---

2009-2010 Gallery Shows

November/December: The main gallery is aglow, filled with the bright colors and unique creations of local artist Mike Segal. This collection of original paintings represents over 25 years of Mike's work. The opening reception was well attended and guests enjoyed doing some shopping at the Giftable Art Show and Sale in the members' gallery. .

Remember, the Cedar Key Christmas events start Thanksgiving and run through Christmas. See the complete schedule at www.cedarkey.org/christmas.

January:

The Cedar Key Arts Center was a warm place to be on Saturday evening, when approximately 75 guests welcomed Gene and Judy Rantz to Cedar Key. Gene Rantz enchanted the crowd as he explained how he and Judy discovered and came to love the Nature Coast.

Gene's paintings, which fill the main gallery upstairs at the Arts Center, reveal his love for the natural beauty of the creeks and hammocks around the mouth of the Suwannee River as well as his desire to capture the old fish houses of Cedar Key and Suwannee knowing that these treasures of human endeavors are very fragile and may soon be lost forever. Paintings like the Cedar Key Fish and Oyster Co, the Suwannee Fish House, and Goodson Island were created through the years and prints made of these settings have found their way to places all across America and beyond. In addition to the original works of art on display at the Arts Center, prints can be ordered of some of his most popular paintings.

February: The TRASH TO TREASURE exhibit was a big success with over 40 entries from the community and 30 from the Cedar Key School Children.  Sandra Buckingham’s basket made from the multi-colored wires found inside of a 5 ½ foot piece of electrical conduit she discovered munched up alongside the road won the $100 Creativity Award.  Internationally recognized scrap metal sculpture artist, Chick Schwartz, judged the show and shared his work as part of the exhibit.   The children were all awarded ribbons made from scrape material that could be reused as bookmarks after the show.

 

 

 

March: Our March exhibit featured Fred Fisher of Tallahassee, FL and his "Aquatic Impressions."  Using the ancient Oriental art of fish imprinting called Gyotaku, Fred combines his love of fishing with his artistic talents to create colorful acrylic paintings of fish.  40 beautiful framed pieces swim through the gallery as if you are in a giant aquarium.  The exhibit will be on display through the month of March.

 

April: Our Wonderful Water Exhibit opened Saturday Evening, April 3.  Seventeen area artists participated in the exhibit which encouraged art from any medium.  Winners were announced to the delight of the crowd.  First Place went to Barbara Hotton of Trenton for her Fiber Art, 2nd to Valerie Bretl for her mosaic entitled “Apart,” and 3rd to Kelli Parkin for her photograph “Just Fishin’.” The $100 Creativity Award was given to Connie Nelson, for SALACIA a found object sculpture made to honor the goddess of Salt Water. 

 

2008-2009 Gallery Shows

November: David Crown. After retirement from his practice of internal medicine in 1982, Dr. Crown moved to Gainesville and started his second full time career as an artist. He works in many different media including oil painting, mezzotints, woodblocks, etchings, metal sculpture and collographs.

 

December - Giftable Art Exhibit and Sale: The December Giftable Art show opened the first weekend of December in conjunction with the Cedar Key Art Walk. Twenty-four artists entered their creations and a crowd of about 50 started their holiday shopping off at the opening Saturday, December 6. All items are priced below $75, with many less than $20. Come in and check it out.

January: Collected Works of Bill Bale. As a lifetime antique collector, Bill Bale has gathered together a one-of-a-kind exhibit of classic 19th Century Western Paintings and an enchanting group of 19th and early 20th century Florida Artists, including a number of Cedar Key scenes. The exhibit along with the creations of featured member artist, Mike Leiner will run through the month of January.

February:The Cathie Christie Show and 15th Anniversary opened with a capacity crowd on Saturday, February 7.  In the main gallery, over 100 pieces of Christie’s work are on exhibit including 14 paintings from the Arts Centers permanent collection and a wide variety of both flat and 3D art on loan to the Arts Center from over 60 Christie art collectors in the area.  In the small gallery originals and prints of Cathy’s work along with several ceramic pieces and sculptures done by Christie are on sale. The Arts Center was honored to have Christie join us for the celebration.

March: Open Photography Exhibit. The opening was held March 7th and the winners announced.

1st Prize, Debby Manansala for “Pelican on Post”, #54 2nd Prize, Sandra Muldow for “Ibis”, #42 3rd Prize, Peter Klocksein for “Anchor”, #53 Honorable Mentions 1. Stewart Nelson for “Cedar Key Fronds, again”, #58 2. Kellie Parkin for “Sunset #3", #50 3. Ed DeHaan for “Marbled Godwits”, #61 4. Peter Klocksein for “Gator Reflection”, #52

April: Art in Our Everyday Lives. The creativity of Cedar Key area artists was featured during the month of April.  Entries varied from jewelry and clothing to garden decorations and furniture.  A $100 Jeanne Franck award for creativity was shared between Lee Rexroat (mosaic table) and Sarah Reitz (vest).

May:The Cedar Key School Children’s Exhibit was a success again this year.  The main gallery was filled with the children’s creations and all enjoyed the opening reception Saturday evening, May 2