Staff Spotlight: Tina Flowers – DSP and Multi-Talented Artist – Impacting Many Places

Tina Flowers is a Direct Support Professional (DSP) in our STEP program; this consists of working half a day in Vocational Training and half a day in Strengthening Pathways (SP), our enrichment activities program.

In SP, Tina uses her creativity in making various art & crafts projects with our participants. Outside of LVS, Tina engages her artistic talent across many diverse mediums with a bold, bright style.

Tina’s journey as an artist began at A.R.T Research Bronze Foundry where she collaborated with a team of artists to create the impressive, stately statue of a fireman, policeman, and EMS at the Lancaster County Public Safety Training Center. Her work also includes the nature sculpture at Longwood Gardens Children’s Garden and also the Witness Tree where she made a bronze tree stump in honor of a 300-year-old tree at Donegal Presbyterian Church.

A self-taught artist, Tina experimented with acrylic paints and mastered her own style, “complex acrylics.” Tina showcased her artwork in multiple local galleries in Lancaster, Reading, York, and Lebanon. She was also featured in the Tyme Gallery (Philadelphia) and The Tides Hotel (Asbury Park, New Jersey).

One of her most well-known shows (featured in LNP) was during Good Friday at Veritas in Lancaster — called “Emotive”– which explored the human side/emotions of Jesus. Tina presented a portrait of Jesus to the Bishop of Kenya at Manheim Brethren and Christ.

Tina also worked in set design for Seussical the Musical at Lancaster Bible College. This show was styled like Dr. Suess’s imaginative cartoon illustrations. She created over 100 colorful paper-mache fish for One Fish – Two Fish – Red Fish – Blue Fish.

Tina also makes beautiful jewelry with dried flowers covered in resin. Some of her other creative outlets include photography and cooking. She has a dog named Ginger and has a passion for animals. She even painted a picture of Gussy, Sandy Miller’s (LVS’ Transportation Coordinator) show dog who visits Lighthouse.

Her latest creation is an acrylic mural at the business Mindful Massage by Melissa in New Holland. Standing at a sizable 10 feet x 7 feet, the mural transports you to a peaceful world of springtime. Featuring cherry blossoms, a white crane and a pagoda in the background, the mural has an Asian flair.

“When I took this job eight months ago, I thought I had so much to offer the participants, but it turned out the participants and Lighthouse Vocational Services are the ones who are teaching me.”

Tina speaks about her job working with participants: “When I took this job eight months ago, I thought I had so much to offer the participants, but it turned out the participants and Lighthouse Vocational Services are the ones who are teaching me.”