportunities to get involved. It was wonderful.”
Kelly and Amanda remain connected to the Salem College community, with former and current professors and students attending events at The Art Room. They frequently host critique nights, which invite artists to share their work and receive feedback. Kelly explained, “Anyone can come and bring a piece of art that they’ve finished or are trying to finish. A group of us will get together, and we’ll talk about the piece of art and offer suggestions.” Former Salem art professor Kim Varnadoe often attends the critique nights, guiding Amanda, Kelly, and the attendees through the critique process and bringing her own art to share. Professor of design and division chair Rosa Otero, PhD, and adjunct instructor Alice Sanders have also come to shows at The Art Room.
That spirit of connection is central to Amanda and Kelly’s vision for the space: “We wanted to create not only an art gallery, but a creative community space. Once we get more established in the community, we plan to host other artists with an emphasis on local artists, and underrepresented local artists as well. We wanted to create a conversational art gallery environment. We wanted to do something different; we want people to come in and have a conversation about the art and not feel like they’re in a library,” Amanda explained.
Looking ahead, they hope to create even more opportunities for artists and other creatives to gather, learn, and share their work. Kelly said, “We want to do some workshops that will be affordable, and open studio is coming up where you can bring in an unfinished project you’re working on, because every artist needs motivation. Musicians can even bring in a piece of music they’re working on; we’re open to all mediums.”
Amanda and Kelly are working to make The Art Room a place for creatives to share their work and find inspiration and community. Their experiences at Salem College nurtured their creativity, and now they hope to offer that same encouragement to others. Kelly’s advice to Salem students is to make the time to learn about art and themselves in the process: “If you don’t know if you’re an artist, take an art class. Even if you think you’re not an artist, everyone can experience art. Art is for everyone. It’s good for you. Don’t give up just because you didn’t get it right the first time; keep doing it.”