Brevard Art News - December 28, 2008

In this issue:

• News for the Week
• Events and News from Artists
• Exhibits and Galleries
• Studio Times and Classes
• Opportunities, Organizations, and Services
• Books
• Artist Profile: Brett Alan Tam

News for the week:


First Friday: January 2, 2009

Art and Antique Studio (1419 Highland Avenue; Melbourne, FL 32935 (321) 253-5553)
The Art and Antique Studio and Gallery will have a reception for graphic artist Lin Sons from Merritt Island. Lin works with pencils to create detailed drawings of shells, musical instruments, still lifes and people. She is also an excellent calligraphy artist. The reception for the opening of her show is on January 2, 2009 from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. The Art and Antique Studio and Gallery is located at 1419 Highland Avenue in Eau Gallie. The reception is free and open to the public. Her work will be on exhibit for the month of January.

Second Friday... January 9, 2009

Fifth Avenue Gallery (1470 Highland Avenue Melbourne, FL 32935 (321) 259-8261)
The Fifth Avenue Art Gallery presents Tropical Winter, a member show brandishing the excitement, wonder and amusement of our region's tropical winter paradise. Even though Tropical Winter may sound like a contradiction, our winters are warmer and filled with more exciting events such as migrations and nestings. Birds, manatees, and snowbirds migrate toward our warmer climate and waters, rivers, and along palm-lined streets.

The public is invited to see how members of the Fifth Avenue Art Gallery interpret Tropical Winter at the opening reception on First Friday of January. That's on January 9th from 5:30 p.m, to 8:00 p.m. Meet the artists, examine the artwork and enjoy light refreshments with wine. The reception is free and open to the public.

Highway Grrls 1414 Highland Avenue; Melbourne, Florida 32937; 318-227-3075
Bring in the New Year with original art at First Friday. The Highway Grrls gallery will feature works by Robin Rothrock. During the First Friday celebration the Mark Baker Band will perform out front and the patio will be open in the back with Max Rener. The public is invited to enjoy a relaxed evening on January 2, 2009, from 5:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

URGENT: Highland Avenue, Eau Gallie, gallery looking to sublet gallery rooms.

The Funky Junky Gallery and Coffee Bar at 1372 Highland Avenue in the Eau Gallie Arts District must sublet two gallery rooms by December 31st. The gallery is located across from an "anchor" restaurant and immediately next to public parking.

There are two rooms available. Each room is approximately 150 square feet. Each room is $400 a month with a month-to-month lease (longer if the artist desires). This includes rent, electricity, water, wireless Internet, plus there is a front picket-fenced lawn area for exhibiting and an on-site coffee bar.

Artists are encouraged to participate regularly, but are not required to be present, and there are NO commissions or percentages collected by the gallery. The artist will enjoy daily foot traffic, plus the foot traffic from all the regular Eau Gallie events, including gallery open houses, on-site Art Markets, the Eau Gallie Farmer's Market every Saturday, and the First Friday Art Walk. Eau Gallie is a booming Arts District with many great things on the horizon and many advantages.

For more information on this wonderful opportunity, artists may inquire to Bryan C. Cruickshank at 321-609-1749. They may also visit at 1372 Highland Avenue, in the Eau Gallie Arts District (Melbourne). Act today.

Titusville Art League to Exhibit at the King Center for the Performing Arts.

The Titusville Art League will present their exhibit The Best of Titusville in the Harris Gallery in the King Center for the Performing Arts. This is an exhibit of all the award-winning artwork in the TAL 44th Annual Spring Show in April 2008.

The exhibit will officially open on Thursday, January 8th, 2009, during a reception from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. This reception is free and open to the public. Be sure to mark your calendar and go to the King Center on January 8th to see the exhibit and to have an opportunity to visit with the artists.

Congratulation to Viola Knudsen

Viola Knudsen's painting (pictured here) was selected to be the poster for the Tropical Plant Industry Exhibition this year by the Florida Nursery Growers & Landscape Association. Congratulations to Viola for having her beautiful work recognized.

Congratulations

The following awards were presented at the Art Festival at the home Center on December 5th and 6th:

Best of Show - Helen Wheatley

1st Place - Yavor Gonev

2nd Place: Alex Stankiewicz

3rd Place: Bobbie Brown.

Congratulations to all of the artists.

Sculpture and Mold-Making Open Studio at Combuco Studios

Combuco studios of Titusville offers sculpture and mold-making open studio. Open studio hours are Saturdays from 9:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the Titusville Art League, 1421 Draa Road, Titusville.

Individualized Instruction: They provide a standard orientation packet; but beyond that, all instruction is individual and flexible. Participants of various skills levels work on their own pieces at their own pace -- all together in the studio. Each requires unique attention. Therefore, all of the classes are in an Open Studio Instruction format.

What is Open Studio Instruction? Open studio means that there are set hours in which you may go to the studio to work on your pieces. You may go as often as you like and stay for as long as you like within the studio hours. They limit the number of participants to ensure you will receive the individualized attention that you need.

Some specifics:

• Casting services are available at a reduced fee for all students


• First class is free. If you have an idea of what you would like to sculpt, take a photo or sketches with you.


• Children ages 12 and older are welcome to take classes.


• All materials needed can be purchased during class. Typically participants spend approximately $50 on start-up materials. However, this will depend on the size and style of your piece.

For more information, contact Combuco Studios at 561-228-8660 or 321-747-9201. or by email at info@combucostudios.com

Three Opportunities for Artists

1) The Space Coast Chapter of the Florida Surveying and Mapping Society is inviting artists to become exhibitors at their 3rd annual Florida Surveyor's Festival on March 21, 2009, at F. Burton Smith Park in Cocoa Florida.

The festival is from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. and will include music, dancing, food, rock climbing, arts and crafts for kids, inflatables, nature trails, art exhibitors, craft exhibitors, educational, green living, surveying and mapping exhibitors.

If you're interested in being a part of this festival, contact Susan Jackson at 321-259-7452 for more information.

(2) Another opportunity comes from the Rotary Club of Windermere. They are presenting The Windermere Art Festival. It is April 4 and 5, 2009, For more information, call 407-876-3526 or 407-765-3131.

(3) Hilton Head Juried Show. The Art League of Hilton Head has announced its 2009 National Juried Art Exhibition.

This is an annual event held in conjunction with the Bravo Festival of the Arts sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce. There will be $10,000 awarded prize money, including $2500 for the "Best of Show." All works selected by the juror will be on display from May 2 through 24, 2009.

The deadline for entry is January 31, 2009. If you're interested in entering, go to http://www.hhal.org/ for a prospectus.

To keep you up to date ... Artist Museum Partnership Act

Before congress right now is a bill known as the Artist Museum Partnership Act. If this bill passes, it will ensure that artists will receive the same tax deductions when donating their art to a nonprofit organization as a collector. As of now, when a collector donates a piece of art, they get a deduction for the fair market value of the work. An artist only gets a deduction for the cost of production like the canvas and paint. Of course this discourages artists from donating.

If this bill passes, it would increase the number of donated pieces bringing more art to museums and galleries. This is a way we can assure that American cultural assets stay in the USA. Write your congressmen and let them know that you are interested in this bill. This is the only way to get them talking about it! They need to know they have your support. Visit http://www.americansforthearts.org/ to take action. (thanks to Nancy Dillen for this update)

Call for Photographers

The Fifth Avenue Art Gallery at 1470 Highland Avenue in the Eau Gallie Arts District of Melbourne has announced a call for photographers from central Florida to participate in a juried exhibition. This exhibition is open to all photographers 18 years, living and working in central Florida. All subject matter, techniques and styles are welcome. Monetary awards will be given. Application deadline is January 22, 2009, and the show will run from March 1 through 29, 2009.

The prospectus is available at http://www.fifthavenueartgallery.com/. Click on Events and look under March to download the prospectus. If you have questions, contact the Fifth Avenue Gallery at fifthavenueartgallery@gmail.com or call 321-259-8261.

The Strawbridge Art League Vision Show

The take-in for the 2009 Vision Juried Art Show, presented by the Strawbridge Art League, will be in the Henegar Center for the Arts on New Haven Avenue in Melbourne, Florida.

Take-in dates:

Friday, January 23, 2009, from 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Saturday, January 24th, 2009, from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

The grand prize of $1500 will be awarded for the Best of Show. For now, begin working on your entries for the Vision Juried Art Show.

Call for Artists for Downtown Melbourne

Downtown Melbourne is currently seeking artists and crafters to participate in Downtown Melbourne's 3rd Friday Arts and Indulgences Walk, Arts and Crafts section.

The Arts and Indulgences Walk is a self-guided tour of the Downtown area that will showcase the cultural entities. It will be held the 3rd Friday of each month from 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. In addition to the walk, there will be an Arts and Crafts booth section located in the parking lot of the Christmas Cottage where artists and crafters can sell their work during the event. There is room for fifteen 10 x 10 tents and these spaces are rented ($40.00) on a first come, first serve basis. There is no submission process.

Download the application at http://www.downtownmelbourne.com/ under Arts and Indulgences Walk.

Because this is a nighttime activity, artists will need to provide their own lighting, such as a lantern or bring a lighting source with a long extension cord. The Christmas Cottage will provide electricity; however, no heat-generating appliances can be supported. Only one electrical source per booth can be allowed.

Be sure to send you art news to Lou@LouBelcher.com

News from the Brevard Art Museum

Museum Events at 1463 Highland Avenue, Melbourne, FL 32935 ; phone: (321) 254-7782

Annie Leibovitz: Women
The opening reception for the Annie Leibovitz: Women exhibit is Friday, January 9, 2009, from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. It is $35.00 per person or $50.00 per couple. The reception will take place at the Renee Foosaner Education Center and the exhibition preview will be in the galleries. Tickets are available for purchase in advance. Start the New Year with a glamorous premier at the Brevard Art Museum. Recognizable cultural icons and ordinary women will transfix audiences when the exhibition Annie Leibovitz: Women graces the galleries of the Brevard Art Museum through March 8, 2009.

ART a la carte
The Brevard Art Museum will host an art sale for all in the Front Street Park Community Center on Sunday, January 18, 2009, from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. All art is priced to sell. This event is free and open to the public. For details on how to donate artwork to the Brevard Art Museum, call 321-242-0737.