FCAC Board of Trustees, Staff, and Instructors

Board of Trustees

FCAC Staff

Instructors

Ceramics

Sam Nettles – Sculpture Instructor

Sam Nettles received his B.F.A. from the University of South Alabama and did intensive figurative studies at the Lyme Academy of Fine Arts in Connecticut. His major and private commissions, among many, include the Santa Rosa County Veterans Memorial in Milton, a fiberglass bas-relief celebrating the diversity of life on earth and an attempt to understand it through DNA, located at the University of West Florida and of course, the Hawkshaw Lagoon Missing Children Memorial in Pensacola. His work has also garnered a myriad of awards nationally.

Ben Twingley – Staff / Ceramics Instructor

Ben Twingley was introduced to clay at an early age by his father, who was a potter and art teacher for almost 30 years. He spent time on the wheel as a kid and later immersed himself in ceramics early in college. He has a Bachelor’s Degree in Mass Communications, from Minnesota State University Moorhead. He worked as a staff photographer for the Pensacola News Journal for 11 years before dedicating himself to ceramics. Since 2006 he has fired large wood kilns with the Gulf Coast Kiln Walk Society. He received his MFA in Creative Technology and Practice from the University of South Alabama. At First City Art Center he has served as Interim Executive Director and is currently a Director of Ceramics and one of our ceramics instructors. Visit bentwingley.com to see his work.

Pearl VanHoove – Ceramics Instructor

Pearl was born and raised in Reading, Pennsylvania. After falling in love with drafting in 7th grade, she continued that path and obtained a B.S. in Technology Education with a minor studio concentration in Sculpture from California University of Pennsylvania. Throughout this time she entered sculptures in many juried art exhibitions throughout the Pittsburgh area, receiving awards of merit. Her sculptures were primarily composed of earthen materials including clay, twine, concrete and metal, often of figures. Pearl began pottery while attending Cal U and continued classes at the Belmont Arts Center after moving to Pensacola in 2006. Pearl enjoys making functional pottery and learning new techniques and forms.

Kara Struck – Ceramics Instructor

Kara Struck is originally from Baton Rouge, Louisiana but now chooses to reside in Pensacola with her husband and two daughters. She attended Louisiana State University where she graduated with a BFA concentrating in ceramics. Kara later went on to earn a degree in Nursing and is currently working as an RN here locally in Pensacola. Kara entertains various mediums but works mainly in clay. Some of her current artistic explorations include experimenting with printmaking techniques on clay and conquering larger forms on the potters wheel. Kara is most inspired by the process of working with clay and its unique power to bring people together unlike any other medium.

Erika Young – Ceramics Instructor

Flavio Souza – Ceramics Instructor

Emalee Hudson – Ceramics Instructor

Youth Art Program

Nicolette Dugas – Lead Youth Art Educator

Email Nicolette at: youthprograms@firstcityart.org

CAP

Nester Taylor – Pins & Needles Instructor

Since 2018, Pins and Needles has been providing sewing classes. In the classes,
students learn how a sewing machine functions, basic stitching, how to make a bag, and how to
make a basic piece of clothing. As we have grown, we have added in a Sewing Club for people
to come together and sew with each other while having a sewing expert available should they
need help. Pins and Needles is the creation of Nester Taylor, who has been sewing since he was a
child. Nester creates high-end fashion and his work has been featured in several fashion shows.
He also believes art and fashion go together and is an award-winning fine artist.

Garrett Allen – Painting & Drawing Instructor