Scott Novota - Glass Blowing
Scott’s interest in glass first began out of college when he started modifying old wine bottles to suit whatever need he desired.  His first exposure to glassblowing was while living in New York City.  Working as Network Engineer in the city didn’t leave him much time to learn a new hobby, although he frequented many galleries and admired many other artists’ works.

In 2003 Scott seized an opportunity to move back to Pensacola where he began his glassblowing journey.

While Scott enjoys the fire, he loves the process of experimentation. Taking glass in its molten form and making something that's ornamental but also useful. With the right skills and practice he sees endless possibilities. He also admittedly finds the element of danger pretty appealing.

Although never thinking of himself as an artist, Scott fell in love with the art form itself.  His love for the art shows through in his work.  After several years of dedication and practice of working with the glass medium Scott’s ideas and expressions come to life in each piece he creates. 

Scott and his wife Molli built and founded Strong Street Studio in 2007 where they live, and he currently works.  He is also a founding member of the Belmont Arts Center’s Glass Guild as well as an instructor. ÿ

 
Meredith Hartsfield, Glass Bead Making
Meredith has a 10 year graphic design/commerical arts backgroundýas well as an extensive background in education. A glass beadmaker since 1995, Meredith has taught classes at the Belmont for four years and is Belmont's resident glass bead maker. She has participated in nationally recognized juried art shows such as the Greater Gulf Coast Arts Festival - (4 years), Fairhope Arts Show (2 years) and many other local shows and venues. Meredith is married withýthree teenage children and has been a resident of Gulf Breeze, Florida since relocating from Denver, Colorado in 1999.
 

Ben Twingley, Pottery
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 in his early college years.

He put ceramics on hold for a while to pursue a career in photography and graduated with a Bachelors Degree in Mass Communications, from Minnesota State University Moorhead.

Twingley has been working as a staff photographer for the Pensacola News Journal for the past seven years and has freelanced for publications around the country.

Since 2006 he has been active with the Pensacola State College ceramics department and is an active member of the Gulf Coast Kiln Walk Society.

He has shown his work regionally for the past four years. In 2009 and 2010 his work was accepted into the Great Gulf Coast Arts Festival where he has had pieces chosen for judging.

His work has been sold nationally as well as donated for local charity efforts like Manna Food Bank’s “Throw a Bowl” fund raiser.

Chris Wood - Pottery
Wood is currently working towards his B.A. from the University of West Florida in management, but has always had a hand in clay. He has been an important facet in the UWF dept. of fine art, serving as the studio technician and working alongside master potters. His work has also been featured at the Manna Food's "Throw a bowl" fundraiser

Ann Robinson - Pottery
Robinson received her B.F.A. from Troy State University along with attending ceramic educator's conferences. She has participated in many group shows as well as exhibited in the Foley Arts Center. Along with her passion for teaching kids the art of Pottery she is a master gardener, float and costume designer and avid volunteer.

Sam Nettles - Sculpture
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.