Two New Coffee Shops Set to Open in Wynwood -- posted Florida Fine Art Blog

Two New Coffee Shops Set to Open in Wynwood

Lester’s will open at 2519 NW 2nd Ave by early May.

“It’s the kind of place where you can come in, grab a magazine, be on your computer, kind of camp out a little bit, meet up with people, have a drink in the afternoon and then a ‘drink-drink’ at night."

Panther Coffee Shop, a "Boutique Coffee Roastery and Coffee Bar" at 2390 NW 2nd Ave, is tentatively set to make its long awaited official debut in mid-May after the owners overcome five months of bureaucratic delays to obtain a building permit from the the City of Miami.

Full Article from The Miami Herald

My Favorite Painting -- by Florida Fine Art Blog

The painting above, a Rembrandt Self Portrait from 1658, is the greatest painting I have ever seen live. And a painting I have been back to see countless times, in fact every time I'm in New York City.

After the Rembrandt post from this morning I just had to talk more about Rembrandt and point out my favorite painting.

Make sure you check out the museum's website (link at the bottom) it’s one of the first museum websites to have a 360 degree virtual tour!

I never imagined that my favorite painting would be a Rembrandt. I never studied Rembrandt in particular, never sought him out or focused much attention, other than what we are all taught in art history classes. But there I was, literally stunned silent, almost weeping at the greatness of a painting that five minutes earlier I would have told you, “Rembrandt, yea he's great, but not my thing."

It was 1996 and I was living in New York for a few months of the summer, taking art classes by day and trying to find trouble by night. I had already visited most of the city's more famous museums when my Dad suggested I visit The Frick Museum on 5th Ave and 70th Street. The museum is the former home of Henry Clay Frick, an industrialist from the turn of the 20th Century. Henry became an astute collector, traveling to Europe on many occasions and built three art collections in his lifetime. The museum holds his third and most important collection.

The Museum's appeal for me at first was that it was a 5th Avenue Mansion from the turn of the century, a home from the ‘Gilded Age”. I loved the idea that the home was preserved. But once you enter and begin to see what is on the walls you quickly realize that this is no ordinary home and Henry was no ordinary collector. Mr. Frick developed a superb eye over the years and amassed a collection that rivals any in the world. It’s a small but powerful collection with all the old masters represented.

My first visit I walked from room to room enjoying the furniture and rugs as much as the artwork. Then in a large naturally lit room called the West Gallery, I stalled by a large dark portrait. I instantly knew this painting was special. It was just better, done at a higher level than I think I have even seen before. The massive amount of layering and glazing that Rembrandt used and the way he focuses the light in this painting made me stop and decide to spend some time with this painting. The first thing that caught my eye were the hands, which are in the foreground of the painting and are as perfect as anything ever painted. After studying this painting you realize why Rembrandt is held up above all other artists. There is a level of skill that I have never seen in another painter. He went further somehow, deeper into the flesh to find the more correct reproduction.

It is a late self portrait, one of many that Rembrandt did throughout his lifetime. He is dressed in what looks like royal robes. Expensive and important clothing but ill-fitting, like he was still dressing for a younger time, a time in his prime. He no longer fills out the clothes, and now sits slumped over, the robes seem to encase him. The hat he wares is now too big and droopes down making him look even more frumpy. To paint yourself with such, almost disgust, Rembrandt is showing us how he truly feels. He is a man at the end of his powers, at the end of his life and he looks haunted. No hero’s pose, no grand composition , he is almost lost in the shadows. And the loathing is not just introspective. Rembrandt paints his eyes looking back at us with at least as much disappointment and abhorrence as he reserves for himself. I get chills just thinking and writing about the painting.

This painting is a prime example of what I mean when I say you have to go out and see these great paintings live. The difference between the image above and the real paintings could never be explained without seeing this painting for yourself. All of the genius of Rembrandt is lost in reproductions. The way the painting sucks you in and the size of the work all make the experience impossible to replicate in any reproduction.

I hope you dear reader have found your painting, found that artist that just “does it for you.” Art can change your life, I really believe that. There is much in this life that words can not explain or describe. Many feelings we encounter are hard to process. When you give Artwork the time required it can fill you up in a way nothing else can. Art can make you cry with joy and let you know, that your thoughts and your feelings are universal. You are not alone. GL

If you have not already please enjoy this link to a wonderful Rembrandt Web Catalog
Henry Clay Frick Museum website

All-Media Juried Biennial returns to the Art and Culture Center of Hollywood -- posted by Florida Fine Art Blog

The All-Media Juried Biennial

6-9 p.m. Friday, April 29 and run through June 5

Art and Culture Center of Hollywood

1650 Harrison St.

Admission is $10.

The biennial will feature works culled from a call to artists throughout Florida. This year’s jurors — artist Michelle Weinberg and Twenty Twenty Projects owner and director Scott Murray — selected 35 artists from 294 who submitted images of their works. The chosen include emerging and established artists such as Antonia Wright, Ruben Millares, Carrie Sieh, Jillian Mayer, Don Lambert, Susan Lee-Chun and Nicholas Arehart.

As a bonus there is another show opening at the museum; "She-Monster (Joan of Arc)" by Lisa Rockford.  As Rockford explains in her statement, “Segments appropriated from Barbies, monsters, Disney princesses, wrestlers, superheroes, etc., are joined seamlessly into portraits that are an unnerving assimilation of the iconography.” The imagery is meant to challenge viewers to “disband stereotypical notions of femininity and examine questions of gender, power, and persona.”

Sun Sentinel Article about Biennial

Art and Culture Center of Hollywood website

"The Best of Backus" opens in Palm Beach -- posted by Florida Fine Art

“The Best of Backus”

May 3-May 30, 2011

Edward and Deborah Pollack Fine Art

205 Worth Avenue, second floor, Hours are Monday-Friday, 11-5 or by chance or appointment.

For more information please call 561-655-1425 or email eddeb1@aol.com

This retrospective celebrates the seventy-fifth anniversary of the first occasion (1936) when Backus was asked to exhibit his works in a prestigious nationally-invited show at the Palm Beach Art Center along with major artists, Jane Peterson, Charles C. Curran, Anna Hyatt Huntington, and many others.

The show will display, according to Sherrie Johnson, Backus curator, expert, author, and former Backus student, the "diversity highlighting Edward and Deborah's keen educated and sophisticated sense of fine art….”

Press Release about Show

My Artist Spotlight about Backus

Kick out the FTC to make room for art? -- posted by Florida Fine Art Blog

Fred Hiatt, Editorial Page Editor for the Washington Post has an interesting article about a power struggle going on in Washington D.C.

Rep. John Mica,  chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, wants to kick the Federal Trade Commission from its historic quarters at Pennsylvania and Constitution avenues and let the National Gallery of Art move in.

“You won’t believe me, but this is my only priority as chairman,” he says — a fact that has the commissioners sputtering.  “I know the commissioners think I hate them,” Mica says, with the air of a man who’s not losing much sleep over that little misunderstanding. “That’s not the truth. . . . They’re an important agency. I’m not trying to kick dirt in their face.”

What he is trying to do, Mica says, is help the National Gallery rival the great museums of other world capitals: the Louvre, the Prado, the National Gallery in London. As an art lover, collector and frequent museum visitor, Mica explains, it pains him that much of the National Gallery’s collection has to be kept in the equivalent of the attic.


When I ask how his project will play among penny-pinching Republicans, Mica replies, “If they don’t like art, look at the finances.” By consolidating the FTC, which is leasing a couple of satellite sites, he argues, and by offloading to the National Gallery’s private donors the $200 million-plus cost of renovating the seven-decade-old FTC building, taxpayers will save money and the Federal Triangle will be enriched for visitors and Washingtonians.

Link To Article at the Washington Post
National gallery of Art website

Truly one of the best art collections in the world.  Thanks to generous donations made over the years all of the work in the collection is owned by the American people.  The idea of expanding the space so that more of the collection can be seen is long overdo.  Whole collections of work have had to wait in storage for the rare opportunity of being hung.  The museum is a rare gift; the artwork is owned by the American people and there is no fee for visiting.  If possible the museum should be expanded. GL

Clyde Butcher and The Highwaymen --Museum of Florida History -- May 13th - August 7th 2011 -- posted by Florida Fine Art Blog

Two Important Traveling Shows Together at the

Museum of Florida History - Tallahassee, Florida.

May 13th through August 7th 2001

Visions of Florida: The Photographic Art of Clyde Butcher

and

The Road to Prosperity: Art of the Florida Highwaymen

From the press release;

TALLAHASSEE – Secretary of State Kurt S. Browning today announced two new exhibits that will be sharing gallery space in the Department of State’s Museum of Florida History. Beginning May 13, 2011, the Museum of Florida History will feature The Road to Prosperity: Art of the Florida Highwaymen and Visions of Florida: The Photographic Art of Clyde Butcher.

“We are proud to display the work of these remarkably talented artists,” said Secretary Browning. “I encourage anyone who is a fan of Florida art to take advantage of this opportunity to see multiple perspectives of Florida landscapes in one gallery.”

The Road to Prosperity: Art of the Florida Highwaymen was organized by the Museum of Art Fort Lauderdale, Nova Southeastern University. Visions of Florida: The Photographic Art of Clyde Butcher is a traveling exhibit managed by the Museum of Florida History. Both exhibits will be on display in the Museum of Florida History through August, 7, 2011.

Secretary Browning Press Release
Museum of Florida History website

Bear and Bird Gallery -- Away In The Woods -- posted by Florida Fine Art Blog

Away In The Woods: Inspired by Tales of the Brothers Grimm

On exhibit: April 30 - June 18, 2011

Bear and Bird Boutique + Gallery

inside/upstairs at TATE'S Comics+Toys+Videos+More
4566 North University Drive / Lauderhill, Florida 33351
Phone: 954-748-0181 / www.bearandbird.com
Gallery & Store Hours: Mon-Thurs 11am-8pm, Friday and Sat 11am-9pm, Sun Noon-6pm

Art Around the Web -- Rembrandt Web Catalogue -- posted by Florida Fine Art Blog

I found this wonderful website looking for a copy image of a Rembrandt painting for Easter.  The website was designed by Frank J. Seinstra at University van Amsterdam.

Frank describes the website as more of a “Web catalog.”


Cataloging Rembrandt is a daunting task and Frank did not try to confirm or deny the authenticity of any of the work. In fact he included all known and disputed paintings, divided into 6 periods. In each of these periods the works are categorized according to their current apparent status among Rembrandt experts;
Category I: Generally accepted as autograph,
Category II: Disputed, doubted, or attributed without general support,
Category III: Generally rejected and/or attributed to an artist other than Rembrandt.


Within each of these categories the works are ordered by the year in which they were produced. Placing the mouse pointer over an image will show the painting's title, year, and location, together with the catalogue numbers taken from 14 different oeuvre catalogues published in the last 100 years (see below). If available, additional references to related literature are shown as well. Clicking generally gives a reproduction as found somewhere on the Internet.

Currently, the Web Catalogue contains 253 Category I paintings, 119 Category II paintings, and 370 Category III paintings - a combined total of 742 works.
From Frank;
The Web Catalogue is not commercial; copyright and all rights therein are retained by the copyright holders. Also, the catalogue is not intended to provide high-resolution reproductions. Instead it intends to present the most complete Internet overview of the works by - or closely related to - one of the greatest painters of all time. The Web Catalogue does not pretend to be authoritative; I am not a Rembrandt expert, and I do not have access to all the latest scientific results. Hence, the Web Catalogue undoubtedly will contain some errors - but I have tried my best to be as complete and accurate as possible. Finally, electronic and paper reproductions can never replace the actual paintings themselves - so please take this Web Catalogue as an incentive to go and see 'the real thing'.


Amen Frank, go see the real thing!  GL

A Web Catalogue of Rembrandt Paintings Link

Museum of Modern Art Releases Free iPad App for MoMA E-Books -- posted by Florida Fine Art Blog

Via ArtDaily Blog;

The Museum of Modern Art announces the release of MoMA Books, a free Application for the Apple iPad that allows users to purchase, download, and read a growing number of MoMA’s e-books, including favorite backlist titles that are no longer available in print, such as Atget by John Szarkowski. The MoMA Books App provides greater and more convenient access to exhibition catalogues that offer a lasting record of the Museum’s diverse exhibition program, scholarly texts on key works and artists in collection, and anthologies of important art-historical texts from around the world. …



Link to Article at ArtDaily Blog

Boca Raton Museum of Art Names Steven V. Maklansky as New Director -- posted by Florida Fine Art Blog

Boca Raton Museum of Art Names Steven V. Maklansky as New Director

The Boca Raton Museum of Art's Board of Trustees announced that Steven V. Maklansky has been chosen as the Museum's new Director. He will begin his position July 1, 2011.  Mr. Maklansky has served as the Executive Director at the Brevard Art Museum in Melbourne, Florida since 2009.

"We are confident that Steven is the right leader to build upon the Boca Raton Museum of Art's solid foundation established over the past 60 years," explained Board President, Paul W. Carman. "He possesses the experience and leadership qualities ideally suited to fulfill our vision for the future."


Mr. Maklansky received his undergraduate degree from Tulane University, his Masters from New York University and is a graduate of the Getty Foundation's Museum Leadership Institute. He has written many books and articles and presented scores of lectures on a broad range of topics related to art and museums.



Article from ArtBlog.org

Zhang Xiaogang sets record for living Chinese artist -- posted by Florida Fine Art Blog

A triptych oil painting by Zhang Xiaogang sold for $10.1 million on Sunday at a Sotheby’s auction in Hong Kong. The sale broke the record for a piece by a living Chinese artist, and was the latest sign of China’s phenomenal ascent in the global art market.


Mr. Zhang, who is 52 and based in Beijing, is now among a handful of living artists to have a work sell for more than $10 million. Less than a decade ago, many of his works were selling for $60,000 or less. He joins a group that includes Lucian Freud, Damien Hirst, Jasper Johns, Jeff Koons, Takashi Murakami and Gerhard Richter, according to Artprice.com.

Full Article from The New York Times
The Saatchi Gallery

Liz #5 to be Auctioned by Phillips de Pury & Company -- posted by Florida Fine Art Blog

Phillips de Pury & Company will be auctioning off Liz #5 as part of its Contemporary Art Part I auction on May12th and is estimated at $20,000,000 to $30,000,000.  Liz #5 was painted at the height of the actresses' fame which coincided with the most significant creative period of Warhol's career.

Liz #5 comes from an important private collector who acquired it from the estate of famed art dealer and collector Ileana Sonnabend.  Beginning in the early 1960's, her gallery was instrumental in introducing postwar America Art to Europe and she represented the most prolific and groundbreaking artists of her time including Jasper Johns, Rauschenberg and Andy Warhol. Liz #5 remained in her personal art collection until her death in 2007.  This is the first time a work from her estate will come to auction and it offers the rare possibility to acquire one of the Sonnabend treasures in the open market.

Liz Taylor was one of Warhol's most famous inspirations alongside Marilyn Monroe and Jackie Kennedy. Taylor captured Warhol's attention early on with her life's high profile romances and tragedy; it was this vibrancy and pathos that so attracted Warhol to her and ensured she was a formidable influence on his work throughout his career. In his own words he once said, "Elizabeth Taylor, ohhhh. She's so glamorous."

Article about Auction
Phillips de Pury & Company website
Warhol Museum website
Liz Taylor website

New Director Named to Ringling Museum -- posted by Florida Fine Art Blog

Steven High was named executive director of The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art.  The Sarasota museum, now a part of Florida State University, had a long and thorough search for the new director. 

Steven High, who is currently the director and CEO of the Telfair Museums in Savannah, Ga., will take office at The Ringling Museum on June 1, 2011.

“I am thrilled by the prospects and relish the opportunity that comes with being director of The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art, as well as the responsibility to honor and perpetuate the legacy of our founders, John and Mable Ringling,” High said. “The timing could not be better with the opening this year of the James Turrell Sky Space, new wing of the Circus Museum in The Tibbals Learning Center, the 2011 Ringling International Arts Festival and special exhibitions like Beyond Bling: Voices of Hip-Hop in Art. I am looking forward to meeting the community, museum members, supporters, partners and the press.” 

Press Release about New Director
The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art website  

Division of Cultural Affairs New Website -- by Florida Fine Art Blog

Check out the Division of Cultural Affairs new website. Redesigned for ease of use, I think they did a great job. If you are a corporation, arts organization, Florida artist or just art lover and supporter you will find this website an invaluable resource filled with important information. From our Grant programs, public exhibition opportunities, cultural endowments, "Poetry Out Loud" programs, Art in State Buildings, Individual Artist Fellowships and Community Arts Calendars this website has it all. The website even has a jobs posting section for opportunities in arts and culture and a wonderful Cultural Directory with local, state and national arts organizations and associations. GL

Division of Cultural Affairs website

James Hutchinson inducted into Florida Artists Hall of Fame -- by Florida Fine Art Blog

James Hutchinson Inducted into the Florida Artist Hall of Fame

by Florida Fine Art Blog

This past week on Wednesday night (March 23^rd, 2011), James F. Hutchinson was inducted into the Florida Artist Hall of Fame.  Established by the Florida Legislature in 1986, the Florida Artist Hall of Fame recognizes persons, living or deceased, who have made significant contributions either as performing or practicing artists in their disciplines.  These individuals contribute to Florida’s national or international reputation as a state with sustained commitment to the development of cultural excellence.  The award is the highest and most prestigious cultural honor bestowed by the State of Florida.  The Florida Artist Hall of Fame currently consists of over 30 inductees, including musician and performer Ray Charles, actor and director Burt Reynolds, writers Zora Neale Hurston, Tennessee Williams and Ernest Hemingway, filmmaker Victor Nunez, and visual artists Duane Hanson, Robert Rauschenburg and James Rosenquist.