The March 8 Holmes Beach Night Market featured extended shopping hours in Holmes Beach, and lots of art.
HOMES BEACH – March 8 was the second Friday of the month, and the Holmes Beach Night Market packed the sidewalks with shoppers, diners and art lovers. This monthly event, allows shoppers in Holmes Beach to enjoy extended shopping hours at area businesses, and is a chance for the Artists’ Guild Gallery of Anna Maria Island (AGAMI) to show what the have to offer, including the monthly Featured Artist from the gallery.
Only 20 years since she began painting in 2004, AGAMI’s March Featured Artist, Carolann Garafola, would have even the most astute art critic believing she’s been doing it her whole life. A lifelong photographer, Garafola says it was a revelation by her husband that kicked off her interest in painting.
“I started painting in 2004 because my husband was a professional artist. He made a very good living as an illustrator and portrait artist,” Garafola said. “We traveled all across the United States and all over Europe. I would do all of his photography. I told him I would love to learn how to paint, and he told me that if a person has a good eye for photography, they can learn how to paint.”
Garafola started working with acrylics and some watercolor, but in 2019 she made the switch to oil as her media of choice. Many of her oil paintings are on display at AGAMI and available for purchase. She brings Florida’s many diverse animals, plants and bodies of water to life in stunning color. It was also 2019 when she retired from a busy career which included many years of public service, including being Mayor of Warren Township NJ, and started painting full time. While some artists prefer to paint plein air, which means they paint outside in front of the subject they are painting, Garafola says she is lucky enough to have a large studio at her home, and that’s where she does the bulk of her work, using her own photographs from which to paint. As an avid cyclist, she also finds inspiration from scenes she takes in during her rides.
In addition to Granola’s work, the gallery had artists demonstrations on the sidewalk in front of the gallery, live music from Larry Wilhelm, wine and snacks.
Other Holmes Beach businesses also took part, including: Pizzano’s Pizza and Grinders, DCoy Ducks, Small Town Creamery, howluckyami, Irene’s Clothing Store, Sand Dollar, The Feast, Hurricane Hank’s, Freckled Fin and The Doctor’s Office. It was a great evening for both art lovers and anyone looking for something unique they may only find on Anna Maria Island.
The next Holmes Beach Night Market will take place Friday, April 12 from 5 to 7:30 p.m. or later.
ANNA MARIA – Local artists Barbara Truemper-Green, Judy Vazquez, Karen Beach and LuAnn Widergren enjoyed An Artful Evening at the Anna Maria Island Historical Museum on Jan. 24.
In addition to displaying and offering for sale some of their past work, three of the four artists created new works in real-time at the well-attended event.
Inside the museum, Truemper-Green created a new pastel painting that depicted her memory of a tree-lined Anna Maria shoreline near Bean Point. After noting that she participated in a previous Artful Evening event two years ago, she said, “I love this.”
Barbara Truemper-Green created a new pastel painting during the event. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Working next to her, Vazquez created a new mosaic made by attaching pieces of blue, marine life-themed glass to a frame surrounding a small mirror.
“This is the first time I’m using this glass,” she said.
She also displayed a previously completed mosaic and some smaller inspiration stones.
Judy Vazquez worked on a new mosaic during the museum event. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Participating in her first museum show, Vazquez said, “We have a wonderful group of people here. It’s a nice turnout.”
As she made her rounds, the museum’s Executive Director Caryn Hodge said, “We’re happy all these people came out to see us bringing art and history together at the museum. We are showcasing four amazing local artists who all have different styles and different mediums.
We love supporting our local artists who capture pieces of Anna Maria history and this brings more people to the museum.”
Karen Beach displayed a COVID-era-inspired watercolor painting. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Inside the museum, Karen Beach displayed several of her locally-themed watercolor paintings. One painting illustrated the pass at DeSoto National Memorial as viewed from the path she and her husband walked constantly during the COVID-19 pandemic. Her other works included paintings of a cottage on Gulf Drive, a school of jumping mullet and an outdoor setting in Alaska.
“I like this event very much and I was in it two years ago. It brings people into the museum and you can see people appreciating the museum while we show our work,” Beach said.
LuAnn Widergren created a new oil painting of a local palm tree. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
While working outside on the museum’s front porch, Widergren created a new oil painting of one of the Island’s palm trees – working in a manner and a medium similar to the late TV personality, Bob Ross.
“It’s a very happy palm tree,” she joked when that comparison was made.
One of her previous paintings depicted a grounded, abandoned boat in Cortez that she created during the two days spent outside at the boat’s location. Another painting depicted a beach scene in Holmes Beach.
“I haven’t done this event before, but I’m at the Artists’ Guild of Anna Maria Island with a couple other artists here and they invited me. I couldn’t pass that up,” Widergren said, noting she tries to make a living from the sale of her art.
Attendees also enjoyed free charcuterie provided by Anna Maria Olive Oil Outpost and free wine provided by Time Saver Wine and Spirits.
HOLMES BEACH – The front window at Island Gallery West is alive with color thanks to June’s Featured Artist, Sharon Lennox Woelfling, and her display titled “Coastal Impressions.”
Woelfling has been an artist for decades and has spent much of her time teaching art to children as well as adults.
“I’ve taken a lot of workshops, and I started out with watercolor, doing that for many years before I evolved to acrylics,” Woelfling said. “I’ve really fallen in love with acrylic painting because you can do a larger painting and it’s more forgiving. If you make a mistake in watercolor, you throw it away and start over.”
Woelfling points out that while only one out of 10 watercolor paintings come out the way she would have liked, an acrylic painting can be corrected. Her passion for this medium is apparent to anyone who views her work on display at the gallery. Works range from lifelike to abstract, with many landing somewhere in between as she paints in a style that takes something like a tropical flower or waterfall and pulls them to the verge of being abstract.
While Woelfling’s favorite color is blue, her works leap off the canvas with bright greens, reds and any other color required to bring each particular vision to life.
“This gallery is a great way to interact with other artists because when you paint, it’s very solitary, so you need that interaction with other artists,” said Woelfling, speaking about her relationship with Island Gallery West and her fellow member artists. “I love to see their work and be in the gallery the days I work, and just see what’s new in here.”
“Coastal Impressions” will be on display until June 30, and all works are available for purchase. Island Gallery West is located at 5368 Gulf Drive, Holmes Beach and is open Tuesday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
HOLMES BEACH – The 34th Annual Springfest Fine Arts & Fine Crafts Festival returned to an appreciative crowd at City Field March 19-20.
The event is touted by organizers as a combination of people, education, entertainment and food, where you can find amazing items handcrafted and offered for sale by talented artists. Sponsored by the Anna Maria Island Art League, this year’s event featured 80 artists showcasing everything from oil paintings to wood carvings. The event also featured live music and plenty of food, making it a great way to spend a beautiful spring afternoon.
Cynthia Walston of Lutz took Best in Show at Springfest in Holmes Beach. – Submitted
“We are here from New York and had no idea this was happening this weekend. I told my husband we would check it out if we could find a parking spot,” said Linda Minardi, who attended with her husband, Walt. “We found a spot and are happy we did. We had some amazing food and bought a couple of nice pieces to take home and remember how much we love Anna Maria Island.”
Springfest is a juried show for both adults and children. Prizes were $450 for Best in Show, $250 for Awards of Distinction and $100 for Awards of Merit. This year’s winners included:
Best in Show – Cynthia Walston (oil painting)
Award of Distinction – John Cheer (ceramic/glass fuse)
Award of Distinction – Ron Deel (oil painting)
Award of Merit – Kowena Suckstorf (glass)
Award of Merit – Maureen Abdullah (jewelry)
Award of Merit – Jay Canterbury (photography)
The Anna Maria Art League is a non-profit organization dedicated to fostering the arts on the Island. In addition to classes, funds from the festival underwrite the operation of the art center, exhibits, and a variety of programs for the community. Springfest is a major source of the organization’s annual fundraising. For more information, visit the league’s website.
HOLMES BEACH – The second Friday of every month is an exciting time for art lovers on the Island, when The Artists’ Guild of Anna Maria Island and Island Gallery West display the work of their featured member artists in the front window of each gallery during monthly Art Walks.
In addition to the galleries, other businesses including The Feast, Restless Natives, Sun and Surf Beach Shop, Original Sand Dollar and The Scavenger Market stay open later to welcome anyone wishing to get a bite to eat or do some after-hours shopping.
The March 11 Art Walk featured two very talented area artists, Tim Cunningham and Sue Elliott.
Artists’ Guild of Anna Maria Island: Tim Cunningham
Tim Cunningham has been a member of the Artists’ Guild of Anna Maria Island for a year and is a lifetime member of the Georgia Watercolor Society. After exhibiting at Art Center Manatee, he has found a new home at the gallery, where visitors can view and purchase his watercolor depictions of seascapes painted from photographs he has taken in Florida and the many Caribbean islands he has visited.
“I’ve been painting since I was about 20 years old. I started when I was on my honeymoon in Carmel, California,” Cunningham said. “I’ve been painting for over 40 years, but I’ve never been too prolific. I’ve always had a full-time job until three years ago, so I would start something then slide it under the bed and get back to it later.”
Artists’ Guild of Anna Maria Island’s March featured artist Tim Cunningham with his art on display at the Gallery. – Jason Schaffer | Sun
Cunningham describes his style as pretty tight, sticking to watercolors of beach and island scenes as well as some impressive abstract work. He also only paints places he’s visited in person and photographed himself.
“I grew up in southern California and always lived by the beach. I live on the beach here on the Island and I’ve just always been inspired by the water,” he said.
Cunningham’s work can be seen and purchased at the Artist’s Guild of Anna Maria Island, 5414 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach. For more information, call 941-778-6694 or visit their website.
Island Gallery West: Sue Elliott
Sue Elliott’s “Wonderful World,” currently on display at Island Gallery West, is a colorful display of multiple mediums, techniques and inspirations. Unlike many artists who prefer to stick with one style or medium, Elliott works with just about anything that inspires her at any given time.
“I have a very eclectic style and I like to use any new medium that I can find,” she said. “I think it’s very important not to stick to one thing because life is very short. I use acrylic, I use oil, resin, crackle paint, gold leaf, clay and a little bit of collage. I like to try everything; it doesn’t always work, but it usually does.”
Island Gallery West’s March featured artist, Sue Elliott, with her display titled, “Wonderful World,” which runs through March 31. – Jason Schaffer | Sun
Elliott moved to the area 20 years ago from the U.K. For her first 15 years in America, she enjoyed a successful career with a Fortune 500 company as a process analyst and project manager. Five years ago, she decided to retire early and take on her passion, which is art. Elliott’s work would have you believe she has been doing art at least part-time for decades, but she didn’t start until five years ago, making her progress in the field all the more impressive.
You can view or purchase Elliott’s work at Island Gallery West, 5368 Gulf Drive, Holmes Beach, through the end of March. For more information on Elliott or anything involving the Gallery, call 941-778-6648 or visit their website.
HOLMES BEACH – Arts and crafts lovers made their way to City Field over the weekend for the annual Invitational Fine Art and Craft Show, which offered everything from custom furniture to hand-crafted jewelry.
“We’re down here for the month of March from Grand Rapids, Michigan, and just came across this,” said Nora Young. “My husband and I are decorating our sunroom back home with art from the Island. We have picked up some great stuff here already and still have some money left. The prices are really fair and the quality is great.”
Other than some love bugs, which also seem to have a great appreciation of fine arts and crafts, it was the perfect weekend as the sun shone over an entire field of artistic treasures. While many vendors are regulars at shows and events on the Island, some were here for the first time.
“I create custom pet portraits,” said Jeanelle Demers, a Maine resident who is now spending the winter months here in Florida in hopes of growing her business. “They’re acrylic on canvas. My goal is to capture the personality of the pet and make them come to life on the canvas. Animals are very special, and I like to bring them to life with colors and turn them into a work of art.”
Jeanelle Demers with her pet art at the Invitational Fine Art and Craft Show in Holmes Beach. – Jason Schaffer | Sun
This is one of many events that will be held at City Field throughout the year. Keep an eye on The Sun’s weekly events calendar for more to come.
HOLMES BEACH – Island Gallery West has 28 member artists from the Island and surrounding areas who choose one artist to be the featured artist of the month, with their work on a special display in the front of the gallery. The featured artist for November is Jody Clancy Goldman, and her exhibit is titled, “Walk on the Wild Side.”
Goldman’s first experiences as an artist developed when she was living in Miami and traveling around the world as a flight attendant. The opportunity to see the abundance of wildlife in such diverse environments in the many countries she visited was the primary influence of her painting. It was then that she realized her desire was to concentrate on being a wildlife artist. The diversity in nature is her one and only inspiration.
Goldman believes that being an artist is something one is born to do, and not necessarily learned only at school. She went on to study through practical experience, learning through trial and error, and by studying the works of artists she admires such as Robert Bateman and Carl Brenders.
Jody works primarily in oil, colored pencil and watercolor. Her studio is on the Gulf coast of Florida where she can study and paint exotic birds in the area.
If you would like to meet the artist, she’ll be at Island Gallery West on Thursday, Nov. 4 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. She will be happy to discuss her passion for everything wild!
Island West Gallery is located at 5368 Gulf Drive in Holmes Beach, Trolley Stop 15, on Anna Maria Island. Gallery hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Tuesday through Sunday. Visit www.islandgallerywest.com or call 941-778-6648 for updates. Masks are encouraged. Hand sanitizer is available.
ANNA MARIA – After a successful start to their historic 73rd season with “Savannah Sipping Society,” The Island Players are just days away from the opening night of their second play of the 2021-22 season.
“Same Time, Next Year,” directed by Kelly Wynn Woodland and starring Mark Woodland (George) and Nancy Denton (Doris), will debut Nov. 4 at 7:30 p.m.
Written by Bernard Slade, “Same Time, Next Year” is the story of a couple that has a one-night affair at a hotel in San Francisco in the early 1950s. The two decide to meet at the same hotel once a year, every year to relive the night.
“The rules were that they didn’t contact each other or have any relationship throughout the rest of the year, they just meet this one time every year at the location where the affair took place,” Woodland said. “We the audience see it every five years as it progresses from 1951 to 1975.”
This story may sound familiar, and you may have seen it on the big screen. “Same Time, Next Year” was a film sensation in 1978 starring Ellen Burstyn, who won a Golden Globe for playing Doris, and Alan Alda, who played George. In all, the film garnered two Golden Globe nominations and three Academy Award nominations.
“Same Time, Next Year” will run from Nov. 4-14 at The Island Playerson the corner of Gulf Drive and Pine Avenue. Tickets are available at the box office Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. for $25. Showtimes will be Tuesdays through Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. Call 941-778-5755 for more information.
HOLMES BEACH – Island Gallery West’s Featured Artist for the month of October made an appearance at the gallery on Oct. 8. Jim Wheeler has been a photographer since the age of 16, and is a longtime painter of acrylics. These skills combine in “Feathers,” an exhibit of Wheeler’s work featuring photographs that have been digitally and/or manually enhanced with the addition of acrylic over-painting for a unique “painterly” look.
“I use a multi-step process to get the effect I’m looking for. I’m shooting for an impressionist look,” said Wheeler, speaking about how he gets the unique look that presents more as a painting than a photograph after the unique process is complete.
Wheeler chose the “Feathers” theme because of his love for birds of all kinds. Bird pictures have always dominated his body of work and he finds them to be a big part of the beauty of nature. He’s had a Timneh Grey Parrot who has been his companion since 1990 and has spent many hours on long bicycle rides with Wheeler, who has been a bicycle-ride leader, president and general board member with the Sarasota Manatee Bicycle Club for the past 15 years.
Scarlet Macaw by Island Gallery West’s October featured artist, Jim Wheeler. – Jason Schaffer | Sun
“I’ve always loved birds, but I didn’t realize that the bulk of my work was of birds until my wife pointed it out,” said Wheeler. “First off, my parrot is my real buddy. He sits on my shoulder and we go for walks and find birds. Living here, there are so many. I’ve been all over the world but I found that people in Florida, especially tourists from out of town don’t come here to buy artworks of African animals. They want native wildlife, so I tend to stick to that.”
Jim Wheeler has had photographs published nationally on multiple occasions, served as a judge for the Cleveland Photographic Society and worked as the award-winning chief editor for a national business magazine, among other career achievements.
Island West Gallery is located at 5368 Gulf Drive in Holmes Beach, Trolley Stop 15, on Anna Maria Island. Gallery hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Tuesday through Sunday. Visit www.islandgallerywest.com or call 941-778-6648 for updates about the art and 28 member-artists of the gallery. Masks are encouraged. Hand sanitizer is available.
CORTEZ – Whether you love crafts, food or are just looking for Halloween ideas, the upcoming Cortez Cultural Center Arts and Crafts Fair is sure to please.
Visitors will enjoy a wide variety of local arts and crafts, great food, jewelry, Halloween costume help and much more. The event will take place Saturday, Oct. 23 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Cortez Cultural Center, 11655 Cortez Road W.
Cortez artists including Linda Molto will be on hand, as well as a special booth dedicated to Halloween. Whether you want to be a pirate, mermaid or even a talking seashell, you’ll be able to get there with help from Costume Creations Halloween. There will also be custom jewelry, beautiful plants and plenty of amazing art that can be purchased on site.
If you don’t have any idea what to cook for the holidays, The Cortez Cookbook is a gem, with recipes by local celebrities. The Cortez Cultural Center has a plethora of history books about Cortez, including Marijuana Millions, Growing Up in a Fishing Village, Cortez Village Then and Now, all providing interesting information about this historic village.
Get there early to get the best selection. Vendor space is almost filled up. Email cvhs2016@aol.com to see if there’s still space.
HOLMES BEACH – The Artists’ Guild of Anna Maria Island held its grand re-opening event on Oct. 8 at their gallery, located at 5414 Marina Drive. Some of the Guild’s more than 150 member artists were on hand to celebrate the works on display and the organization.
Member artists are selling their works at the gallery. The paintings are available for $60 each and are displayed prominently in the front window.
“If it’s watercolor, they mount it to the board, but if it’s acrylic or oil they paint directly on the board,” said Sharon Tarras, president of the Artists’ Guild. “Every dollar we get for these 10×10 works goes directly to our fund. We use that to help the community. We have kids that take field trips, we donate art supplies to schools in Manatee County and a lot more. That funding comes from sales like this.”
Additional funding comes from other sales of members’ art. A percentage from each sale goes to help with the cost of running the Guild, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization.
The Guild’s all-volunteer membership (about 150 artists and supporters of the arts) arranges exhibits, shows, online classes and other means to further local art in the community. The art gallery, the Guild’s largest program, has 50-plus displaying artists and also features works by high school students in Manatee County. Since 1989, these artists collectively show, sell and run the nonprofit gallery and serve as ambassadors for art in the community.
The gallery is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. Hand sanitizer is provided and the gallery requires all non-vaccinated visitors to wear a face mask and practice social distancing.
HOLMES BEACH – Island Gallery West has announced its Featured Artist for the month of October. Jim Wheeler has been a photographer since the age of 16, and is a longtime painter of acrylics. These skills combine in “Feathers,” an exhibit of Wheeler’s work featuring photographs that have been digitally and/or manually enhanced with the addition of acrylic over-painting for a unique “painterly” look.
Island Gallery West’s October featured artist, Jim Wheeler. – Submitted
Wheeler chose the “Feathers” theme because of his love for birds of all kinds. Bird pictures have always dominated his body of work and he finds them to be a big part of the beauty of nature. He’s had a Timneh Grey Parrot who has been his companion since 1990 and has spent many hours on long bicycle rides with Wheeler, who has been a bicycle-ride leader, president and general board member with the Sarasota Manatee Bicycle Club for the past 15 years.
Wheeler has had photographs published nationally on multiple occasions, served as a judge for the Cleveland Photographic Society and worked as the award-winning chief editor for a national business magazine among other career achievements.
Meet Wheeler at Island Gallery West on Friday, Oct. 8 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. where he will be on hand to answer questions and discuss his unique process of blending the two media to create his unique works of art.
Island West Gallery is located at 5368 Gulf Drive in Holmes Beach, Trolley Stop 15, on Anna Maria Island. Gallery hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Tuesday through Sunday. Visit www.islandgallerywest.com or call 941-778-6648 for updates about the art and 30 member-artists of the gallery. Masks are encouraged. Hand sanitizer is available.
BRADENTON – A well-known actress unveiled a sculpture at Riverwalk this morning, discussing what the work means to her and hoping it could have the same meaning to others.
Jane Seymour, whose artwork is on display at The Studio at Gulf and Pine in Anna Maria, visited the area with the help of the Bradenton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau and Realize Bradenton.
Jane Seymour – Tom Vaught | Sun
Bradenton Mayor Wayne Poston and a number of dignitaries spoke after the unveiling of the sculpture, which has the lines of two hearts open at each end, like her Open Hearts by Jane Seymour® jewelry line.
The open heart is a state of mind to Seymour, who urges people to keep their hearts open and love will come. It also says love has no boundaries and flows unconditionally.
Seymour has a website that provides an interactive forum for people to discuss how keeping an open heart has changed their lives.
The Manatee School for the Arts provided big band music for the event and two students, a middle school girl and a high school senior, talked about what happened when they opened their hearts, bringing a tear to Seymour’s eye.
Seymour is best known for performances in the James Bond film “Live and Let Die,” the film “Somewhere in Time” and the television series “Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman.” She has earned an Emmy, two Golden Globes and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. In addition to being a celebrated actress, Seymour is also a noted author and painter.
Families and friends are invited to celebrate young environmental artists from Anna Maria Elementary at a reception on Thursday, Nov. 15 from 4-5 p.m. at the Waterline Marina Resort pool, 5325 Marina Drive in Holmes Beach.
The students have drawn more than 50 masterpieces selected for best depicting the importance of saving the sand dunes on the beach for wildlife, said Suzi Fox, director of Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring.
The artwork will be posted on informational signs at dune walkovers on Anna Maria Island, and will be printed on notecards.
Turtle Watch volunteers and Anna Maria Elementary teachers and staff will be on hand to congratulate the artists, along with Darcy Young, representing the Sarasota Bay Estuary Program, which awarded the art project grant to Turtle Watch.
The Artists’ Guild of Anna Maria Island presents a talk by art supply sales representative Mike Grecian on Monday, Feb. 5, at the Episcopal Church of the Annunciation, 4408 Gulf Drive in Holmes Beach. Social hour begins at 6:30 p.m. and the program starts at 7 p.m. Grecian will demonstrate new products from the many well-known manufacturers he represents. This program is free and open to the public.
Outdoors art exhibit
The Studio at Gulf and Pine, 10101 Gulf Drive in Anna Maria, is seeking artwork for “A Plein Air Affair,” a juried exhibit opening on Wednesday, Feb. 7. There will be a reception Monday, Feb. 5, from 1-4 p.m.
Cathleen Larson
All artwork must have been created outdoors on location in Florida during the past three years in watercolor, oil, acrylic or pastel mediums. Island resident and award-winning plein air artist Cory Wright will judge the show, which will award more than $500 in prizes to selected winners. An artists’ reception will be held on Thursday, Feb. 15, from 6-8 p.m.
“En plein air” is French for “in the open air.” Plein air began in the late 1800s when the Impressionists ventured from their studios into nature to capture the effects of sunlight and different times of day on a subject. Plein paintings require the artist to be skilled at rapid composition and brushwork in order to capture the light before it changes.
Art demos and sale
The Artists’ Guild of Anna Maria Island in collaboration with Keeton’s Office and Art Supply, will host the yearly Demo-Sale-A-Bration on Wednesday, Feb. 7, at Crosspointe Fellowship, 8605 Gulf Drive in Holmes Beach from 1-4 p.m. Keeton’s will have new or favorite product lines on hand while Guild artists demonstrate art techniques. Tables with supplies will be set up for people to try their skills. Admission is free and open to the public.
Featured artist
Local mixed-media artist Wendell Graham is the featured artist for the month of February at the Artists’ Guild of Anna Maria Island, 5414 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach. A reception in her honor will be held from 5:30-7:30 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 9, as part of the Holmes Beach Art District ArtWalk at the Guild Gallery. It is free and open to the public.
Wendell Graham
As a mixed-media artist, Graham says she loves to weave natural materials with different mediums, so her art tells a story, inspires imagination and brings texture, color, fun and a hint of mystery to an original.
“I believe strongly in helping others through volunteer work and painting, passing it forward and carry this passion over into my artwork by donating my time, art and money to various charities. It only takes one to make a difference; I am proud to be one,” she said.
An avid supporter and promoter of the arts, she is represented by the Artists’ Guild of Anna Maria Island Gallery and the Art & More Gallery in Holmes Beach.
A call to artists
The Anna Maria Island Art League is currently accepting submissions for its 24th Annual James Pay Exhibit, in honor of an Art League founder, entitled “Appreciation and Celebration of the Human Form.”
Its first exhibit of nude works of art, this public show will be juried and will feature a special exhibit by Richard Thomas in the Art League’s foyer.
The opening reception is on Friday, Feb. 9 , from 5:30-7:30 p.m. The art work will be shown through March 2.
Artists are asked to bring submissions to the Anna Maria Island Art League, 5312 Holmes Blvd., Holmes Beach, between the hours of 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Mondays, Wednesdays or Fridays no later than Friday, Feb 2. The entry fee is $20 per piece for Art League members and $30 for non-members, with a limit of three entries per artist. For questions regarding submissions, contact Fran Sansbury, 941-778-2099.
Seahorse art show
The Bridge Street Merchants/artsHOP Seahorse Public Art Project and walkable art show will be on display at participating Bridge Street businesses through Sunday, Feb. 25.
Created by professional and amateur artists of all ages and skill levels, the seahorses will be on display at the Bridge Street Bistro, BridgeWalk Resort, Cove, Back Alley, Uptown Lot, Sea-renity, Mermaid Haven/Bridge Street Interiors, The Bridge Tender Inn & Dockside Grill, Tide & Moon Jewelry and Anna Maria Oyster Bar on the Pier. Maps containing information on specific seahorse locations will be made available at participating businesses beginning Friday.
All the seahorses on display will be auctioned for sale online. Bidding on all pieces will start at $30, and there will be a buy-it-now option. Photos of each entry will be posted at the website.
Participating artists will receive half of the selling price. After credit card processing fees and other costs are subtracted, the remaining 40 percent of the proceeds will assist the Bridge Street Merchants in hosting Christmas on Bridge Street and other public events that benefit local charities.
Seahorse by Elaine Stroili
An estimated 100 seahorses were created using plywood templates cut by Dan Ryan and Dan Cleary, using wood donated by Island Lumber in Holmes Beach. Sixty works of seahorse art were then donated back to the Bridge Street Merchants for inclusion in the month-long walkable art show.
“This is our third year hosting the Public Art Project and I’m thrilled to have more artist participation than ever, including some Ringling alumni. We’ve also added a new fundraising opportunity for our neighbor Mote Marine that will allow everyone to get involved in the art show, even if they aren’t going to bid on an art piece,” volunteer Public Art Coordinator Amanda Escobio said.
The new Vote for Mote element allows folks to vote for their favorite seahorse or seahorses for $5 per vote. The vote proceeds will be donated to Mote Marine’s Adopt-a-Seahorse Program.
“Some people may not realize that we have an internationally-recognized seahorse conservation program right in our own backyard,” said Cove owner Kelly Headley.
For more details on the Seahorse Public Art Project, contact Escobio at 941-896-2222.
