Artist teachers hone craft and show work at The Werk

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Art is in Sydney Gauthier’s DNA.

Gauthier is a senior student at the Pinellas County Center for the Arts at Gibbs High School in St. Pete.

Both her parents and uncle graduated from Pinellas County Center for the Arts.

And thanks to teachers like Steve Beverage, Gauthier’s dream of becoming a working artist is that much closer.

“I’m the first generation going to college for the arts,” said Gauthier.

“I’m still learning,” said Steve Beverage.

Beverage has been teaching at PCCA for 15 years — not only instructing students, but showing art as well.

“That’s really starts here. We’re a community of artists who support each other,” said Beverage.

Beverage and several other PCCA teachers are part of an upcoming art show at the Werk Gallery in St. Pete, including Amber Quimby.

“All of us here are practicing artists, and I think that’s key because we understand the creative process,” said Quimby.

Quimby is also a PCCA alumna. “I had art classes here in this building,” said Quimby, “and I had some amazing instructors — really wonderful mentors.”

Together with students, instructors created public art murals, shepherding a new generation of artists as they continue to grow their own repertoire.

“I feel like I’m humbled I get to do this,” said Beverage. “I mean, I get to work with these kids, and watch them grow and develop as artists. And it’s celebrating over 40 years of excellence in arts magnet programming. And to be a participant is really a blessing.”