Exhibition Dates: September 7 – October 19, 2024
Opening Reception: Saturday, September 14, 2024, 6-8pm, during Second Saturday ArtWalk
Curated by Barbara Grazul Hubbard
Exhibiting Artists: Catherine Bergmann, Mikhail Gubin, Barbara Grazul Hubbard, Dallas Jackson, Viji Reddy, and Christine Renc-Carter
Layered Narratives is a captivating exhibition that delves into the transformative power of collage. Curated by Barbara Grazul Hubbard, this exhibition brings together six accomplished artists whose works explore the intersection of material, memory, and meaning, creating a rich tapestry of personal and cultural narratives.
Related Programming:
Artist Talk with Catherine Bergmann and Christine Renc-Carter: Thursday, September 19, 6:30-7:30pm
Join Layered Narratives exhibiting artists Catherine Bergmann and Christine Renc-Carter as they discuss the work in the exhibition, as well as their perspectives on the relevance of collage in contemporary art as curators: Bergmann is the Curatorial Director of the Dunedin Fine Art Center and Renc-Carter is the Executive Director of the Leepa-Rattner Museum of Art. RSVP to [email protected].
Community Collage Workshop with Barbara Grazul Hubbard: ***POSTPONED DUE TO HURRICANE HELENE – NEW DATE TBA!***
Join Layered Narratives curator and exhibiting artist Barbara Grazul Hubbard for an afternoon of collaging. Learn various collage techniques and applications while contributing to our collaborative community collage or creating a piece to take home with you. Materials are provided, but you’re invited to bring collage-able bits from home you’d like to include. Theme: Celebrating the arts in St. Pete! No experience needed.
Artist Talk with Viji Reddy and Dallas Jackson: ***CANCELLED DUE TO HURRICANE MILTON***
Join us for an engaging artist talk featuring Viji Reddy and Dallas Jackson, exhibiting artists from Layered Narratives. The conversation will explore the role of artists in supporting social justice and fostering social responsibility, with both artists sharing how these vital themes influence and shape their own creative practices. Don’t miss this thought-provoking discussion on the powerful intersection of art and activism.
***NEW DATE*** Sew Much Hope Trunk Show: Saturday, November 9, 2024, 5:00-9:00pm, during Second Saturday ArtWalk
Sew Much Hope is a collaborative social enterprise program of The Refugee and Migrant Women’s Initiative (RAMWI), a 501(c)3 organization that empowers, engages, and supports refugee and migrant women as they resettle in the Tampa Bay Area. Join us for this special Trunk Show event to learn more about the organization and support RAMWI artists by purchasing their beautiful handmade work. Free and open to the public!
Exhibition Statement:
Florida CraftArt presents Layered Narratives, a captivating exhibition from September 7 to October 19, 2024, that delves into the transformative power of collage. Curated by Barbara Grazul Hubbard, this exhibition brings together six accomplished artists whose works explore the intersection of material, memory, and meaning, creating a rich tapestry of personal and cultural narratives.
Barbara Grazul Hubbard brings a unique blend of academic insight and artistic expression to her role as curator. As the Dean for Humanities and Fine Arts at St. Petersburg College, Hubbard’s work is informed by her extensive research and academic background, including a Ph.D. from the University of South Florida. Her artistic practice is deeply influenced by her fascination with quantum entanglement—a concept where two particles, regardless of distance, remain connected. This idea permeates her compositions, which are densely layered with patterns and symbols that reflect complex cultural beliefs and personal stories. Hubbard’s work challenges viewers to consider the invisible threads that connect us all.
Catherine Bergmann is an artist with a passion for collecting the odd and obscure. Her work is a fusion of found objects and natural curiosities, arranged to evoke a sense of mystery and history. Bergmann’s collages are deeply personal, often described as “private and peculiar,” yet they resonate on a universal level, touching on themes of humanity and the passage of time. She prefers to retain a handmade quality in her work, embracing the imperfections that she believes are central to true beauty. Bergmann’s work has been celebrated in major exhibitions, including those at the Tampa Museum of Art, Ft. Lauderdale Museum of Art, and the Museum of Fine Arts in St. Petersburg.
Mikhail Gubin is a versatile artist whose work spans sculpture, painting, photography, and collage. Born in the Soviet Union and educated at the Art and Technology College of Zagorsk, Gubin immigrated to the United States in 1989, bringing with him a rich cultural heritage that informs his art. He believes that life itself is a collage, with everyone assembling their experiences and memories in a unique way. This philosophy is evident in his work, which often explores themes of human nature, memory, and the duality of light and darkness. Gubin’s art has been exhibited internationally, and he was awarded the prestigious New York Foundation for the Arts Fellowship in 2014.
Christine Renc-Carter draws from the emotional depth of music to create her visually compelling collages. Each piece is a narrative, blending personal symbols with mythic tales to explore complex emotions and stories. Renc-Carter’s work is distinguished by her use of precious materials and intricate hand-stitched elements, which add a tactile quality to her art. Her collages have been exhibited across the United States and in Japan, and her works are held in prestigious collections, including the Fogg Museum at Harvard University. Born into an artistic family in Florida, Renc-Carter’s creative journey began early, leading to her graduation from the Pinellas County Center for the Arts and earning a BFA in Printmaking from the Maryland Institute College of Art.
Dallas Jackson merges art with activism, focusing on the African American experience and contemporary social issues. His collages are a visual archive, documenting the resilience and contributions of African Americans from the Emancipation Proclamation through the Civil Rights era. Jackson’s work is deeply personal, often incorporating family photos and historical imagery to create powerful narratives that resonate with today’s social climate. A native of St. Petersburg and a veteran Army officer, Jackson holds multiple degrees, including a Doctorate in Education and an MFA in Painting. His work has been featured in exhibitions at the Dr. Carter G. Woodson African American Museum and The James Museum of Western and Wildlife Art, and he has been selected for the 2024 Skyway Art Exhibition at the Tampa Museum of Art.
Viji Reddy celebrates the rich traditions of Indian craft through her earthy, textured fiber-based collages. Her work is a tribute to the artisans of India, preserving techniques such as weaving, embroidery, block printing, and hand painting. Reddy’s compositions are a blend of traditional skills and contemporary art, reflecting her deep respect for cultural heritage. She holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts with honors from Brooklyn College and furthered her studies at The Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda and the Art Students League of New York. Reddy’s work is a bridge between the past and present, honoring the legacy of indigenous crafts while reimagining them for a modern audience.
The exhibition also invites visitors to join in Collage Party, a fun and interactive experience where you can create your own collage using materials provided in the gallery. The crowd-sourced creations will become part of a vibrant community collage, showcasing the collective creativity of our visitors.
Layered Narratives invites viewers to explore the depth and emotion embedded in each piece, offering a journey through personal and collective histories.
CUTLINES
1. Christine Renc Carter_Rising from the Ashes.jpg, Photo by Christine Renc-Carter
Rising from the Ashes (1996-2023) by artist Christine Renc-Carter
2. Dallas Jackson – R&R – collage on paper – 2024.png, Photo by Dallas Jackson
R&R, by artist Dallas Jackson (2024)
3. Layered Narratives at night.jpg, Photo by Florida CraftArt
Layered Narratives installed at Florida CraftArt, with (w)Reckoning (2024) by Christine Renc-Carter in the foreground and Woven Wisdom by Viji Reddy in the background
