Visual Arts Events - HistoricCoastCulture.com

In The Moment Arts Collective

Crafts; Crafts: Other; Folk Art; Folk Art: Other; Folk Art: Puppetry; Folk Art: Storytelling; Literature; Literature: Drama; Literature: Fiction; Literature: Non-Fiction; Literature: Poetry; Music; Music: Instrumental; Music: Vocal; Theatre; Theatre: Acting; Theatre: Directing; Theatre: Other; Theatre: Technical; Visual Arts; Visual Arts: Other; Visual Arts: Painting; Visual Arts: Sculpture; Scenic Design, Props, Thematic Sculpture, Murals, Costuming, Haunt & Trail Ride, Holiday Decor

Hi there! Stephen and Jessica are a St. Augustine couple specializing in theatrical and visual arts. They have designed and crafted theatrical sets, props, puppets, museum exhibits, costumes, scripts, haunts, lighting, and sound design. They've also acted as directors and performers in numerous stage productions and films. In the Moment can help you design and organize your artistic needs, whether a stage production or special events such as weddings, parties, festivals, or custom indoor or outdoor signage. Need a theme park-grade outdoor sculpture? In the Moment's got ya covered!

Dan Askew

Visual Arts; Visual Arts: Sculpture

With a love for pure function and the patina that comes from prolonged use, Dan's works hint at vague mythologies surrounding the vast plethora of apocalyptic scenarios, both imagined and “legitimately” prophesied. Black humor, along with a chaotic mash-up of media process becomes the lens through which to view a confused reality. The range of influences is evidence of a pre-adolescent skeptic with more questions than answers. Insect morphology, ancient and tribal art, hydrodynamic and aerodynamic forms, mechanical engineering, the history of space exploration, fractal geometry, robotics, SETI, comic books, popular science fiction, and toys, create a catalog of images to anxiously explore a potential future past. Dan Askew has a BFA from the University of Southern Mississippi, and an MFA from the University of North Texas. Since 2011, he has been a professor of studio art at the Florida School of the Arts in Palatka.

Bruce Kevin Bates

Visual Arts; Visual Arts: Illustration; Visual Arts: Other; Visual Arts: Painting; Visual Arts: Photography; Visual Arts: Printmaking; Visual Arts: Sculpture

Bruce Kevin Bates grew up in West Palm Beach, Florida, and currently resides in St. Augustine, Florida. Since early childhood Bruce has had a passion for drawing and painting, and has always enjoyed sketching and painting the people and places around him. While his artwork usually depicts realistic images, he often uses heightened colors, textures, and swirling brush strokes in his works to communicate his thoughts and feelings about the universal energy he feels surrounds us, and connects us all together. His favorite medium is oil, but he continues to experiment with new materials and techniques. He often employs “Old Master” techniques in his works, combined with new methods that he has developed over the years through experimentation. Bruce holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree with Honors from Pratt Institute in New York, and has exhibited his work throughout the state of Florida.

Tess Blum

Visual Arts; Visual Arts: Painting; Visual Arts: Photography; Visual Arts: Printmaking

My life and work have always centered around art in one form or another. After a career in textile design and teaching art, I studied studio painting and fine art. Since relocating to Florida in 2018, I have been pursuing creative works in various media in my studio here in Saint Augustine. My mosaic works combine my love of precise planning with the surprise results you sometimes get by letting materials guide the way. The glass I use is often cut to very defined shapes to capture my images, but sometimes it is the “found” piece that guides the art to completion. The play of reflection vs. dullness and texture vs. sheen in each piece of glass creates the perfect tool for exploring the natural beauty of my new surroundings. I am also creating using mixed media with glass, including photographic collage, resin pours combined with reverse painted glass, and stained glass.

Robin Borland

Visual Arts; Visual Arts: Other; Visual Arts: Painting

ROBIN BORLAND 146 Washington St. St Augustine, FL 32084 Email: robin1aim@gmail.com Cell:727-504-4588 OBJECTIVE A creative leader with passion for the arts, community and public service, vast experience as a community leader, business owner and a practicing artist. Working toward Master’s Degree in Arts In Medicine at the University of Florida online program. Certified Arts in Aging facilitator. Seeking Art in Healthcare Leadership role SKILLS & ABILITIES Art in Aging facilitator, Adult Day Care Arts Coordinator, Leadership, art instruction, fund raising, event coordination, networking, social media, branding, marketing, creative problem solving, Windows, Excel, Word, Powerpoint. I have Currently started 3 Art in Healthcare programs in Pinellas County. PAR Academy, working with teens and addictions, Pinellas County Police Athletic League working with at risk youth and partnering with the Bay Pines VA working with a Veterans out patient program. I started all programs and funded them through social media and a GoFundMe campaign. EXPERIENCE OWNER/PRESIDENT ArtRobStudios, Inc May 2008 – Present • Adult Day Care Volunteer Coordinator for Neighborly Care Network • Certified Arts In Aging facilitator • Home and studio Art Instruction • Commission paintings and creatives • Craft parties • Paint your glass off parties - First in the area to offer this service • Small Business Operations including; promotion through Social Media. FaceBook, Twitter, LinkedIn, MySpace, Pintrest and Etsy. • Bookkeeping, Marketing, Networking and website maintenance. • Staff instructor at Indian Rocks Beach Art Center and Safety Harbor Community Center. East DIRECTOR OF VOLUNTEER MINISTRIES Lake United Methodist Church January 2007 – October 2008 • Accountable for building a ground-up volunteer ministry for the church. • Recruit and manage new volunteers • Manage, coordinate all volunteer activites for all areas of the church • Manage outreach programs with habitat for humanity, international missions to Haiti and other countries. LEGISLATIVE ASSISTANT TO STATE REPRESENTATIVE GUS M. BILIRAKIS State of Florida July 2004 - May 2005 • Assisting constituents with legislative and local issues. • Writing letters, press releases on behalf of the representative. • Tracking bills while in legislative session to understand impacts to district. • Working with lobbyists as well as other legislators. • Candidate fundraising CITY COMMISSIONER City 0f Safety Harbor March 2000 - July 2004 • Elected leader serving the citizens of Safety Harbor. • Responsible for an annual multi-million dollar city budget. • Facilitating and solving constituent, local business and civic organization issues. • Leading fund raising efforts for several not for profit organizations within the city. • Assisting not for profit organizations to bring their services into the city. • Worked with city staff on various projects throughout the city. • Established and coordinated the Safety Harbor Wine Festival which has made over $350,000 for local charities since 2003. • Established and coordinated the Safety Harbor Kayak Race which brought in $15,000 for the Safety Harbor Museum 2002 EDUCATION University of Florida Masters in Arts In Medicine University of South Florida Tampa, Fl. B.A. - Fine Art, 1999 St. Petersburg College Clearwater, Fl. A.A. - Fine Art, 1997 Pinellas Vocational Technical Institute Largo, Fl. Computer Graphics Certificate of completion, 1988 NCAA - National Center for Art and Aging Washington, D.C. Certificate of completion, 2011 AWARDS/HONORS Art Awards/Honors: • 1st place in Dunedin’s ConCoarsido RapidPen • Pen Women’s Best of Show • Cleo Award for Cadillac Advertisement • Artist of Distinction Still Point Gallery (on-line gallery) • Artist of Distinction YMCA Art Festival 2009 • Honors Painting at USF • Chosen by peers to co-ordinate, hang and promote senior show including securing gallery space. GROUPS & AFFILIATIONS In addition to my leadership roles on the job, I’ve participated in many leadership and volunteering roles at community organizations. PAR Current Art in Health facilitator Police Athletic League Current Art in Health facilitator Beach Art Center in conjunction with Bay Pines VA as an Art in Healthcare facilitator East Lake Lacrosse Booster President (present) Committee for North Pinellas County Neighborhoods (2012-present) Neighborly Care Network Board Member (2012-present) Beach Art Center Indian Rocks Beach (2012-present) Lion’s club of Safety Harbor (past president) (2000-present) East Lake United Methodist Church Board of Trustees, chair (2008-2012) Volunteer Neighborly Care Network (2009-present) Great American Teach In Tarpon Fundamental Middle School (2012) Pace Center for Girls Volunteer (2011-2012) Metropolitan Ministries (2010-2012) Great American Teach In Tarpon Middle School (2006) YMCA of the Suncoast (2004-2008) North Pinellas Republican club (past president) (2004) Leadership Pinellas (2003) Espiritu Santo Catholic School (2001-2004) Professional Association of Visual Artists – PAVA (2002) Tarpon Springs Women’s Group (2002) Tampa Bay Harvest (1996-1998) Youth Group Leader at Central Christian Church Disciples of Christ (1991) Big Brothers Big Sisters (1986) REFERENCES REFERENCES AVAILABLE ON REQUEST

Manila Clough

Visual Arts; Visual Arts: Other; original glass mosaics/glass collage installations

I love working on Big Mosaics! But, I can also create smaller works: Backsplashes, Patio Installations, Fine Art Panels, Entry Installations. By commission, Sky's the Limit!

Bonnie Crosthwaite

Visual Arts

I am a self-taught artist, with a love for all forms of artistic expression. Favorite mediums to work with are acrylics, mixed-media, and pencils. I offer themed workshops for kids that help build a positive outlook on life through the arts. As the founder of Studio Me Arts, my vision is to help children maximize every art experience by providing inspiration and artistic tools of encouragement. I am passionate about bringing the art-life to classrooms, after-school enrichment programs, group home environments, and to the collaboration tables of others who are like minded. I enjoy building on the therapeutic effects of creating art; every project is an opportunity to build artistic skills and enrich the life of each young artist. The website is underway - to get in touch please email at StudioMeArts@gmail.com

Amy Hemphill Dove

Visual Arts; Artist - Fiber Artist

Dyed-in-the-Wool I am a dyed-in-the-wool fiber artist! Being a kinesthetic and empirical type of learner; I am compelled to create and work with my hands! Fibers and textiles being tactile and malleable in nature present me with so many creative possibilities! Hand-dyed silk and wool fibers and fabrics are the basis of my artworks. This choice comes from both tactile and aesthetic considerations. Through felting, I build my concepts into form and dimension, while creating rich textures and patterns of saturated colors. The work of making felt is demanding physically and considerable but at the same time magical and sensuous. Silk has luminosity - it can be sheer and translucent, letting the light through. I use the reflective qualities of silk fabrics and fibers and position them so they shimmer and create highlights. I also use shibori techniques (the Japanese art of resist dyeing and texturing) folding, pleating, binding and dyeing fabrics to achieve colors, patterns, and textures in my artwork. A key concept in my work is Wabi Sabi, the Japanese expression of the imperfection in nature that makes it beautiful. It also conveys the impermanence of nature and the simple truths that change is the only constant, everything is in flux, and nothing is perfect. I aspire to create lively and interactive artwork in which the interplay of light and shadows, colors and shades, movement and atmosphere, layers and textures enter into a dialog with the viewer, and change depending on where the viewer stands (and on how the pieces are mounted). I strive to let light and air through in my artworks, while movement and reflective qualities intrigue. Being a consummate experimenter, my fiber art work has branched off in several directions as I learn and play with new approaches. My passion is for combining fiber art forms to create something new. My professional design background helps lead me in a cohesive direction but does not dictate my creativity. As I experiment, change directions, work intuitively, my work is all evolving, always changing — and like me, a work in progress. And always open to new possibilities...

Sylvia Gortz

Visual Arts; Visual Arts: Other; Visual Arts: Painting; Mixed Media

Sylvia Maria Gortz was born in New York. She is a painter/mixed media artist, who lives and works in St Augustine, FL. Sylvia has a BA in Art from Whittier College in California. She is heavily influenced by Dali, Pollack, and Van Gogh. Inspiration has come from them, as well as anything vintage and colorful. Although you couldn’t tell by wardrobe, which is primarily black, a leftover from her days in NYC’s village scene. Her love of art continued to play a dominant role as her career involved from neon artist, to art teacher, and most recently to curator, & artist. She owned/curated a gallery in St Augustine for 2 years. She has been involved in many facets of art through the years. Sylvia is also the president of the “Art Galleries of St Augustine”(AGOSA). This non-profit, is service organization aimed at art & artist business development through involvement in community projects, a publication/brochure & map for First Friday Art Walk, & regular informal meet-ups. She also is a partner in “ArtBox Exhibits,” which is a traveling art gallery. That concentrates on curation & pop-up shows at corporate events, weddings, charity events, special events, etc. She is represented in St Augustine by Professional Artists of St Augustine (PASTA) Gallery. She lives her passion and art is her passion.

Nancy Hamlin-Vogler

Visual Arts; contemporary

A diverse 2-dimensional artist, Nancy Hamlin-Vogler works in her backyard studio, near the Fountain of Youth. She began her greeting card company, Eastern Sun Printworks, while taking printmaking classes during graduate school. Infatuated with the silkscreen printing process, she designed a series of fine art card images and printed each one by hand. Thirty-six years later, her iconic cards are sold in bookstores and artisan shops nationwide. Recently, she has converted the cards to digital format in order to allow for time to explore and refine her painting skills. Nancy's passion for contemporary art is evident in her recent works on paper, rendering still life, figurative, and landscape subjects in her signature observational, gestural style, using her favorite materials : acrylics, charcoal, pastels, and pasted rice paper elements. The abstracted content of her work reflects her worldwide backpacking travels, summer vacations on Cape Cod, and her studies in Buddhism. She is a managing member of Butterfield Garage and it is her turn to be the featured artist during March, 2021.

Joyce Hutchinson

Literature: Other; Literature: Poetry; Visual Arts; Visual Arts: Other; Visual Arts: Painting; Visual Arts: Photography; art education instructor

I migrated to Jacksonville, June of 2013 and have established myself not just as an artist, but also an art instructor beginning 2014. I have been a lifelong artist, and an art educator since 1998. I manage my own private art school and studio, “Joyce’s Art School”, where I continue to paint, and teach art education to budding artists of all ages, in a personal tutorial style that students love. My lessons are based on the timeless foundations of art and design that are taught in schools and where I take over with individual teaching, and techniques. My school is continually growing where I live in Mandarin. As of February 2021, I'll be adding a second location for classes at the ArtBox gallery in St. Augustine. In creating my art, my subject matter varies as widely as my passions: from historical decorative designs to the realism of florals that I create in oil, acrylic, watercolor, color pencil, and graphite. I have an ongoing love for COLOR! Imagination is the key to art. My work is imbued with the freedom of study and experimentation. I love to focus on creating images that are diverse but maintain elements of nature that breathe life into the art I create. My mission is to encourage the 'what' and 'why' within the viewer, to guide them toward discovering the harmony and humanity that makes this planet so special. For more information on taking my classes or commissions, please contact me at: Phone: 904-735-5747 email: mladyjoy@gmail.com Thank you, Joyce Hutchinson

Carol Iyer

Visual Arts; Visual Arts: Illustration; Visual Arts: Painting

Carol Iyer (iyer) has recently transplanted from Atlanta, GA to Saint Augustine. Carol is a full-time artist and works with ceramics, oil, acrylic and pastels. Her work is whimsical and she paints mostly wildlife, such as Florida birds, manatees, squirrels, pets, etc. Her work has a happy and sometimes comical quality, often displaying humanistic qualities. Carol has a Mastery certificate from the Milan Art Institute. Her work can be seen online at caroliyer.com, in Bayard Antique Village in Jacksonville, or at Ancient City Gallery in St. Augustine.

Jennifer Jordan

Crafts: Jewelry; Literature: Non-Fiction; Visual Arts

Jennifer grew up in Pennsylvania and got her BA in Advertising Photography from Rochester Institute of Technology in upstate NY. From there, she was a freelance photojournalist for the Pottsville Republican newspaper in Pennsylvania. She spent most of her 20s working for the Pennsylvania State Legislature as a communications specialist for the House of Representatives and the Senate. She and her husband Josh moved to St. Augustine in 2007. Since moving to Florida, Jennifer has worn many hats while always staying creative. She has worked as a freelance photographer for the St. Augustine Record, an assistant to the Director of the St. Augustine Art Association, she managed marketing and exhibition management for the Lightner Museum, and most recently was Community Connections Director at the Ponte Vedra Cultural Center. Currently, Jennifer has chosen to work for herself, set her own hours, and spend more time with her family which includes her husband Josh, 9-year-old George, Jack Russel mix Daisy, and retired racing Greyhound Angel. She is working on her own entrepreneurial endeavors by creating a vegetarian recipe book called "Veggin In St. Augustine," featuring her favorite dishes from area restaurants, B&Bs, and markets. As a "side hustle," she has also started her own jewelry line using natural gemstones and antique beads called "Veggin in St. Augustine," which can be found on Etsy.

John Karamon

Visual Arts; Visual Arts: Photography; Visual Arts: Sculpture; Mobiles (Metal and Photographic)

John Karamon is a local photographer specializing in many styles. He began his career at Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan. He also served in the U.S. Army for more than three years. During this time, he was trained as a cinematographer . While stationed in SHAPE headquarters he had the unique opportunities to photograph President Kennedy, Vice President Johnson, Charles DeGaul and many other prominent figures. His experience ranges from audio visual production and photography for corporate public relations, promotion and advertising. John's work has been published in the New York Times, Popular Photography, Camera 35, Sound & Communications and Sound & Video Contractor magazines. John is currently developing projects that engender other locals to contribute to his artistic vision. During the 450th Anniversary of St. Augustine, he created a commemorative scroll with watercolor art with greetings to the city plus images of wildlife, the lighthouse and other flora and fauna. It has been put in the city archives not to be opened for 50 years.

Chris Kastle

Folk Art: Puppetry; Folk Art: Storytelling; Literature; Literature: Children's; Literature: Fiction; Literature: Non-Fiction; Literature: Poetry; Music; Music: Composition; Music: Vocal; Visual Arts; Visual Arts: Illustration; Visual Arts: Other; Visual Arts: Painting; Visual Arts: Photography

As a professional touring musician and storyteller, songsmith, author, artist, and educator for half a lifetime, Chris Kastle has performed throughout the United States and in Canada, Europe, and New Zealand. As a recording artist, and part of a duo, she has released 12 critically acclaimed CDs and a DVD and recently, three solo CDs of music and spoken word. In 2015 Chris was the recipient of the Annette J. Bruce Lifetime Achievement Award from the Florida Storytelling Association. In May of 2016 she posted a video of her song, El Faro, in memory of the crew. As an educator, she worked as the Director of Education at the St. Augustine Lighthouse & Museum, an instructor for the Inland Seas Education Association, a Visiting Professor at Governors State University, Community Educator for Friends of A1A Scenic & Historic Coastal Byway, has done a myriad of educational residencies, and is currently on the faculty at the Old Town School of Folk Music, and a Teaching Artist for VSA Florida. As an author, she has penned articles for maritime publications and been a contributing author in a maritime history anthology published by Claremont Press. She has many original short stories to her credit and, most recently, was the author/illustrator of a new children’s book, Dolly the Decorator Crab, inspired by her work as a teaching artist for VSAFL and also From the Icy Fingers of the Deep, a book of short, scary, sea stories that received five stars in Goodreads.com. As a visual artist, Chris has helped students of many ages and abilities to create personal and collaborative artwork such as watercolor, sculpture, collage, set design, and puppets. Her individual work has been displayed alongside that of her students at the Cummer Museum of Arts and Gardens and by the Thrasher-Horne Center for the Arts. As an arts administrator, advocate, and producer, she is the Executive Director of Common Times, the folk-arts organization that presented the "Chicago Maritime Festival" and the "Chinquapin Folk Music and Storytelling Festival" and has served on the boards of the Florida Storytelling Association (Past President) and the Tale Tellers of St. Augustine (Secretary, Past President). She is a one-time Tall Ship sailor from Chicago who has found a new home in St. Augustine, the nation's oldest port city, and is enjoying the best of the old world and the new!

Frances Keiser

Literature; Literature: Children's; Literature: Fiction; Literature: Non-Fiction; Literature: Poetry; Visual Arts; Visual Arts: Illustration; Visual Arts: Other

Frances Keiser has been designing and publishing books for over 20 years and is a faculty member of the University of North Florida Department of Continuing Education teaching publishing-related classes. She is a multi award-winning author, artist, and craftsman. A 25-year resident of St. Augustine, Keiser is also a University of Florida Master Naturalist and writes the weekly Backyard Adventures column for The St. Augustine Record. She is married to award-winning artist and illustrator, Hugh Keiser.

Deane Kellogg

Visual Arts

"So here I am, a self-taught artist living in St. Augustine, Florida. As I paint, I learn more about myself. When using a combination of charcoal, acrylic paint, ink and collage on textured canvas a bold clear image emerges. Full of color, texture and energy, the work makes me curious and want to explore more. Enjoy!"

Jenny Keyser

Crafts: Jewelry; Literature: Children's; Literature: Poetry; Visual Arts; Visual Arts: Painting; Visual Arts: Photography; Visual Arts: Sculpture

Jenny Keyser is an independent, multi-disciplinary artist, and educator. Keyser has presented her work and research at both the Popular Culture Association/American Culture Association Conference and the Art in Society Conference at UCLA. Her art has been shown internationally in galleries and museums. Recent shows include Works on Paper at the Philadelphia Sketch Club in Philadelphia; Loss, Redemption and Grace at EBD4 in Atlanta; and Lon Art’s Sheroes Revoluciones online London exhibition. Additionally, Keyser’s poetry and photography book has been acquired by the Joan Flasch Artist Book Collection at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. She has participated in the Alchemy residency in Canada and the Art and Soul International residency in New Mexico. Keyser’s work in accessories and wearable art was sold nationally at Barney’s New York and has been included in publications like Lark Books’ 1,000 Beads, InStyle Magazine, and Women’s Wear Daily. She is the Founder of the Mother Art: Revisited collective which has had recent shows in both London and Scotland. In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, Keyser created a platform to provide live, online art instruction. She currently is teaching children through adults across the United States. Keyser has a B.S. in Biology from Vanderbilt University, a certificate in Museum Studies from Northwestern University, and an MFA from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Please email me for a free intro course!

Shawn Krise

Music; Visual Arts; Visual Arts: Other; Visual Arts: Painting

Creating and teaching art has been my central joy throughout life! Recently relocated from Nashville, Tennessee, I anticipate this new chapter to be filled with inspiring people and environments. While specializing in commissioned portraiture, I also paint landscapes, still lifes and figurative work and always experimenting with new ideas.

Marianne Lerbs

Visual Arts; Visual Arts: Illustration; Visual Arts: Other; Visual Arts: Painting; Visual Arts: Photography; Visual Arts: Printmaking; Visual Arts: Sculpture

Marianne Lerbs, Fine artist: Sculptor, Painter, Graphic Designer, Digital Arts. Musician, singer, guitar, ukulele, cuatro, violin. Living in St. Augustine since 1992. Co-founder of the St. Augustine Sculpture Garden with artist Thomas Glover W. Currently working on art and music projects. (904) 294-1416 - www.lerbs.com , www.majagitana.com, www.mariannelerbs.com.

Mare Martelli

Visual Arts; Visual Arts: Other; Visual Arts: Painting; Visual Arts: Sculpture

Mare Martelli is a painter of modern acrylic/mixed media and watercolor as well as a creator of mosaic art and clay sculpture. She has an affinity for working in texture and layers to bring pieces to life - no matter the subject. She loves to explore, experiment, and have her pieces speak to her along the journey of their creation. Mare studied art and design at UArts & The Art Institute in Philadelphia. While spending most of her career in the advertising, marketing, and publishing arena, she’s kept her toe in the arts – designing logos, branding and media for musicals, playbills, album covers, and the like for fellow artisans. She has also taught Elementary School Art in Cherry Hill, NJ, as well as mosaics and clay sculpture in private studios. Originally from the New Jersey/Philadelphia area, she fell in love with St. Augustine on her first visit in 2007 and finally made it her full time home in 2018. When not painting, she is a marketing and web consultant, lover of animals, good vegetarian food, and exploring all of the history and nature the St. Augustine area has to offer.

Don Martin

Visual Arts; Visual Arts: Printmaking

Though he experiments with several mediums, Don Martin’s work is primarily focused on printmaking. He finds his subject matter in the environment surrounding his St. Augustine home to create representations of various animal and plant forms that influence his use of lines, texture, and colors. Before retirement in 2018, Martin taught fine art at Flagler College for 40 years while working on his art part-time. Don Martin’s work has been exhibited throughout the US in Cambridge, Atlanta, New York, and throughout Florida in places like government buildings, Flagler College, University of North Florida, and The Stetson Kennedy Foundation. In 2005, Martin painted 500 feet of large-scale murals throughout the Jacksonville International Airport depicting colorful images of nature, music, and culture. Learn more about Don Martin’s work by visiting his website.

Sydney McKenna

Visual Arts; Visual Arts: Painting

Sydney McKenna, Artist Statement: A Florida resident since the age of 11, I am inspired by the environment of my home state. In particular, I am fascinated with evaporation, and how it impacts not just the flora and fauna, but our daily lives as well. It reminds me of the spark of life; a lifting of the physical, into the spiritual. I love the humidity of our southern region, and I am intrigued by how the many transformations of water tie us to other places physically and metaphorically. Sydney McKenna, Bio: Sydney McKenna holds a degree in Visual Arts from Eckerd College in St. Petersburg, and attended graduate studies in 1996 at the Cortona, Italy campus of the University of Georgia. She is the recipient of many competitive awards, and her paintings have been featured on the covers of numerous magazines, including “Florida Living Magazine” July, 1992 issue. Four of her paintings were included in Florida’s American Heritage River-Images from the St. Johns Region (2009), a 10 year project surveying the river’s affect on artists from prehistory to contemporary times, written by Mallory O’Connor, Professor Emeritus of Art History at Santa Fe College and Gary Monroe, Professor of Fine Arts and Photography at Daytona State College. Sydney’s paintings are found in corporate, public and private collections, including Capital One’s corporate collection of American art, (McLean, VA), The Museum of Florida Art, (Deland, Florida), The Contrarian Group, and the private collections of Admiral Kevin Delaney (ret.), senatorial candidate/anchor woman (ret) Deborah Gianoulis and Patrice Munsel, retired opera star.

Bruce Merwin

Media: Film; Media: Video; Visual Arts

Hi, thanks for checking out my artist bio. My wife Anne and I have a motion picture and video production company (Bruce Merwin Films) here in downtown St. Augustine StAugustineVideo.com. We have a small sound proof insert stage on our third floor and an edit suite on our second floor located one block off King Street between Riberia Street and Martin Luther King in Lincolnville at 120 La Quinta Place. I'm a St. Augustine filmmaker who attended Flagler College, served in the US Navy and worked on Florida's Cross and Sword back in the 1970s before going to film school in California. My people came to Palatka, Florida in the 1860s. I opened a studio in downtown Palatka across from the courthouse in 1980 and produced cable TV shows and sold advertising on those shows after graduating with a degee in cinematography. As a freelancer over the years I have worked for most of the major television networks, movie studios as a guild cameraman. I have filmed US Presidents and many great Florida businesses over the years. I have produced hundreds of TV commercials with Time Warner, filmed and distributed many indipendent film projects and now produce Internet projects here in St. Johns County BruceMerwin.com. I have produced personal documentaries for many wonderful St. Johns County residents, filmed documentaries, web site videos and event videos for many great St. Johns County businesses, charities and causes www.youtube.com/user/BruceMerwin.

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