Nine Dechamps

Nine’s passion for the arts began in theater. In her pre-children and pre-America life, she was Assistant to Artistic Director Peter Zadek at the Deutsches Schauspielhaus in Hamburg, Germany (“the hands-down best job anyone could ever have!”) When she moved to the States, Nine was able to continue her love for theater with the Acts Factory Players. There she directed plays, designed and built sets and tried her hand at costume designing. She also served for two years on the Board of New Britain's Hole in the Wall Theater. Nine is very excited to become part of FVAC and hopes to help support and nurture this beautiful art community.

Cynthia Mellon
Cynthia Mellon joins the FVAC Board with a lifelong passion for the arts and a newly found enthusiasm for painting. A classically trained mezzo-soprano, she has performed in concert and opera and has served on the boards of Simsbury Light Opera and Connecticut Choral Artists, where she was also Development Director and is still a performing member of the ensemble. By day, Cynthia enjoys her other passion – her love of animals – as a Veterinary Technician at Advanced Veterinary Care in Farmington. The Arts Center has become her home away from home, and she is excited for the opportunity to serve and promote it and the artists who also call FVAC home.

Melissa Meredith
Melissa Meredith is an intaglio printmaker with a much-loved studio at the FVAC where she both works and teaches. Her artwork is in museums, numerous private and corporate collections, and can be found in several New England galleries. An avid gardener, Melissa lives in Bloomfield.

Sue Nooney

Sue Nooney is a jewelry artist and a resident studio artist. She has always considered herself to be creative and organized, having worked as an Administrative Assistant for 39 years. Sue has served as President of the Employees’ Activities Association at her workplace and says she was in charge of ‘Fun’. Sue is the President of the Studio Artists Association at FVAC and is retired and living in Unionville.

Kara Zablotsky
Kara comes to the FVAC with a lifetime of involvement in the arts. As a child, Kara danced ballet with the Albany Berkshire Ballet and toured with the company through high school. While in college, Kara studied anthropology, traveling to India as part of the School of International Training’s program in Arts and Culture. There she studied Rajasthani folk dance and the tradition of silk sari production in the city of Varanasi. Kara is now a clinical social worker and has utilized arts and expressive therapies in her work with children and families. She became involved with FVAC as a ceramics student and is now a member of the clay co-op. Kara holds a B.A. from Brandeis University and an M.S.W. from Simmons College. She is the mother of two and lives with her family in Simsbury.

Carol Kaplan, Executive Director
carol.kaplan@artsfvac.org
860.678.1867