THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, January 1, 1995 TAG: 9412300203
SECTION: PORTSMOUTH CURRENTS PAGE: 03 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Close Up
SOURCE: Rebecca Myers
LENGTH: Medium: 84 lines
It took two straight weeks of 14-hour days to move Tidewater Community College's new Visual Arts Center to Olde Towne.
And director Anne Iott was right in the middle of it all.
``I have no home at night any more - just going to bed and getting up,'' said Iott in the midst of moving. ``Not to mention that I look like a truck driver because I've been doing the work with everybody else.''
The Famous building at the corner of High and Court streets is the fourth home for TCC's art department since Iott founded it in 1971.
A painting major in college and graduate school, Iott worked in graphic design in New York City before going into academia. She was 25 when she began her teaching career at Siena Heights College in Adrian, Mich.
``And I've taught ever since,'' the petite New York native said.
This summer Iott was named to her present position as a full-time administrator, though she will still teach one course, Resume and Portfolio Preparation.
``It's the last course that everyone takes before they graduate,'' Iott said. ``It helps the students prepare themselves to go to whatever is next . . jobs.''
A resident of Kempsville, Iott is as close to Olde Towne as she was to TCC's Virginia Beach campus.
``I don't think I'll move here unless I'm just totally lured completely by Olde Towne, which could happen in time,'' she conceded.
As far as the art center is concerned, the Olde Towne location is unique because it's the first time the entire department has been a stand-alone facility, Iott said.
``It's extraordinarily exciting, needless to say,'' she said. ``To have centralized our art departments gives us a good bit of strength, and this school will give us a great deal of visibility.''
The location, Iott said, will be more convenient for people from a wider region of Hampton Roads and beyond.
``We already have students coming from Franklin and other places from a distance, but because of the new roads this will cut their travel in half . . choose to. It will serve our whole service area.''
Name: Anne S. Iott
Birthplace: Syracuse, N.Y.
Occupation: Director of Visual Arts Center, TCC at Olde Towne, Portsmouth (administrator, teacher, artist)
What other job than your own would you like? No other
Fondest childhood memory: Hard to single out, but snow is one. St. Lawrence River in the summer is another.
What song or book title best describes your life? The abridged edition (paperback) of ``The Agony and the Ecstasy'' or ``The Girl Scout Handbook''
If you won the lottery, what's the very first thing you'd buy? My car and house
If you could trade places for just one day with anyone in the world, who would it be and why? The governor of Virginia. I'd do what I could to fund the arts and quality education, kindergarten through college.
Biggest accomplishment: My work in the permanent collection of The Museum of Modern Art in New York City.
Most embarrassing moment: Mispronouncing ``metope'' in freshman art history class
If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be? I'd be three inches taller.
Perfect way to spend the day: In my studio working, gallery- and museum-hopping, canoeing on flat water, gardening, reading short stories out loud.
I can't resist: Another viewing of ``Much Ado About Nothing.''
Favorite Portsmouth restaurant: Hard to choose . . . several favorites
Favorite Portsmouth hangout: Portsmouth Museums Art Center
Biggest problem facing Portsmouth: Money
If you had three wishes for Portsmouth, what would they be?
Economic growth
A major grocery store within the first few blocks of High Street
That Portsmouth makes use of and enjoys its new Visual Arts Center ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by MARK MITCHELL
by CNB