Alumni Spotlight: 1994 Graduate Sharla Valeski Is Next!

I have a fun project coming up in March. I'll be doing a walking video tour of the First Wednesday Art Walk, visiting the unique and interesting art venues, and occasionally pointing out artists and friends of the arts who are somehow connected with Florida State College at Jacksonville. While scouting out the different places I'd like to explore with camera in March, I went into Next Gallery (which I had first visited soon after it opened and bought some fantastick colored pencils made out of twigs). I introduced myself to Sharla and soon found out she was a (then) FCCJ graduate. She was highly complimentary toward her professors, particularly David Lauderdale, and to the College for getting her on the path that ended up with her becoming the owner and designer of The Next Gallery. Of course I LOVE hearing stories like that. Next thing you know (sorry; couldn't resist), on Feb. 4 our Florida State College Network Reporter Will Gay and Photographer Kevin Labrecque were at Next interviewing Sharla and suddenly, she's our Florida State College Network Spotlight! Give Sharla and The Next a look: www.floridastatecollegenetwork.com and click on Spotlight.