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

MoMA to buy American Folk Art Museum next door -- posted by Florida Fine Art

New York NY, MoMA to buy American Folk Art Museum next door.

Sad day for this wonderful museum.  Another casualty of the great art recession that continues to affect art organizations everywhere.  The question might be why categorize certain art as folk anyway, is it not also modern?  Is an artist's work created in southern Alabama judged not as worthy as an artist's work created in SoHo?  Why limit these artists in "Folk"?  Is "Folk art" a code or cop-out for the institutional accepted norm that big city art is somehow superior?  Are Purvis Young and Thorton Dail not also abstract expressionists, every bit as modern as De Kooning?  Is Howard Finster's work not every bit the equal to Jasper Johns?  Maybe its time to acknowledge that just because an artist is from the South, usually black and unschooled, that does not mean that they cannot produce work which is important to our national dialog. GL

Article about the Museum closing.

FAT Village Struggles to Create an Arts District in Culture-Starved Broward -- posted by Florida Fine Art Blog

FAT Village Struggles to Create an Arts District in Culture-Starved Broward
New Times By Stefan Kamph Thursday, Apr 21 2011

An article from New Times about the difficulty starting up an arts district in the old warehouse area of downtown Fort Lauderdale.  A lagging economy, lack of art buyers, property owners with undefined visions, high rent, crime, galleries to spread out, unenthusiastic general public, lack of major artist to draw people in and landlord  - artist feuds all contribute to the lackluster gallery walks and high turn over of new galleries. 

A major gallery as an anchor and more syergy with the city and county arts organizations would be a great start.  Also lower rents for the first few years to attract more galleries would help fill in some of the dead spaces.  But most importantly, in most cities these "art districs"  bubble up organically out of the need from a large arts movement for cheap exhibition space.  Does Fort Lauderdale have a large enough amount of professional artists?  Or with rents throughout South Florida's many warehouse districts being relatively cheap are there just pleanty of other gallery space oportunities?  I have never heard an artist complain about a lack of cheap space in Fort Lauderdale.  I wonder if trying to engineer this arts district from the top down will work in the long run.  I will continue to show my support by attenting the art walks which occur the 4th Saturday of each month.  GL

This Saturday night May 26th will be an exciting art walk  - the "South Florida Graffiti Expo"

The feverishly anticipated NEW ERA South Florida Graffiti Expo is being curated and produced by Renda Writer of WeMerge Magazine, Saturday May 28th @ FAT Village Arts District.

The south end of the event will be converging at 17 NW 5th St., with live performances and DJ's on the north side of the event inside The Projects located at 523 NW 1st Avenue.

This 12-hour event will feature 50+ graffiti artists painting live all day and night, infusing 50,000 square feet of graffiti along the west exterior walls of warehouse spaces at FAT Village Arts District.

The monthly FAT Village Art Walk, which is held on the last Saturday of every month, are on the same day of the Graffiti Expo. The Art Walk starts at 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. featuring open artist studios and gallery showcases throughout FAT Village.


To download map of FAT Village Arts District, click HERE

To check out a video walk through of the pre-event presented by Renda Writer, visit FAT Village Arts

To RSVP for the NEW ERA South Florida Graffiti Expo - 2011, click HERE

FAT Village Arts website
Link to New Times Article about FAT Village

This Friday -- Marcus Jansen / A Painter's Allegory -- posted by Florida Fine Art Blog

Marcus Jansen - A Painter's Allegory  

Sidney & Berne Davis Art Center opens at 6:00pm!

PUBLIC reception + NO cover fee  

DJ Ceron, SW Florida's premier DJ after 8:00pm as we move into our after party!!!

My interview with Marcus

Marcus Jansen website

Sidney & Berne Davis Art Center website