Ceramics Instructor |
LAUREL BLACKTHORNE (They/Them)I am a community and self-taught ceramic artist. I’ve lived in Tallahassee for almost twenty years and absolutely love the community I have found here. While I’ve been working with clay for six years, I transitioned to a career in the arts in late 2020 out of a desire to engage with the world in a different way. My art focuses on themes of nature, queerness, resistance, and joy and I make a combination of functional pottery and ceramic sculpture. I think the strength of art is its ability to bring people together. Alongside my own artistic practice, I work as a pottery instructor specializing in helping students build strong foundations in ceramics and decorative techniques.
I am also the Executive Director and one of the founding members of the Queer Tallahassee Artists Collective. Founded in 2021 QTAC is committed to building economic opportunity and community spaces that celebrate LGBTQIA+ artists. I am deeply committed to the importance of arts in the Tallahassee community and recognize the importance of creating safe spaces for marginalized communities to engage in the arts. You can find me at BlackthorneCeramics.com and can always reach me at [email protected]. |
You can view Nina Freeman's website here!
Painting Instructor |
NINA FREEMANNina Freeman is an experimental watercolor and acrylic artist. She holds a BA in Studio Art and a Masters in Social Work from Florida State University. She was the president of the Tallahassee Watercolor Society, and is currently a Signature Member of the Georgia Watercolor Society, Florida Watercolor Society, Tallahassee Watercolor Society, and Acrylic Painters USA. Her work was recently exhibited at LeMoyne Arts Tri-State Exhibition in July 2019, and she has won awards at the Florida Watercolor Society National Exhibition, Thomasville Cultural Center, International Society of Acrylic Painters –FL, Tallahassee Watercolor Society BrushStrokes, International Society of Experimental Artists, Bethlehem PA 2016, and the Florida Watercolor Society, Ocala, FL 2016. She has taught art at LeMoyne Arts since 2015.
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You can view Andrew Miller's website here!
Stained Glass Instructor |
ANDREW MILLERAndrew Miller has worked with stained glass for over 25 years. He designs and builds new windows, repairs antique windows and lamps. He learned this craft by studying on his own, taking classes in Mississippi, Nevada, Oregon, and Maine. He has taught introductory classes for the last 20 years in Mississippi, Maine, and Florida. He believes that as our world becomes more digital and impersonal, everyone should learn a craft that will add meaning to their life.
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Drawing & Painting Instructor |
JOE ROACHEBorn and raised in Columbia, SC, Joe completed his undergraduate study in art at Florida A&M University and graduate study at The University of Wisconsin, Madison graduating with an MFA in Painting and Graphics. Mr. Roache who was the Director of the Office of Instructional Technology at Florida A&M University has also taught courses in 3D Animation and Design in the School of Journalism and Painting in the Art Department at FAMU.
Joe Roache has participated in many group and one-man exhibitions. His work is represented in the collections of Barnett Bank of Florida (Jacksonville, Florida), the City of Orlando, Bendix Corp., Xerox Inc., the Mississippi Museum of Art, the University of South Florida, and Florida A&M University as well as many private collections around the world. His group and one-man shows include exhibitions at Alabama State University, The Atlanta Life Insurance Show, Alabama A&M University, U.S National-International Art Show for the Division of Cultural Affairs of Florida, Gulf Coast Community College, Four Arts Gallery - Florida State University, LeMoyne Art Foundation, and Okaloose-Walton Community College. Joe Roache's professional career has included work with instructional technology, digital images and 3D animation. Joe has lectured on these subjects at The University of Oslo, Norway, The University of Nicynhy Norgod, Russia, The University of Edinburg, Scotland, The University of Wisconsin, Madison, and The University of Nairobi, Kenya and other organizations and conferences. At Florida A&M University (FAMU) in Tallahassee, Florida, he was commissioned to do a large-scale painting that is housed on the first floor lobby of the School of Business and Industry (SBI) Building on the university campus. His work is also in the collection of the FAMU Archives and the Coleman Library. |
Workshop Instructor |
KAREN MACKKaren was born in North Florida and never strayed far from the South. Beaches and coastal areas have fed her creative energy from a child through today.
Karen showcased her creative talents in Karen Mack Tiles with custom mosaics, tiles and classes. Karen Mack Tiles exhibited in multiple international trade shows through “Coverings”. After 10 years, Karen closed her shop, and retired from mosaics completely after 18 years of creating. Karen Mack’s mosaics were easily recogniable. She began learning unique processes for metal, resin, concrete, wood, paper, photography, fiber and chemicals. These processes produced unique items that work their way into her mixed media pieces. Karen’s love of the coast was predominate in her art until the pandemic when all shows were cancelled (full inventory) and when her need to “create” had to be filled. She turned to Nature’s gifts to create “Mother Nature” personas on canvas. She also created Ornamented Photography by enlarging her photos and ornamenting them on a canvas. Karen strives for and acheives an emotional hook in her work that makes the viewer feel something, making her pieces have that “Karen Mack signature look”. |
Glass Mosaic Instructor |
SHEA WEBBShea Webb has worked with stained glass for two years; she’s modified patterns and uses them to build steppingstones from the ground up. She learned this craft by studying with an instructor, Andrew Miller and her two mentors as well, Rita Riccardi of Glass Impressions New York, and Carol Webb of C3 Studios Inc. Georgia (no relation to self). She believes that using artwork to express yourself is a unique and creative way to explore our talents.
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Youth & Teen Instructor |
CAITLIN BAIRDCaitlin Baird is a Tallahassee native and graduate of Ringling College of Art and Design. They earned their BFA in illustration in 2019 and has since then worked with Lemoyne and as a freelance illustrator.
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