HOLMES BEACH – It was difficult to find a parking space and sidewalks were packed at the Dec. 1 Holmes Beach Holiday Open House.
The event is a partnership between the City of Holmes Beach, Bradenton Area Arts and Culture, the Anna Maria Island Chamber of Commerce, The Artists’ Guild of Anna Maria Island (AGAMI) and several Holmes Beach businesses.
During the market, businesses have extended hours, allowing them to showcase what they have to offer with sidewalk sales, live music and product demonstrations.
The business spearheading the event is the Artists’ Guild of Anna Maria Island (AGAMI), which had artist demonstrations on the sidewalk in front of the gallery, live music from Larry Wilhelm and a large assortment of Christmas ornaments created by member artists prominently displayed in the front window for sale to the public. AGAMI President Janet Razze said the ornaments have been a big hit with shoppers.
“A lot of the artists have created ornaments for sale. We have a bunch in the front window and they’ve been flying off the shelves,” Razze said. “We have a lot of new artists coming on. In fact, we have a waitlist. It’s great.”
It wasn’t just AGAMI that was drawing a crowd on the sidewalk and inside the business. A large crowd lined up to enjoy free snacks from Pizzano’s Pizza and Grinders, D Coy Ducks, Small Town Creamery, howluckyami, Irene’s Clothing Store, the Sand Dollar, The Feast, Hurricane Hank’s, Freckled Fin and The Doctor’s Office.
The event normally takes place on the second Friday of the month, but it was held on Dec. 1 to coincide with the Anna Maria Island Chamber of Commerce tree lighting ceremony. The Holmes Beach Night Market returns on Friday, Jan. 12.
HOLMES BEACH – There’s still plenty of time to see the Artists’ Guild of Anna Maria Island’s March Featured Artist display.
Sharon Tarras grew up loving to draw and doodle, but the Wisconsin native put her artistic skills to work as the operator of a landscape design firm for 20 years before embarking on a career as a professional artist specializing in watercolors.
“I love the way watercolor works,” Tarras said. “You can see my paintings are pretty soft, and I love light, so I’m calling this display, ‘The Celebration of Light.’ The way the sun sets when it’s low in the sky, I just love that.”
While many artists at the gallery have been painting a great deal of their lives, Tarras only began after signing up for a watercolor class in 2013 when she and her husband began splitting their time between Wisconsin and Florida. She has been hooked ever since and draws inspiration from the people, places, plants and animals around her. Unlike many artists who primarily work on subjects here in Florida, Tarras’ work includes everything from the northern lights to tropical fish. Much like her life, her work is split between north and south.
Tarras is a board member and former president of the Artists’ Guild, and says she really enjoys the closeness and support that comes with being a member of a co-op like the Guild.
“I love the artists and the people I’ve met here,” Tarras said. “There’s 54 of us and we run it like a co-op, so everybody’s doing their part; it’s been really good.”
After Island Gallery West closed its doors on March 10 to move to downtown Bradenton, the Artists’ Guild is the last gallery left on the Island. Tarras confirmed that they have no intention of leaving their location, and look forward to a great future on AMI.
To see more of Tarras’ work, visit her website or email her at smtarras@tarrasdesign.com.
The AGAMI Gallery at 5414 Marina Drive displays member artwork. The all-volunteer, 501(c) (3) nonprofit organization was formed in 1989 to promote and support creative processes by bringing together all artists to share experiences, expertise and work together to develop and promote the artistic community.
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 – When you drop a piece of china and see it shatter on the floor, you probably gasp, knowing it’s bound for the garbage and your set will never again be complete. But that’s not the case for the Artists’ Guild of Anna Maria Island’s January featured artist, Donna Slawsky.
Many of Slawsky’s unique works of art are created by breaking everyday objects such as teacups or fine china, then reassembling them. She also loves to work with stained glass.
“I don’t use anything that’s brand new,” Slawsky said. “Everything I make is either from remnants of stained glass or vintage broken china that people give to me.”
Some of Donna Slawsky’s work on display at the Artists’ Guild of Anna Maria Island. – Jason Schaffer | Sun
While it may be fun to imagine Slawsky smashing valuable china on her floor for art’s sake, the process is a bit more technical and controlled. She uses a tile cutter to break the glass or china in a way that fits her vision for whatever the piece is going to become. She also incorporates natural items into her work such as driftwood or even broken sculpture pieces donated by a friend.
The Artists’ Guild of Anna Maria Island’s gallery has more than 100 member artists, and while not all artists’ works are always on display, there is always a large collection of area art by talented artists juried by the Guild.
Slawsky’s work will be on display in the front window through the end of January. She is also available for private lessons; call 941-357-6186 or email her.
The Artists’ Guild of Anna Maria Island is located at 5414 Marina Drive and is open Tuesday through Saturday 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
HOLMES BEACH – Former Artists’ Guild of Anna Maria Island President Sharon Tarras dedicated herself not only to improving the gallery but working with member artists to make the Guild the best it could be. In honor of her dedication, she has been given the prestigious Genevieve Alban Award.
The award is named after the founding artist of the Artists’ Guild and is awarded to a leader of the Guild who has gone above and beyond the call of duty in promoting, supporting, exemplifying leadership and being a role model to members and the public.
While serving as corresponding secretary in 2018, it was proposed to nominate Tarras as president. While a bit reluctant, she accepted the position and began work in January 2019. The Guild says Tarras oversaw the renovation of the gallery’s interior while always seeking input from the other board members and member artists. She was also vital in keeping things moving forward during the pandemic, setting up Zoom calls so the Board and members’ meetings could continue.
“To say that Sharon Tarras is a leader is an understatement,” according to a Guild press release. “We all thrived with her extraordinary leadership, with her sensitivity to all our differences, and she created a positive team approach to implement the mission of AGAMI. With this in mind, the Genevieve Alban award is presented by the Artists’ Guild of Anna Maria Island to Sharon Tarras with much appreciation and affection.”
The Artists’ Guild is at 5414 Marina Drive. For more information about member artists and upcoming events, visit the website.
BRADENTON – The Artists’ Guild of Anna Maria Island’s 11th annual juried art exhibition, “Boundaries Erased,” is on display at ArtCenter Manatee in downtown Bradenton through Friday, Feb. 7.
The exhibition opened Tuesday, Jan. 14. The opening reception and awards ceremony took place Thursday, Jan. 16.
Marianne Hiland and Wendell Graham co-chaired the exhibition that took place for the first time this year at ArtCenter Manatee. In years past, the exhibition took place at The Studio at Gulf and Pine in Anna Maria.
Guild members and non-members submitted the 60 works on display in the Kellogg Gallery, all of which are for sale. Renowned Florida artist Dean Mitchell judged the competition.
Cortez resident Susanna Spann won Best in Show and the $500 prize for her “Friday on Frenchmen Street” painting.
“I’m doing a whole series of musicians, primarily from New Orleans. I go there every year for the Jazz & Heritage Festival. This was at The Maison, one of the bars there. I take photos, come back home, rearrange and redesign them and paint with watercolor. I want to tell stories and what I want is the feeling I felt. This was a red-hot jazz band and I wanted that feeling to come out in my painting,” Spann said.
“Friday on Frenchmen Street” was previously one of 10 winners in The Artist’s Magazine’s nationwide Over 60 Art Competition.
“I’m real proud of this baby, it’s been real good for me,” Spann said.
Many Guild members are also ArtCenter Manatee members, and some dual members entered other pieces in the ArtCenter’s “Annual Member Show” currently on display in the Searle & Reid Hodges galleries.
“I’ve got another one in the other room that I also won an award for, ‘Washboard Willie at The Cat.’ I wanted the same feel – the feeling I got when I was listening and watching the musicians,” Spann said.
“Busy Day in Thailand”
Holmes Beach resident Cheryl Jorgensen’s “Busy Day in Thailand” watercolor painting won first place and a $400 prize.
Cheryl Jorgensen’s “Busy Day in Thailand” painting won first place. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
“I was in Thailand and I saw this guy with this beautiful orange outfit and decided I had to paint it,” Jorgensen said. “To me, it says no matter where you go, people are busy. That is what life is all about.”
Doreen Renner’s “Cardinal Rule” was awarded second place and Lu Ann Widergren’s “Morning View from Rod-n-Reel” was awarded third place.
Excellence in Photography
Anna Maria resident Cathy Tobias won Excellence in Photography awards for her “Great Migration” and “Flamingo Delight” photographs.
Tobias took “Great Migration” in Tanzania while watching wildebeest migrate.
Cathy Tobias won an Excellence in Photography award for her “Great Migration.” – Joe Hendricks | Sun
“It was on my bucket list of things I had to see. They stand at the riverbank and they can stand there for hours before the first one starts to cross – they’re worried about crocodiles,” Tobias said.
“It was late morning and this reddish dust was everywhere. They crossed for 30 minutes and I cried the whole time. It was one of the most beautiful things I’ve ever seen and this is very close to the true color of what was going on,” Tobias said regarding the color tones in her photo.
She took “Flamingo Delight” at Jungle Gardens in Sarasota.
Cathy Tobias won an Excellence in Photography award for her “Flamingo Delight.” – Joe Hendricks | Sun
“This is a gorgeous bird. I liked the detail of the feathers, the eyes, the black tail and the shape it was in,” Tobias said, noting she cropped out the natural background.
“The background was competing with the flamingo and I thought it would stand out much better with a black background,” she said.
Change of venue
“I want to thank ArtCenter Manatee for hanging the show and for being so supportive. It’s a great venue,” Hiland said. “A number of our Guild members are not on the Island, so this is more centrally located for our membership and participants. It’s been a wonderful experience. The galleries are gorgeous.”
ArtCenter Manatee is located at 209 Ninth St. W. in Bradenton. For more information, visit the ArtCenter online.
The Artists’ Guild Gallery is in the Island Shopping Center at 5414 Marina Dr in Holmes Beach. For more information, visit the guild online.
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