Art Works Inaugural Career Day inducts three alumni into Hall of Fame

Palm Coast Observer
Neighbors

Tony Neste uses his phone to video the Art Hall of Fame inductee program at Flagler Auditorium on Tuesday, March 29. Next to him is Marilyn Neste. The couple's son, A.J. was one of three FPC graduates being honored. Photo by Jacque Estes

Three Flagler Palm Coast High School graduates returned to their alma mater to share their art career successes with current students. All three had been in Ed Beckett's classes when at FPC and each took different paths to achieve the dreams they had in high school.

Christina Katsolis, class of 2000; A.J. Neste, class of 1998; and Sean Palmer, class of 2001 were recognized as being role models for the students at FPC interested in a career in the arts. They are also the first students to be inducted into the newly established Arts Hall of Fame.

Ann DeLucia, the president of the Flagler County Art League, opened the event at the Flagler Auditorium on Tuesday, March 29.

“Since our founding in 1978, we have been committed to perpetuating the arts in our community. We've encouraged students with scholarships for those going onto higher education in the arts,” DeLucia said. “Today we would like to encourage our students to find a way to combine the love of art with a successful career. This is the first of what we hope to be many more programs.”

Ed Beckett has been working toward the creation of this program for much of his 28 years at Flagler Palm Coast High School. He thanked FCAL for acquiring a grant from the city of Palm Coast to make Art Works a reality.

Beckett introduced each of the former students, who gave presentations explaining their individual paths to success.

“They were all so very excited to come here and give back to the kids,” Beckett said. “That's what is so exciting about having them here.”

Katsolis is the education coordinator at the Southeast Museum of Photography on the Daytona State College Campus in Daytona Beach. A true home town girl.

“I joke how I haven't gone very far in life,” Katsolis said. “I was born at Halifax Hospital and I work right across the street.”

A.J. Neste spoke about how he has spent the past 15 years traveling the world with his camera. He found his initial success, not surfing the waves, but by taking photos of those who were. He spoke about how he became the surf photographer for the USA surf team and how he has come back to Florida with his family to be the senior photographer for Interpret Studios in Jacksonville.

Colleen Conklin presents A.J. Neste with his plague. Photo by Jacque Estes

“Don't take your ideas for granted,” he said. “If I can motivate just one person here you would make it all worth it.”

Sean Palmer, architect and owner of Palmer Studio Architecture & Interiors in Flagler Beach, spoke about what art has to do with architecture.

Sean Palmer speaks about building a successful career in the arts at the Art Works program at the Flagler Auditorium on Tuesday, March 29. Photo by Jacque Estes

“It is considered by many to be the mother of all arts,” Palmer said. “Architecture is not done by one person in a dark room over a drawing board any longer. It's done by a team of people. We are sitting around, basically sitting on top of one another drawing, looking at books, studying things together.”

His presentation ended with four words. Four words he said are on T-shirts he and his wife have –

“Proceed and Be Bold.”

Flagler School Superintendent Jacob Oliva. with the help of school board members Colleen Conklin, Janet MacDonald and Trevor Tucker, presented each of the inductees with their Hall of Fame plagues.

This presentation wasn't the end of the program for the inductees. Nineteen FPC students had been selected to stay for the next portion and have some personal time to ask questions and pull more tips from those who have gone before them.