In Memoriam
Jean Wagner Troemel
Founder of P.A.St.A. Art Gallery
May 4, 1921 - January 18, 2018
Jean Wagner Troemel passed away on January 18, 2018, in St. Augustine, at the age of 96. In 1982, she founded P.A.St.A. Fine Art Gallery, which is the oldest cooperative art gallery in St. Augustine. Under her direction for many years and with the support of its members, P.A.St.A. has helped launch the artistic careers of numerous local artists. She also helped found the First Friday Art Walk in the city. Troemel will be remembered for her tireless work in helping develop the St. Augustine Art Community.
Troemel received her art education at the Art Students League and National Academy of Design, New York City, The Norton School of Art, and the University of New Mexico. She taught painting for 25 years at the Jacksonville Art Museum, Flagler College, and Winter Haven Art Association which she founded in 1950. She was also a Fellow of the Royal Society of Art, London, since 1973, and is included in the World's Who's Who of Women and the World's Who's Who of 2005.
Troemel was the winner of many awards throughout her life. Her work is represented in public and private collections around the world. She was also an accomplished portrait artist with over 600 commissions to her credit. In recent years, she donated the Best in Show Award for each show featured at the St. Augustine Art Association--$300 for eight of the shows and $500 for the Honors Show.
Jean often visited P.A.St.A. Gallery during First Friday Art Walks and enjoyed seeing how the gallery she founded has evolved into its present form. We will miss her visits.
In Memoriam
Carolyn Hayes Kelso
Carolyn Hayes Kelso passed away peacefully on February 3, 2020, with her family nearby. Carolyn was well known in the St. Augustine art community and was a member of the P.A.St.A. Art Gallery for 21 years and Artist Emeritus for the past two years. She was a graduate of the Rhode Island School of Design with a B.F.A. degree. She moved to St. Augustine in 1994 and has lived here for the remainder of her life.
Carolyn received signature status from the Florida Watercolor Society in 2004 and was named "JWS Artist of the Year" in 2008 by the Jacksonville Watercolor Society. She was a huge contributor to our art community, a past president of P.A.St.A. Art Gallery, and a wonderful inspiration for so many artists who passed through the gallery doors. Her knowledge of art and the history of our gallery is irreplaceable. She will be greatly missed.
Carolyn was a member of the St. Augustine Art Association, the Jacksonville Watercolor Society, Florida Watercolor Society and an artist at P.A.St.A. Art Gallery. Her work was published in the International Artists Book, "100 Ways to Paint Still Life and Florals" in 2004.