First City Arts Center Glass & Ceramic Pumpkin Patch moving back home

From Staff Reports
·4 min read

First City Arts Center is going back to its roots and moving its 17th annual Glass & Ceramic Pumpkin Patch back to its home base at 1060 N. Guillemard Street on Oct. 6-7.

While the First City Arts Center is a smaller venue than its temporary home at the stadium during COVID, it was a no-brainer to return to the place where thousands of community members spend time throughout the year honing their craft.

"Everyone loves the sense of community at the First City Arts Center and this is home for our artists," said FCAC Executive Director Bart Hudson. "There was a lot of comments for us to come home."

More than 5,000 hand-blown glass and hand-thrown clay pumpkins created by about 40 local artists are available for purchase from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Oct. 7. The Saturday event has free entry, while a special Pumpkin Patch Preview Party from 5 to 8 p.m. on Friday will give first dibs to attendees. Preview evening tickets are $30 for members and $35 for non-members and does not include the cost of a pumpkin.

The pumpkins cover every color, shape and size imaginable, from your traditional orange pumpkin to bold colors and fantastical designs.

Family talent: Glass blowing runs hot through this Pensacola family's veins

While the annual pumpkin patch has become a tradition for local families, many of whom now have a vast colorful collection, the annual fundraiser is the lifeblood of the nonprofit center for visual arts. Proceeds help make it possible for the center to offer affordable art education and outreach programs.

"Not only is the pumpkin patch critical to our financial success, but to the sense of community it has created," Hudson said. "We will have more than 3,000 people here Saturday and they will purchase more than 5,000 pumpkins. It's a community event that enables us to do what we do."

Having it at the center also offers attendees a glimpse of the vast selection of classes that are available throughout the year.

First City Art Center provides workshops, classes, summer camps, outreach programs, gallery exhibits and much more to help the community engage with the arts. FCAC serves over 10,000 adults and children every year to help nurture a creative culture and environment for aspiring artists, people who want creative outlets, or just observers.

Classes range from the traditional mediums like clay, painting and glass-blowing to belly dancing and sewing. FCAC recently added children's clay classes and in the new year hope to offer stained glass and cold work with glass − a whole new approach to glass blowing.

"What my philosophy is, is if there are enough people to try a medium of art, let's try it," Hudson said. "If not, let's go to next medium of art. We never put brackets on what we offer, it's what the community wants and will support.

"We try to keep our costs per class at a rate that folks can afford," he continued. "Our fundraisers, in particular the Pumpkin Patch, enable us to do that. It is our single largest fundraising effort."

The fundraiser was started at Belmont Art Center where FCAC was originally housed and has slowly grown over the years. Those first few years sold 200-300 pumpkins, growing to over 7,000 pumpkins created by 40 local artists in 2022.

The fundraiser began with just glass pumpkins, but by the second and third year incorporated ceramics into the variety of pumpkins.

The Friday review event will feature live demonstrations, while the free Saturday event will offer children's activities and the gallery will be opened to highlight the work of local artists.

"We are so grateful to the community for supporting us for 17 years," Hudson said. "Clearly there is a good relationship between First City Arts Center and the community. It's fun to watch. We can't do what we do without them."

Pumpkin Patch Preview Party

  • When: 5 to 8 p.m. Oct. 6 at First City Arts Center, 1060 N. Guillemard Street.

  • Cost: Tickets are $30 for members and $35 for non-members and does not include the cost of a pumpkin.

  • Pumpkins: One glass or pottery pumpkin per ticket may be purchased at the preview party. Up to two additional pumpkins may be purchased Oct. 6 with a $15 donation to FCAC.

  • Activities: Complimentary hors d' oeuvres, drinks, live music, glass and pottery demonstrations and a chance to be the first to shop the pumpkin patch for a one-of-a-kind pumpkin.

Glass & Ceramic Pumpkin Patch

  • When: 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Oct. 7 at First City Arts Center, 1060 N. Guillemard Street

  • Cost: Entry is free, but pumpkins must be purchased. Prices for pumpkins start at $20.

This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: First City Arts Center Glass & Ceramic Pumpkin Patch Oct. 7 moves home