McRae Art Studios Opening -- Winter Park, FL -- posted by Florida Fine Art Blog

Celebrate the Holiday Season at McRae Art Studios

 

Preview Reception:                 

         Friday, December 2, 2011, 6:00 to 9:00 pm

Holiday Open House & Sale:        

Saturday, December 3, 2011, 4:00 - 9:00 pm

 

Tucked-away, in the heart of Winter Park, is a studio warehouse filled with award-winning artists. These artists exhibit their work in museums, outdoor festivals, publications, and galleries both locally and throughout the country. Join them inside their studios to support culture and the local economy right here in your very own community. Collectors and curators generally visit by appointment, so this is a great chance for collectors to purchase work, see works-in-progress, and gain inspiration.  

 

Admission is free and the events are open to the public. Light snacks will be provided at the Friday preview and Cafe Tu Tu Tango will be providing food for purchase at Saturday's event. 

       

McRae Art Studios

904 Railroad Avenue, Suite 200

Winter Park, FL  32789

       

For information or directions, please call

407.599.9956 or visit www.mcraeartstudios.com

Glenn's Guide to Art Basel 2011 -- by Florida Fine Art Blog

Its that time of year again.  Time for Miami to become, for one week at least, the art capital of the world.  The international art fair, Art Basel Miami, is celebrating its 10th year in South Florida this December 1st – 4th.  

Much more after the fold... 

The Huffington Post Finds The Florida Highwaymen -- posted by Florida Fine Art Blog

I'm always excited to see our Florida Artists get press outside of our State.  Jane Chafin, Director of Offramp Gallery in California, writes a nice blog post for The Huffington Post.com.  Turns out Jane found out about The Highwaymen from a recommendation made by Netflix.  The Florida Highwaymen documentary is  available on Netflix now.  How far the group has come!  Jane includes two good YouTube's and some basic biographical information about the Florida artist group.  Beanie Backus gets his proper credit and the whole post is very positive. GL

From the post; 

One of the best things about writing a weekly art blog is that I'm always on the lookout for hidden gems of art history -- or in this case, outsider art history -- that come as a wonderful surprise to me, much like finding buried treasure ... My curiosity went on high alert and I rented the DVD ASAP.

Check out the whole blog post here

Jane Chafin's Blog is here.

101/exhibit at Scope Miami 2011 - posted by Florida Fine Art Blog

Be sure to visit the gallery as well as the booth at Scope next week.  Located in one of the best gallery spaces in the Design District.  This gallery is always showing high caliber artists.

101/exhibit website

"Video of the Week" -- Andreas Franke's Underwater Art Exhibition -- by Florida Fine Art Blog

This video is of an underwater art exhibition off the coast of Key West.  Andreas Franke, a commercial photographer, spent time shooting underwater at the Vandenberg military ship wreck.  Andreas took those images and digitally created over 20 stunning surreal images of what life was like aboard the ship in its heyday before it sank. Then the Australian artist and avid diver did something truly unique, he used the underwater wreck as his art gallery and opened the exhibition to anyone who wanted to dive down the 90 feet required.  I wonder how the pieces are mounted?  I wonder how he attached the pieces to the wreck?  I wonder if the parks service will let the exhibition stay and become part of the wreck itself?  I may have to dust off my regulator, bc and mask and go see for myself.  GL

Please visit the exhibitions website here

Art Calender Links -- by Florida Fine Art Blog

I have been asked why I don't post a local arts calender with all the events going on in South Florida.  I started this blog to highlight the events I attend or am interested in.  I wanted this to be more of an all around guide to art in the state and news about the arts industry.  The other reason is there are incredible blogs already posting calenders.  I go to these blogs every week to find out what's going on.  I was surprised that more people did not know about them.  So I'll highlight some of the better ones here and then make a permanent place for blogs on the left side of this page.  GL

Art's Calender - South Florida
Miami Art Guide
Art Murmur art guide
Art South Florida
Art Lurker
Soul of Miami
Art Collecting.com
Culture Builds Florida blog

Rembrandt in America / NC Museum of Art -- posted by Florida Fine Art Blog

Rembrandt in America
October 30, 2011–January 22, 2012
at the North Carolina Museum of Art / NCMA

This is the largest collection of Rembrandt paintings ever presented in an American exhibition and the first major exhibition to explore in depth the collecting history of Rembrandt paintings in America.

The NCMA is the only East Coast venue for this exceptional show that features works of art from across the United States, including some of the finest paintings residing in American collections.

Consisting of nearly 50 paintings, the exhibition brings together 27 autograph paintings by Rembrandt as well as others thought to be by the master when they entered American collections but whose attributions can no longer be maintained. These include paintings by Dutch masters Jan Lievens and Govert Flinck.

Rembrandt in America is unique in offering visitors a rare opportunity to envision the evolving opinions of scholars and collectors regarding what constituted an autograph Rembrandt painting over a period of more than a century.

The exhibition and its accompanying catalogue explore the often-controversial issues of collecting and attribution, with a focus on individual paintings where these two related topics intersect.

Well this fabulous show is not traveling to Florida but looks worth the trip up to North Carolina!  GL

NCMA website
Past Blog posts on Rembrandt
Rembrandt website

2010 Art Basel Guide - by Florida Fine Art Blog

I have been getting emails wondering when and if I was going to do another Art Basel Guide.  I am currently working on it and hope to post the guide by the end of the week.  This years guide looks to be as big and detailed as last years.  For those of you who did not read last years guide, here is the link. 
Glenn's Guide to Art Basel 2010,  Enjoy!  GL

Utrecht Art Supplies Black Friday 40% Off - posted by Florida Fine Art Blog

Black Friday 40% off Utrecht Sale!

On Black Friday Utrecht is opening at 8:30 am and closing at 10pm! All day they will be taking 40% off Utrecht paint, canvas, brushes and paper. This includes all Utrecht paint, stretcher bars, folded canvas, wooden boards, Utrecht brushes, and all the open stock of Utrecht paper, pads and sketchbooks.

UTRECHT ART SUPPLIES 2354 N FEDERAL HWY FORT LAUDERDALE, FL 33305 (954) 630-1482 store39@utrecht.com
Website

12 Inspiring High Schools Keeping the Arts Alive -- posted by Florida Fine Art Blog

Julia Perlowski recipient of the  “Arts Educator of the Year”

by the Cultural Foundation of Broward with some of her students. 

photo - Pompano Today Online

12 Inspiring High Schools Keeping the Arts Alive.  An alert reader of this blog sent in this article from OnlineColleges.net an online blog.  And it turns out not every school is cutting arts out of the curriculum.  In fact some are even expanding.  The linked article has 12 stories of High Schools that are coming up with creative ways to keep the arts from budget cuts.  Pompano Beach High School right here in Broward County is one of the highlighted schools.

Link to Article from OnlineColleges.net



Marcel Duchamp at Miami Art Museum - posted by Florida Fine Art Blog

Marcel Duchamp - Box in a Suitcase -1941

Focus: Marcel Duchamp at MAM

November 17, 2011 through Sunday, March 18, 2012

Via artdaily.og;

Miami Art Museum presents rare opportunity to see works by Marcel Duchamp

Focus: Marcel Duchamp, a rare opportunity for Miami audiences to experience the seminal French artist’s work firsthand. The display presents Miami Art Museum’s edition of Duchamp’s Box in a Suitcase, from 1961, alongside a small trove of works hailing from the collection of the John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art in Sarasota. The exhibition will be on view at Miami Art Museum from Thursday, November 17, 2011 through Sunday, March 18, 2012.

“Marcel Duchamp reoriented the way we understand the source of a given artwork’s meaning and value,” said MAM Associate Curator René Morales. “He questioned the barriers that separate art from everyday life, expanding our conceptions of what an artwork can be.”

Box in a Suitcase was one of the first artworks purchased by MAM for its collection. Conceived in 1941 on the eve of Duchamp’s departure from Europe to the US, it serves as a portable, miniature retrospective of his own work. With a characteristic attitude of detached irony, the self-exiled artist thus cast himself in the role of traveling salesman, transporting revolutionary ideas rather than housewares – not from door to door but from one continent to another. Surrounded by full-scale examples of Duchamp’s famous ready-mades as well as a rare early painting, Box in a Suitcase functions in this context as an exhibition within an exhibition.

David Joselit, author of Infinite Regress: Marcel Duchamp 1910-1941, will give a lecture on Duchamp’s work on February 18, 2012 at 2pm.

This one is not to be missed!  And a perfect addition to the already busy Art Basel weekend.  I have blogged about the old chess master before. GL
Check out my other posts here;
Duchamp Birthday wishes
Art Around the Web Marcel Duchamp
Making Sense of Marcel Duchamp website
Official Marcel Duchamp website

CALL FOR ARTISTS : South Region - New American Paintings -- by Florida Fine Art Blog

NEW AMERICAN PAINTINGS

Deadline: December 31, 2011 (Midnight EST)

CALL FOR ARTISTS: South Region Artists residing in: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, Washington DC, West Virginia

Juror: Michael Rooks
Wieland Family Curator of Modern and Contemporary Art High Museum of Art

Online Submission Extended Deadline: December 31, 2011 (Midnight EST)

To apply online you will need to prepare four jpegs of your work (no larger than 1200 pixels at their greatest dimension) and a credit card for the entry fee of $50. All styles and media are welcome, as long as the work is singular and two-dimensional.                            

To submit: www.newamericanpaintings.net/submission/
Website: http://newamericanpaintings.net/

It's that time of year again and I love to point out this competition every year.  Please consider this magazine if you are serious about getting good exposure.  I cannot say enough about this competition or how many gallerists I know look to it for new talent.  GL

"Video of the Week" Marcus Jansen's upcoming show at Scope - by Florida Fine Art Blog

PRESS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

MARCUS JANSEN ART BASEL MIAMI BEACH

The Art Basel Miami Beach 2011 festivities will open on November 29th with SCOPE Art Fair, showing the best emerging cutting-edge artist’s on the international contemporary art scene.

SCOPE is the largest and most global art fair in the world featuring emerging contemporary art with 7 markets worldwide. It is our goal and passion to present the most innovative galleries, artists and curators while networking them with our Patrons through a unique program of solo and thematic group shows presented alongside museum-quality exhibitions, collector tours, screenings, and special events.

Among them is internationally acclaimed painter Marcus Jansen who had his solo show at Sidney & Berne Davis Art Center in downtown Fort Myers in May this year drawing over four thousand visitors to his reception. Jansen was also recently selected one out of only 18 selected painters internationally for this generations ABOLUT VODKA campaign like in the past Andy Warhol, Damien Hirst and Keith Haring.

The New York Times describes Jansen’s work, "surrealistic asphalt jungles." Jansen’s new three dimensional installation works will be represented by 101 Exhibit at SCOPE. Jansen will have work at the Fair as well as at 101 Exhibit Gallery located at 101 NE 40th St, Miami, FL 33137. Jansen is considered by many scholars and historians as one of the most exciting painters in America today.

Art critic and historian Donald Miller thinks Jansen’s paintings “have longevity” because “there isn’t anyone doing what he’s doing … [His paintings] have their own niche. They’re totally unique …. I have a roladex in my mind of all the paintings throughout history … and I’ve never seen anything like [Jansen's work].”

Jansen's work can be found in Who's Who in American Art and in Museum collections such as the
The Moscow Museum of Modern Art, (MMOMA), Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art, The National Taiwan Museum of Fine Art, The New Britain Museum of American Art and the Smithsonian Institution.

Scope Website
Artists website
101 Exhibit
My interview with Marcus here.
For more information please contact: (239)826.6376
Scope is located at: SCOPE Pavilion | Wynwood Arts District | NE 1st Ave (Midtown Blvd) @ NE 30th StMiami, FL 33127.

Free Admission - Museum Day - Saturday Sept 24th - by Florida Fine Art Blog

In the spirit of Smithsonian Museums, who offer free admission everyday, Museum Day is an annual event hosted by Smithsonian magazine in which participating museums across the country open their doors to anyone presenting a Museum Day Ticket...for free!

Participating Museums Link

Smithsonian Website

Miami Art Museum Starts Vertical Construction -- New Times -- posted by Florida Fine Art Blog

Miami Art Museum Starts Vertical Construction at Museum Park

From the Article at Miami New Times Blog;

The new MAM is being designed by Herzog & de Meuron, the same Swiss firm that created the "house of cards" parking garage at 1111 Lincoln Road, often cited for its architectural bravado.


Their design plan for the museum includes a library, an auditorium, classrooms, art and digital media workshop spaces, and a café. The entire structure will sit on an elevated platform and below a canopy, both of which will extend far beyond the museum's walls, creating a shaded veranda and plazas.

They promise lots of natural light and views of the surrounding park and bay as well as innovative landscape integration that melds the tropical park and modernist building. In a crafty design trick, the main gallery level will appear to float between other transparent levels.

The high-concept design makes even us here at New Times, Miami's resident skeptics and cranks, feel inspired. With the foundation now in place, the construction team will begin going vertical, and frankly, 2013 can't get here soon enough.

This has been a long time coming and there were times we never thought the ground breaking would take place.  Two things that will tell if this cultural facility will become like all the others in Miami or will this be the beginning of a new era of responsible construction. The first sign will be if the project is finished by its due date and the other more important sign to the public will be if they can complete the project without huge cost overruns.  Too many times the public has been promised something only to be saddled later with an enormous unexpected bill.  If the local governments want to use public dollars for these new cultural facilities in South Florida they must be able to show responsibility going forward or else the public will forever be turned off to new projects. GL

Link to Article at Miami New Times

Miami Art Museum website

Saturday, August 27 - Wine/Beer Tasting and Art Auction - Dali Museum - posted by Florida Fine Art Blog

The Birth of Liquid Desires

Presented by The Zodiac Group
Formerly called Z-Grapes, this annual tasting and art auction is the Zodiac Group's largest fundraiser. Experience The New Dali indoors and out! Featuring tapas by Ceviche, tastings of fine Spanish wines and craft beers, live music and more.

Prices range from $50.00 to $75.00
Saturday, August 27
7:00 to 10:00 pm

Tickets are all-inclusive.
Additional details at Dali Museum website

Looks like a great event at one of my favorite museums in the Country!  GL

A Visual Escape to Sarasota, Florida’s Ringling Museum -- posted by Florida Fine Art Blog

A nice blog post with great pictures of the Ringling Museum. For those who have not been to the Ringling it is a fantastic art museum. Once in financial trouble, now with a new director and the partnership with Florida State University the museum is making big plans for the future. Not to be missed if your visiting the west coast.

A Visual Escape to Sarasota, Florida’s Ringling Museum

Marcel Duchamp -- Happy Birthday -- by Florida Fine Art Blog

Marcel Duchamp

28 July 1887 – 2 October 1968

The father of the “readymade”, Duchamp’s work still challenges us to see the truth of art. Duchamp’s influence is so total that at this point walking through any modern art fair you will see, ready-mades, Kinetic works, conceptual pieces; all movements and ideas that Duchamp shepherded into the art world. If there is just one artist to study, just one biography that will fascinate, frustrate and inspire, I would suggest Duchamp. His life was an intellectual journey for truth.

My love of chess is thanks to Marcel Duchamp. By 1918 or so Duchamp had for the most part moved away from art and concentrated on studying chess. That intrigued me and prompted me to purchase my first book on chess.  Chess has been something I have kept up with and always have a few games ongoing.


I have embedded a YouTube of archival footage of Marcel Duchamp describing his work. If you have the time, watch the other videos that are suggested when the video finishes. Also I have linked to a previous blog post I did with wonderful links to websites devoted to Marcel Duchamp. Enjoy!  GL




Blog link to Marcel Duchamp

Brevard Art Museum gets $1M gift, new name -- posted by Florida Fine Art Blog

Brevard Art Museum renamed Foosaner Art Museum

The Foosaner Foundation has announced that it will donate $1 million to Florida Tech to be used to support the Brevard Art Museum, which the university now runs.

The museum will be renamed the Foosaner Art Museum.
In a prepared press release, Negroni-Hendrick, who lives in Cocoa, stated: "You don't have to be wealthy to help others...If you are fortunate enough to be able to afford to make financial gifts of any amount, you should feel good about doing so. But if not, we are all blessed with time and talents that we can share with others."
"It's a win win for the university and the community," said Carla Funk, the newly named Director of Museums for Florida Tech.

Link to Article from Florida Today website
Brevard / Foosaner Art Museum website

MARCUS JANSEN WITH AN ABSOLUT BLANK -- posted by Florida Fine Art Blog

MARCUS JANSEN

 PART OF NEW MOVEMENT OF CREATIVITY

WITH AN ABSOLUT BLANK

Press Release;  In collaboration with a new generation of artists, ABSOLUT VODKA is introducing ABSOLUT BLANK, a global creative movement, in which ABSOLUT appears as a catalyst for contemporary leading-edge creativity.

ABSOLUT has always challenged conventions through creative collaborations with artists such as Andy Warhol, Keith Haring, Damien Hirst, and more recently Ellen von Unwerth and Spike Jonze. ABSOLUT BLANK is a daring new chapter for ABSOLUT. “In ABSOLUT BLANK, ABSOLUT has boldly made its iconic bottle into a blank canvas to inspire artists throughout the world to collaborate and fill it with creativity. We brought together creative collaborators from a variety of disciplines and watched the journey from pure white canvas to exceptional pieces of art. The result depicts how artists and creativity are inspired through ABSOLUT,” says Mark Hamilton, Global Marketing Director at The Absolut Company.

The recent cover artist of "New American Paintings" publication No. 94 southern edition, Marcus Jansen, is one of the only 18 selected artists to contribute to the ABSOLUT campaign with a uniquely painted abstract work of art. Much of which, depcits his typical style of "urban expressionism" and that can be seen in most of his his cutting-edge as well as socio-politically charged work. Jansen had a strong year in 2011,the book cover shows his work "Creeping Obstacles in Kansas", including a selection of 40 leading contemporary painters in America today selected by noted Juror and Director of the US Biennial Dan Cameron.

The 18 artists participating in ABSOLUT BLANK represent a variety of creative disciplines from across the globe; from drawing, painting and sculpting to film making and digital art.

“With ABSOLUT BLANK, we want to contribute to a global creative movement. Ultimately, making the world even more vibrant and exceptional. It All Starts With an ABSOLUT BLANK,” Mark Hamilton continues.  ABSOLUT BLANK will be launched in several countries and going live in the UK on July 13th, supported by TVC, Print, OOH, Digital and Experiential.

ABSOLUT BLANK TV commercial


For more information, assets and other artists work,
please visit ABSOLUT PRESS link
Marcus Jansen Website 
Gallery website
My Artist Spotlight with Marcus

Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn -- Happy Birthday -- by Florida Fine Art

The Three Crosses 1653

Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn -- Happy Birthday

Rembrandt was born on July 15th, 1606

For my thoughts on the Master and his work please follow the links to my past blog posts.

Rembrandt Web Catalogue - wonderful resource

My Favorite Painting - a story about me and a Rembrandt painting

Creative returns on investment: Funding the arts grows the bottom line -- posted by Florida Fine Art Blog

From The Star.com
Published On Fri Jul 1 2011
Laura Eggertson

Creative returns on investment: Funding the arts grows the bottom line

Gone is the desperation in the arts community in the 1990s, when “we were all trying to prove the economic multiplier effect” of investing in the sector, says Tricia Baldwin, managing director of the internationally acclaimed Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra and Chamber Choir.


Now those economic multiplier formulas are well-established. For every $1 the City of Toronto invested, cultural organizations were able to leverage $17.75 in 2009, for example, Foster, Kain and Prentice report in Creative Capital Gains: An Action Plan for Toronto.

Thanks to the groundwork that thinkers like Florida and others laid, in this decade “there’s much more appreciation of the contribution of the arts to society, and not just the economic effect but the effect of creativity,” says Baldwin.

Arts organizations no longer have to justify their existence before getting money formerly viewed as a government handout, she says. They can also cite their overall contribution to society.

Common sense is also dictating that governments support these industries, says Peter Williamson, a partner and executive producer at Breakthrough Entertainment, a film and television production company in Toronto.

”Generally speaking, the governments we’ve had for the last 10 to 15 years have seen the benefits of being able to stimulate employment and economic growth,” Williamson says. Both a provincial and federal film and television tax credit have assisted the growth of the film and television industry in Toronto, he says.

[...]

Arts funding and the overall economy

• In the GTA, there are an estimated 8500 arts and culture organizations. They employ 150,000 people and generate $9 billion for the region’s gross domestic product.
• $1 in City of Toronto funding generates $5.15 from other levels of government; $5.48 from the private sector; and $7.12 in earned revenues from ticket sales, program fees, venue rentals, and bar and gift shop sales.
• 2.9 million visitors reported cultural activity as the reason they came to Toronto in 2009.
• The Toronto International Film Festival generated $131.7 million worth of GDP in Toronto in 2008-09, created 2,365 jobs and generated $1.8 million in municipal taxes.
• As a whole, Ontario’s cultural sector contributes more than $19.7 billion to the province’s GDP, or 4.2 per cent.
• The cultural sector employs 252,000 people directly in Ontario.

The evidence is overwhelming at this point. You want a recovery? You want jobs and increased tax revenue?  Increase Arts Funding!  GL

Link to article at The Star.com

Sun Sentinel -- Public art on your dime. Should you still be paying for it? -- posted by Florida Fine Art Blog

                                Public Art Sculpture located at the Fort Lauderdale Airport

Public art on your dime  Should you still be paying for it?
Sun Sentinel
by Brittany Wallman
12:45 p.m. EDT, July 11, 2011
Behind a secure door, up an elevator, down a hallway, behind a partition and inside some crates is a piece of public art.
The colorful glass sculpture inside, called "Linaje,'' cost taxpayers $25,000 and was planned for "high visibility.'' So far, it's only getting exposure as a symbol of troubles in Broward County's Art in Public Places program.
Exasperated Broward officials, most of them supporters of public art, nevertheless said it's time to tighten up a program that has allowed the glass sculpture to lie unseen long after it was paid for and created, and that shifts tens of thousands of taxpayer dollars to art when painful cuts have been made elsewhere.
Commissioners also want a say in what art gets built, where.
"I look at my own life,'' Broward's John Rodstrom said. "I have collected art in the past and I haven't bought a piece in a while. I don't have the disposable income. I think a lot of America feels that way right now.''
Some taxpayers don't want government taking their money and buying art with it, especially art they think is ugly.
Read the rest of the article here

Public Art Sculpture outside the Fort Lauderdale Convention Center

A big debate has risen in South Florida over public art funding.  In times of financial strain art funding is seen by many as a luxury that must be cut.   By others it is a convenient excuse for cutting the Government out of something they don’t think it should be involved in.  And still others are upset by what they perceive as money wasted on unappealing art.   

The article I have posted talks about some possible remedies, none of which seem like good ideas.  One idea is to put every art project expected to cost over $100,000 to a full public vote.  That reminds me of the Eiffel Tower story I once heard.  5 years after the 1889 Worlds Fair had ended in Paris a poll was taken to see what support there was for keeping the Eiffel Tower up.  90% of Parisians voted to take it down.  Now it's over a hundred years later and you would be hard pressed to find anyone in Paris willing to loose their most iconic structure.  It would be hard to imagine an art project anywhere that everyone agreed about, especially when it is first proposed.  

Another problem is that most do not realize that no additional funds are raised, no additional taxes are levied to pay for the art.  The budget for public art comes as a percentage of the total cost to build the public building.  The percentage is usually 1% to 2% up to a certain amount.  The selection process is very thorough and is set up to make sure that local artists and art suppliers benefit from the new construction just as local construction firms, plumbers, painters and electricians do.   Our artists serve an important role in our community; they should be included in projects that use public monies just like any other industry.  And when a vital arts community flourishes so does the rest of the community.    

South Florida is a tourist destination, it is our main industry.   Cultural tourism is a growing and important part of that industry.  Again I go back to the Eiffel Tower as an example; more than 200,000,000 people have visited the tower since its construction including 6,719,200 in 2006 alone.  Not bad for a public art project.  Or closer to home you can look at the new Dali Museum in St. Pete.  Many were against the project and fought hard to stop its public funding.   Now just 6 months after its opening in January the museum received its 200,000 visitor and has been named by USA Today as one of the “top 20 places you have to go before you die.”  That translates to hotel room reservations, restaurants, gift shops, cabs, and all the other purchases that tourists make.  And the dollars that the new “Cultural Tourists” spend are staggering.  A recent study shows that two cultural tourists spend more on average than a family of 5 does on vacation.   For the state of Florida, for every dollar spent on art, it gets back 4 dollars in economic growth.

Most importantly art shows us who we are and where we have been.  The absence of art will only show future generations our failings. 

“This world in which we live needs beauty in order not to sink into despair.  Beauty, like truth, brings joy to the human heart, and is that precious fruit which resists the erosion of time, which unites generations and enables them to be one in admiration.”  Pope John Paul VI 1965.

There have always been tough times and there has always been public art.  If every other generation of Americans could find the funds necessary to support the arts shouldn't we?  GL

The Mind's Eye, 50 Years of Photography by Jerry Uelsmann at the Harn Muesum -- posted by Florida Fine Art Blog

Untitled - Jerry Uelsmann - 1976

Harn exhibition offers glimpse into world of Jerry Uelsmann 
The Gainesville Sun - by Danielle Hipps - June 9th 2011

Imagine a world where trees sprout from hamburgers, where roots are the foundation for a wood-frame home and where man's organs resemble the valves and pipes of mechanical machinery.  

Photographer Jerry Uelsmann has brought those scenes and others to life with his darkroom manipulations, which will be on display when “The Mind's Eye, 50 Years of Photography by Jerry Uelsmann,” opens Tuesday at the Harn Museum of Art.

While most photographers explore from behind their shutters, pre-visualizing what their prints will look like, Uelsmann explores from within his contact sheets, compiling images with elements from different negatives. 

“I don't have a hidden agenda,” he said. “I just want viewers to connect with images on some basis. It's like a naturalist looks at a tree and thinks ‘How beautiful it is,' a lumber man thinks ‘How can I make a home out of that?'”

What: First career retrospective featuring classics and never-released works by the surrealist photographer and retired UF professor.
When: Opens Tuesday and continues through Sept. 11
Hours: 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesdays-Fridays, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturdays, 1-5 p.m. Sundays
Where: Harn Museum of Art, Southwest 34th Street and Hull Road
Cost: Free
Info: 392-9826 or Harn Museum website

Link to The Gainesville Sun article

Check out the Jerry Uelsmann website

Miami Artist Xavier Cortada joins FIU’s College of Architecture + The Arts at Lincoln Road -- posted by Florida Fine Art Blog

Seedlings - Xavier Cortada - 2007

Via FIU News:  Miami artist Xavier Cortada will serve as founding director of the Office of Engaged Teaching, Scholarship, and Creative Activities (ETSCA) at Florida International University’s College of Architecture + The Arts.

ETSCA will be located at FIU’s new space at 420 Lincoln Road, on South Beach and will offer an extraordinary level of hands-on experience for FIU students. FIU on Lincoln Road will open this fall.

“Xavier Cortada has deep roots in this community and a rich artistic background, which he will put to work for our dynamic students,” said FIU President Mark B. Rosenberg.

 (...)

 “Art has the power to transform society,” said Cortada. “Because our community’s future is so dependent on the success of this public university, FIU’s College of Architecture + the Arts is the perfect place to continue developing my participatory art practice. I am thrilled to join the FIU family and look forward to working with students and faculty to harness the energy of South Beach and use art to build community.”

Link to FIU News Article

Xavier and I are on the Florida Art and Culture Council together and I have appreciated his work over the past year.  Not only a brilliant artist with a great career, Xavier is a real community leader and strong arts advocate.  More from the Article; "The new office is tasked with fully utilizing the talents of the faculty and students in the visual arts, performing arts, and design specialties to engage with the local South Florida community in collaborative problem-solving initiatives."  I can think of no one in Miami better suited for such an undertaking.  Congratulations Xavier!  GL

Check out the Xavier Cortada website

Oldest Art in America found in Florida -- posted by Florida Fine Art Blog

The oldest art in the Americas depicts a 13,000 year old mammoth

Alasdair Wilkins —There are European cave paintings that are 30000 years old, but the art of the ancient Americas remains a mystery. This bone fragment features an engraving of either a mammoth or a mastodon, and is at least 13000 years old.

This bone was discovered in Florida by fossil hunter James Kennedy, who discovered the inscription while cleaning the fossil. Realizing its potential anthropological significance, Kennedy turned the bone over to experts at the Smithsonian Museum and the University of Florida, who have now been able to confirm that this really is authentically ancient, and not just a clever forgery.

Link to Article

Mary Ann Carroll travels to Washington D. C. presents painting to Michelle Obama -- posted by Florida Fine Art Blog

(Tom Benitez, Orlando Sentinel / January 11, 2009)

Highwaymen painter from Fort Pierce presents painting to Michelle Obama   By Joe Crankshaw TCPalm   Posted May 19, 2011 at 10:09 a.m.

FORT PIERCE — The only female artist in the group of 26 black painters known as the Florida Highwaymen, Mary Ann Carroll, presented one of her paintings to first lady Michelle Obama during the First Lady's Luncheon at the Congressional Club in Washington on Wednesday.

"I feel like a champ," said Carroll Thursday morning after she returned to Fort Pierce. "It was a gracious thing that did not have to happen, but it did. I never expected this to happen and did not look for it."

Carroll said the first lady was gracious and sweet in accepting a painting depicting a royal poinciana tree on the riverfront in Fort Pierce.

Please go read the rest of the article on the TC Palm

Link to TC Palm article

I get to see Mary from time to time and she is always so cordial.  Mary Ann Carroll is still painting and traveling the state selling her paintings with her daughter Kandie. 

With the Highwaymen paintings the saying goes; "You can't have just one." And no proper Highwaymen collection would be complete without at least one painting from Mary.  You can find Mary at many of Florida's outdoor art fairs or contact her through her website.  She is painting better than ever and prices are very reasonable, heck the prices are a steal!  GL

TC Palm Article

Mary Ann Carroll website

Republican Congressman John Mica Battling to Greatly Expand the National Gallery of Art -- posted by Florida Fine Art Blog

Photo by Bill O'Leary/WASHINGTON POST

Congressman Mica’s quest pits FTC against National Gallery
Washington Post - Page 1 Lifestyle
By Ned Martel, Published: June 19

Rep. John L. Mica has what he calls a “weakness,” an obsession with art. He has fulfilled it as any aspiring connoisseur might. He scours odd shops and auction sites for objects treasured only by dust mites but still accruing worth with each passing year. He makes frequent trips to the National Gallery to research what he has bought and what he could buy. One day, while at the museum, he looked across the street and saw something old and undervalued: the Apex building, home to the Federal Trade Commission.

Decades ago, the Florida Republican was a developer. It gave him the means to treasure-hunt as well as a gut for appraisal — the real-estate concept of highest, best use. A question popped into his head: How many more Americans would benefit from the FTC building if the National Gallery were to take it over.
Please follow the link to read the whole article at The Washington Post.
Link to The Washington Post article


I have blogged about this story before and am following the developments closely. The National Gallery has more work in its collection than it could possibly display. Most of the treasures in the collection are only on exhibition periodically. The last time I was up at the National Gallery in 2007 they were having an exhibition of Jasper John's work. Amazingly I learned that it was the first time the Gallery had been able to show all the work they owned of Jasper Johns. In fact not even the artist's famous "Flags" are permanently displayed. When you search the National Gallery website what sticks out most in the descriptions of the paintings is the phrase "Not on Display". It seems that most of the collection, all important works, are stored away hoping for one day to be included in a group show or artist retrospective. We should be proud of this world class collection and more of it should be included on permanent display. Let’s hope Congressman Mica can persuade enough to join his worthy art “Crusade”!
Link to The Washington Post article
Past blog post on same story
National Gallery of Art website
John Mica website

Marcus Jansen Gets Cover of New American Paintings - posted by Florida Fine Art Blog

One of my favorite artists, Marcus Jansen, has been picked for the cover of one of my favorite art publications, New American Paintings.  This is great news for this talented Florida Artist.  It has been my opinion that New American Paintings has been especially stingy when selecting Florida artists in the past.  The publication is a juried collection of regional artist work.  They split the country into four regions and publish four different select collections.  Marcus is the first artist from Florida on the cover that I can remember.  Congratulations!  As I have said before in this blog;  "I can also confirm that many gallery owners, much more than would admit, look toward this publication for new artists to represent."  GL

New American Paintings website
My Artist Interview with Marcus Jansen
Blog post about New American Paintings
Marcus Jansen website

Federal: Oppose Termination of Arts Education in U.S. House Legislation

Federal: Oppose Termination of Arts Education in U.S. House Legislation

Museum of Art Fort Lauderdale -- Creative Summer Art Academy -- posted by Florida Fine Art Blog

There are great summer art programs around South Florida.  I will be posting links as I find them.  Remember, many studies have been done in the past two decades regarding the importance of art and creativity in the development of children. 

Creative Summer Art Academy website link

Art Around the Web -- Maritime Art Collection -- by Florida Fine Art Blog

Admiral Rodney's Fleet Deploying in the West Indies, 1782

Robert Cleveley (1749-1809)

This post is for my friend Skot Olsen who is an expert at painting in the maritime genre.  Although the subject of Skot's maritime paintings can at times be filled with pseudo - history, his ship and artifact depictions are always historically accurate to the highest degree.

Artist's like Skot are always looking for good reference material and the Blue World Web Museum has some great Maritime examples.  Blue World is an online museum supported by the Kelton Foundation.

"The Kelton Foundation promotes the stewardship, enhancement and understanding of art, maritime history and man’s relationship with the sea through its collections of maritime art, navigational instruments, China Trade art and objects, Pacific ethnographic materials, Australian Aboriginal art and other fine and ethnographic art related to these fields."

Blue World Web Museum website

Broward Attractions and Museums Month (BAMM), June 2011 -- posted by Florida Fine Art Blog

Seventeen Broward, Boca Raton Cultural Attractions worked together to Offer Reciprocal Membership during the month of June.

BAMM's theme, JOIN ONE, EXPERIENCE THEM ALL, encourages more visitation and membership at each organization.

"With the current state of the economy, BAMM provides an excellent opportunity for South Floridians and visitors to experience the diverse cultural treasures that Broward County, Boca Raton and Delray Beach offer - all for the price of only one membership," said Mary Birch-Hanson of the Ah-Tah-Thi-Ki Museum.

Both current and new members of the participating museums and attractions will receive free entry with proof of membership. Special events may not be included.

Participating Organizations in '11 include:

African American Research Library & Cultural Center
Art and Culture Center of Hollywood
Boca Raton Historical Society & Museum
Bonnet House Museum & Gardens
Cinema Paradiso
Flamingo Gardens
Fort Lauderdale History Center
Historic Stranahan House Museum
IGFA Fishing Hall of Fame & Museum
International Swimming Hall of Fame Museum
Museum of Art - Fort Lauderdale Nova Southeastern University
Old Davie School Historical Museum
Old Dillard Museum
Plantation Historical Museum
Seminole Ah-Tah-Thi-Ki Museum
The Children's Museum - Boca Raton
Young At Art Museum

For more information on BAMM
please call Mary Birch-Hanson at 954.364.5205.
BAMM website

"Video of the Week" -- Robert Williams -- by Florida Fine Art Blog

For this week's video I have a double feature for you; two video interviews from Robert Williams.  The first video is from 1989 and features a younger, still very punk and rebellious Robert Williams, with all his ego and bravado in full effect. The second video was done recently and features a more reflective and perhaps wiser Robert Williams.  Both videos show what an honest yet sometimes wonderfully crude artist Mr. Williams is and show the command of the art form he possesses.

Robert Williams Website

Art Basel organizers buy Asian art fair -- posted by Florida Fine Art Blog

Art Basel organizers buy Asian art fair

The Miami Herald 
The company that owns and organizes the Art Basel fairs in Basel, Switzerland and Miami Beach are expanding into Asia.
MCH Swiss Exhibition (Basel) Ltd., has signed a purchase agreement with Asian Art Fairs Ltd, the owners of ART HK – Hong Kong International Art Fair. As of July, MCH Group will take a majority ownership stake in Asian Art Fairs Ltd.
The Asian art markets have heated up as China’s global economic role has exploded, and a move into Asia is a logical expansion step for Art Basel.
“As you know, Art Basel has been actively interested in the Asian art market for more than 10 years, with ever-increasing contact to Asian collectors, galleries and artists,’’ co-directors Annette Schönholzer and Marc Spiegler wrote in an email release.
“Not only the directors but also the selection committees have frequently travelled to explore the many Asian art scenes, and thus we have had a rising number of Asian galleries participating in our shows over the last decade.’’
The Hong Kong show will retain its current name for the 2012 year but will move from its current late-May time slot to early February, staggering the show between Art Basel’s June fair in Switzerland and its December show in Miami beach. In future years organizers plan to rebrand the Asian show with the Art Basel name.
Link to Miami Herald Article