Artist Amy Flurry, speaks to Clarke Central High School students in the CCHS Media Center during her artist visit on Nov. 6. Flurry shared the lessons and experiences she gained after beginning her artistic career. “Just take a risk. Make it up. I made it up. Put (yourself) out there, and people will meet you. You don’t know yet, but people will meet you where you are. That’s half of it,” Flurry said. “I’m now an entrepreneur, and I’m going to create an opportunity for myself.” Photo by Grady Dunston
Journalism I students react to Amy Flurry’s artist visit to the CCHS Media Center on Nov. 6.
On Nov. 6, students in the ODYSSEY Media Group’s Journalism I class attended a presentation by local artist and entrepreneur Amy Flurry in the Clarke Central High School Media Center . Flurry spoke about her experiences in journalism and art and how her career evolved to where it is today.
Listen to Flurry speak here.
Jumping Into the Unknown
Journalism I student Violet Dockery shares her experiences in the presentation by artist Amy Flurry, and explains how the talk impacted her.
Clarke Central High School students attended an artist visit about artist Amy Flurry’s many career experiences, in the CCHS Media Center on Nov. 6.
Flurry, who was a journalist for 20 years across multiple publications including, “Lucky Magazine”, now an entrepreneur stressed the importance of taking risks when pitching oneself to potential investors. Flurry left the journalism and magazine scene during the 2007-09 Great Recession to write her book called “Recipe for Press” about her experiences working in magazines.
Flurry’s presentation helped me understand that taking risks won’t always lead to success. However, when people don’t try, they won’t know the outcome.
As someone new to journalism, Flurry’s presentation helped me understand that taking risks won’t always lead to success. However, when people don’t try, they won’t know the outcome if they had not pitched their stories.
After writing her book , Flurry started her paper-cut-project paper-wig and Aloka Home vintage quilt companies that allowed her to use her communication skills to connect with people. If Flurry hadn’t decided to start her companies, she wouldn’t have been able to try the new fields of work that she now loves. Although Flurry’s current career path is different from her career in journalism, the opportunities for her to be creative came from her willingness to pitch herself.
In the past, I have lost the opportunity as a journalist to get interviews I needed for my story, because I didn’t follow up about scheduling an interview. When Flurry said, “If you don’t follow up with your ask, you just might as well not ask. 50% of opportunities come in the follow-up,” I understood that being afraid of putting myself out there wouldn’t lead to greater success.
After hearing Flurry’s experiences with her career paths, I realized that having the confidence to take risks no matter the outcome can get someone farther in life than waiting for the opportunity to come to them.
Clarke Central High School students and faculty attend an artist’s visit with local artist and entrepreneur Amy Flurry in the CCHS Media Center on Nov. 6. Flurry encouraged attendees to take risks and in order to advocate for themselves and their career. “You have to apply your curiosity with intense effort,” Flurry said. “Curiosity is not going to be enough to change what you want to (change), but (you need to apply) intense effort and share yourself.” Photos by Grady Dunston
Strike first or strike again
Amy Flurry’s artist visit inspired Journalism I student Maya Pringle with her words of wisdom about meaningful life lessons.
On Nov. 6, Clarke Central High School students attended an artist visit in the CCHS Media Center by artist Amy Flurry, which centered around her career takeaways.
Flurry began her career as a journalist, where she began with a closed-minded mentality, but she became enlightened by the possibilities of pursuing other passions. Flurry discovered the power of putting herself out into the world and meeting people halfway throughout the work process the career involved.
“What is on the other side of that door? Why do people do what they do?” Flurry said. “How could I make that a story and share it (with) the world? How can I weave their story and broadcast it?”
Flurry dealt herself a difficult hand, but she navigated through her obstacles. I aspire to be triumphant and bold when tackling a challenge head-on.
When Flurry wrote her first book, “Recipe for Press,” about the process of pitching stories, she impulsively printed 10,000 copies and was unsure how to persuade purchasers.
“(If) I could share more, I would get speaking opportunities. Which I did, (and) it lit a fire under me to sell those books,” Flurry said. “In doing (so), it created (an) opportunity I didn’t know was coming.”
Hearing Flurry’s experiences motivated me to take initiative when opportunities present themselves. Flurry dealt herself a difficult hand, but she navigated through her obstacles. I aspire to be triumphant and bold when tackling a challenge head-on.
Flurry’s situation can be applied to an overall message about life. I will pursue my soccer and educational careers with poise and valor because life’s journey is difficult and unpredictable. The ability to be quick on one’s feet and open-minded is imperative for victory.
Flurry didn’t know whether people would say yes or no, but she made herself available. People make the mistake, thinking others will provide opportunities for them. However, like Flurry said, one must be ambitious and persevere to walk the path of success.
Diving deep into curiosity
Journalism I student Amelia Aldridge shares how she was impacted by artist Amy Flurry’s presentation to CCHS students during her artist visit,
On Nov. 6, in the Clarke Central High School Media Center, CCHS students attended a visit by local artist and entrepreneur Amy Flurry, who discussed takeaways from her career.
Flurry has two local businesses: Aloka Home, and the paper-cut-project, both of which she loves sharing other’s stories and making good things come of it through.
As a freshman, who has been learning the ways of journalism, this presentation was not only impactful, but opened my eyes to what can come from being bold. Flurry stressed the importance of taking risks and letting others help you, and how it will make us become better by taking advice from others who have experience
Curiosity for what you do will only get you so far. You need to have the motivation and drive to be able to get where you want to be.
Flurry explains how important it can be to “pitch yourself.” She even wrote a book called “Recipe for Press,” which is about her journalistic experiences, talking about the importance of pitching and how it helps to get your name out there.
Throughout the artist visit, I was very impressed by Flurry’s work ethic and how much she enjoyed working because she was doing something she loved.
After listening to Amy Flurry’s presentation, I have learned that curiosity for what you do will only get you so far. You need to have the motivation and drive to be able to get where you want to be.
“You have to apply your curiosity with intense effort. Curiosity is not going to be enough to change what you want to do, but intense effort and sharing of yourself,” Flurry said.
Local artist Amy Flurry speaks at an artist visit in the Clarke Central High School Media Center on Nov. 6. Flurry was eager to know more about people and share their stories, which allowed her to use her creative mind through businesses, like her rug company Aloka Home. “I’m curious about people. I like listening to people’s stories. Like, ‘What is on the other side of that door? What is going on with people? Why do people do what they do? They’re so interesting. How could I make that a story and share it (with) the world?” Flurry said. “Every time I share somebody’s story, good things happen for them. They got more (opportunities) just because more people learned about them.” Photo by Grady Dunston
Opening the door with curiosity
Journalism I student Oscar Malec reflects on his takeaways during an artist visit with local artist Amy Flurry in the CCHS Media Center on Nov. 6.
Local artist Amy Flurry visited the Clarke Central High School Media Center on Nov. 6 to speak to students about her experiences in many fields of work.
After working in journalism for 20 years, she shifted to creative writing, producing two books, one of them being “Recipe for Press.” After writing, she became a founding partner of two businesses: the paper-cut-project in 2009 and Aloka Home in 2020.
For me, Flurry’s visit emphasized that curiosity can be my biggest tool, as it can help me be more open to uncovering stories I never would have found out about without it. At one point, she said, “I want to see what’s on the other side of that door,” while referencing her work in journalism for fashion, gardening, home and lifestyle magazines.
This is something I have begun to realize as a growing journalist. I had an interview recently with a CCHS English for Speakers of Other Languages department teacher, and I noticed that I was genuinely interested and curious about what my interviewee had to offer. This led to an amazing interview where I was able to come up with questions based solely off of his words.
For me, Flurry’s visit emphasized that curiosity can be my biggest tool, as it can help me be more open to uncovering stories I never would have found out about without it.
With Flurry’s advice, I’ve realized a whole new way to converse with people through my sincere interest in what my stakeholders have to offer.
“You have to apply your curiosity with intense effort. Curiosity is not going to be enough to change what you want to do, but intense effort and sharing of yourself,” Flurry said.
Flurry talked about how she would pitch an idea when she didn’t even have a full plan, yet she got it done and fulfilled her promises, like crossing the doorframe into the unknown challenges ahead.
Curiosity can take me to the door, but I have to open it and walk through and deal with whatever comes after.
Serving the soup
Journalism I student Olive Forrester, who was inspired by the work and words of artist and entrepreneur Amy Flurry, discusses how the artist’s visit has changed her perspective.
Amy Flurry, an artist and entrepreneur, had me incredibly intrigued when she visited the Clarke Central High School Media Center on Nov. 6. Many CCHS students, myself included, were able to listen to Flurry’s monologue and ask questions, and I was greatly influenced by her life’s work.
Flurry spoke to us about the importance of putting oneself into the world, and letting oneself be known. She created several successful businesses, including her paper wig fashion company, which received recognition from Italia Vogue and a quilt business, titled Aloka Home. She made a career in art by using her creativity.
“Take a risk. Make it up. Put it out there, and people will meet you. You just don’t know that yet, but people will meet you where you are.” Flurry said.” I started pitching (myself) like I know how to pitch a story, and landed in a magazine. I’m now an entrepreneur, and (I created) an opportunity for myself.”
I learned that sharing stories and presenting myself to the world is a good way to live life.
Flurry was so incredibly passionate, and that is something I admired throughout her lesson. She was very ardent about Athens, where she had a pleasant experience starting her career and businesses and she knew that she didn’t need to live somewhere big in order to “share her soup” with the world.
“Every time, if I got a little bit of press coverage, (the company) would get another opportunity. So I never paid for advertising. I was still here in Athens, Georgia, now doing paper wigs all over the world. I really love having a national presence, but I like Athens a lot (too),” Flurry said.
More importantly, I learned that sharing stories and presenting myself to the world is a good way to live life, and Amy Flurry portrayed this lesson well through the artist’s visit.
Stories by Staff
Package by Lea D’Angelo
