Over the years, The Bay School and Art Speaks Gallery have grown and thrived in the Mathews community, and our staff is fortunate to receive the support of the many volunteers, teachers, artists, and community members as we work to continue building an educational and creative resource for all to enjoy.
Our dedicated staff welcome you to stop by for a gallery visit, enroll in one of our many classes, or attend an event. We look forward to meeting you!
Pam was hired in December 2013 as the Artistic Director. She has a BA in Art and a minor in Art History and Criticism from the University of Texas San Antonio, with supporting coursework in Art Education and Art Therapy from the University of New Mexico. She served in the U.S. Air Force for eight years before completing her degree and entering the Arts Administration field. She then worked in various roles at the Southwest School of Art in San Antonio, focusing on youth outreach programs and adult arts education. Upon moving to Gloucester in 2011, she served as the volunteer Curator and Education Director at Gloucester Arts on Main before joining The Bay School staff in December 2013 as Artistic Director. She became Executive Director in May 2016. Pam has been involved in many regional community and economic development initiatives, including the River to Bay Artisan Trail, the Middle Peninsula Alliance, the Gloucester County Chamber of Commerce, the Mathews Main Street Association, and the Made in Mathews Open Studio Tour. She has managed, curated, and judged many shows and festivals, including serving as judge for the 2021 Arts in the Middle Fine Art Festival and the 2024 national juried exhibition, "From My Perspective", at the Virginia Beach Art Center. She dabbles in many artistic media, and her passion is ceramics, specifically raku and other alternative firing methods. While unlikely to ever pursue an art-making career herself, she finds great satisfaction in helping other artists achieve personal and professional artistic goals, while sharing the magic of art. Every day, Pam demonstrates her firm belief that art can be a uniting and strengthening force in a community. |
| Grace Small Operations Manager gracesmall@bayschool-arts.comGrace earned her BS in Business Management from Christopher Newport University in 1990 and proceeded to work in management positions for a variety of industries, including food services, mail order, and real estate law. In 2006, a close friend and previous director of The Bay School convinced Grace to quit her job and come work for our organization. She’s never regretted that decision, saying, “I like being around creative people. They are here because they want to be and that makes them happy, which makes The Bay School a great place to work.” Grace and her husband Pete live in Dutton, Virginia with two cats. She enjoys the “Rivah” life and loves to relax by the water. |
| Virginia Coyle
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| Jennifer SchroederGallery Coordinator |
| Davida HallOutreach Coordinator |
| Peggy Shifflett
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Pottery Studio Technician | Christina Hubbard is a Lieutenant Firefighter Paramedic whose journey into the world of pottery began as a childhood dream. After years of dedicated service as a first responder, Christina turned to clay art as a form of healing and creative renewal. Pottery became not only a therapeutic outlet, but also a long-awaited passion she is able to pursue because of the Bay School Community Arts Center. Christina got her start in ceramics through classes offered at The Bay School. Working as a pottery studio technician, Christina brings both heart and hands-on expertise to our program. She is passionate about creating welcoming, supportive spaces where others can discover the transformative joy of working with clay. Christina is especially excited to share the therapeutic power of pottery with students and the community. She lives in White Stone with her husband and two children, Liam and Elsa, and continues to be inspired by the beauty of art, resilience, and lifelong learning. |
| Adelle Hudgins
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The Bay School | 279 Main Street | PO Box 1524 | Mathews, VA 23109
804-725-1278 | makeart@bayschoolarts.org
The Bay School is supported, in part, by Mathews County, the Virginia Commission for the Arts, which receives support from the Virginia General Assembly and the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency.
