Discovering a Passion for Art and Teaching
As an artist, EFSC instructor Georgi Gelalles has created wonderful, one-of-a-kind pieces. Today, she continues to shape new works of art: her students.
A native of Virginia, Gelalles moved at a young age to Cleveland, Ohio. There she spent the majority of her grade school years. As a teen, her family moved to St. Augustine, Florida, where Gelalles finished high school. After that, she went on to study painting and art history at Florida State University. At FSU, she completed her Master of Fine Arts, then relocated to New York City to pursue what she loved. In NYC, Gelalles was initially employed in the photo lab of the Museum of Modern Art (MOMA). During this time, she continued to further her education, taking graduate courses at New York University. Simultaneously, she completed drawing and silk screen courses at the School of Visual Arts.
It was while living as an artist in New York that Gelalles discovered another passion. Between exhibiting paintings and accepting the occasional portrait commission, she also began teaching in New York City public schools. Upon moving back to Florida more than 25 years later, she decided to teach at the collegiate level. Gelalles currently instructs several art classes at Eastern Florida, such as drawing, 2-D design, 3-D design, watercolor, and art history. These classes are ideal for students looking to pursue an Associate in Arts degree, transfer into an art bachelor’s degree program, or simply explore their interests.
Shaping Students through Art
“Teaching as an adjunct with EFSC for six years has given me a warm feeling of connectedness with the community and the school,” Gelalles shared.
For members of the faculty, instructing classes coincides with mentoring and advising. When I interviewed Gelalles, it was clear that sharing her experiences with students and peers is her passion. She loves working with new and experienced artists, assisting with anything from drawing techniques to helping them exhibit their artwork.
“I find working with students invigorating because of the energy of trading ideas, researching, and practicing new methods of artistic expression,” said Gelalles.
“Several of my students have gone on to higher art education, as well as have earned art awards in the EFSC student shows.”
In addition to helping to cultivate a new generation of artists, Georgi Gelalles continues to work in mixed media, creating 2-D works and sculptures that have been exhibited in numerous art shows over the years. Most recently, her work was displayed in the Fifth Avenue Art Gallery’s 100% Pure Florida exhibition and the 2021 Exhibizone Winter Festival online exhibit.
Throughout her endeavors, Gelalles has never lost sight of art’s importance.
“Visual art is a way of perceiving life, as well as a way of coping with personal as well as universal challenges,” she said.
“It is a means of expressing one’s feelings and views of events, cultural wrongs, or the beauty of the environment. Helping another person gain strength in his or her artistic talents and skills is one of the greatest accomplishments a teacher can have.”
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