Exhibition Dates: January 29-March 20, 2021
Members’ Show: Contemporary Craft at its Finest is a juried exhibition of original art showcasing the best of handcrafted work by Florida CraftArt members. Forty-six artists created 79 pieces from intricate jewelry to glass sculptures.
The show’s judge, Susana Weymouth, presented the awards at the opening reception on Friday, January 29 at 6 p.m. A recording of the presentation can be viewed on FloridaCraftArt.org/videos.
Ms. Weymouth and her husband, Yann Weymouth, have long been involved with international education, culture and the arts. She said, “It was a challenge to choose the awards. Every artist in the exhibit deserved one. What one expects from Florida CraftArt is a level of excellence and variety and self-expression by many talented artists.”
“I congratulate Florida CraftArt for its strong support of artists, particularly during these difficult times,” she added.
Ms. Weymouth awarded Best of Show to Sue Griggs Allen of Sarasota for “Three Muses,” a ceramic and mixed media sculpture.
First Place went to Gulfport artist Dawn Waters for a 38-inch by 27-inch hand-felted portrait of Frieda Kahlo entitled, “I Want to be Your Darkest Everything.”
St. Petersburg jewelry artist Maureen Shankey received Second Place for “Cuff Dream,” an unusual bracelet created in sterling silver with 24-Karat gold accents and faceted white topaz.
Jorie Berman of Tampa won Third Place for her sensuous abstract ceramic sculpture “Shy-da.”
Honorable Mentions were presented to Joyce Curvin (Palm Harbor), Suzy Pease (Gulfport), Emilie Pritchard (Panama City), Nick Reale (St. Petersburg) and Maria Saraceno (St. Petersburg). The Executive Director’s Award was given to Shelly Steck Reale (St. Petersburg) for a ceramic sculpture, “Ready for a Spree.”
“Our members are the foundation of our nonprofit statewide organization,” says Florida CraftArt’s Board President Tyler Jones. “Artists define a community, and we are very proud of the talent, skill and craftsmanship of our dedicated members.”
On Tuesday, February 9 at 6 p.m. the artists will be talking about their work on Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81389878999. The show runs through March 20 when the People’s Choice Award will be presented at the closing reception. People can vote for their favorite work of art on Facebook and in the Florida CraftArt Exhibition Gallery.
About the Florida CraftArt Members’ Show 2021
Gallery Manager Liz Rogers highlights some pieces from the show: “The Members’ Show has a fascinating array of extraordinary fine craft. An interesting portrait of Salvador Dali was created by Gulfport artist Dawn Waters with a felting technique from wool. “
Look into the blue eyes of a soulful sculpture titled “Hidden Message.” What is this 20-inch-tall ceramic sculpture endowed with red hearts trying to tell us? To create it, Pembrooke Pines artist Diane Lublinski first threw clay on the wheel and then altered and embellished it.
Panama City jewelry artist Emilie Pritchard creates engineered structures such as “Three Diamond Necklace,” an 11-inch-long necklace fashioned from oxidized sterling silver, 14-karat-gold-filled tubes and thread. Her technique produces pieces that hold their shape, but because they are not soldered into a single unit, they are not entirely rigid and can move with the body. The mathematical basis of the work provides clarity within complex designs and allows the artist to create pieces that enclose a large volume of space while remaining open and minimalist.
Award-winning Boca Raton artist Nadine Saitlin creates continuous abstract paintings on natural gourds in a colorful palette. She says, “As the piece is rotated there are variations of images so the owner can choose the composition to be displayed and therefore becomes part of the creative process.”
“The first Members’ Show was held in 1951,” says Florida CraftArt’s Board President Tyler Jones. “As a statewide, member-supported organization, we display outstanding handmade objects, made by some of the best craftspeople in the country. Half of our gallery on Central Avenue features only Florida artists while the exhibition gallery, as well as our annual CraftArt Festival in November, showcases fine craft artists from around the country.”
The exhibition will be judged by Susana Weymouth, who is the Chief Development Officer for The Florida Orchestra. Previously she served for six years as the Executive Director of Tampa Bay Businesses for Culture & the Arts. She and her husband, Yann Weymouth, have long been involved with international education, culture and the arts.
The show runs through March 20 when the People’s Choice Award will be presented at the closing reception. People can vote for their favorite work of art in the Florida CraftArt Exhibition Gallery.
ARTISTS IN THE FLORIDA CRAFTART MEMBERS’ SHOW
- Sue Griggs Allen, Sarasota
- Bobbi Baugh, Deland
- Jorie Berman, Tampa
- Wade Brickhouse, Chattanooga, Tennessee
- Joanne Taylor Brown, Holmes Beach
- Sarah Butz, St. Petersburg
- Pamela Carman, Palm Beach Gardens
- Kimberli Cummings, Tampa
- Joyce Curvin, Palm Harbor
- Renee Davis, Palmetto
- Tom Davis, St. Petersburg
- Barbara Demaire, Gulfport
- Terry Demaline, St. Petersburg
- Melissa Fair, Tampa
- Eric Folsom, Gulfport
- Judy Freeman, Ocala
- Diana Hirschhorn, Bradenton
- Alan Johnson, St. Petersburg
- Anne Kantor, Tampa
- Edmund Knudsen, Tampa
- Laurie Landry, St. Petersburg
- Shaw Lane, Dunnellon
- Nancy Lauby, Palm Harbor
- Betsy Orbe Lester, St. Petersburg
- Jill Lindsay, Port Charlotte
- Diane Lublinski, Pembrooke Pines
- Sandy MacNeill, St. Petersburg
- Vadim Malkin, Orlando
- Teresa Mandala, St. Petersburg
- Candace Cloud McLean, Lecanto
- Melissa Menzer, Spring Hill
- Wolfgang Mueller, The Villages
- Peggi Naddeau, Mount Dora
- Fred and Kate Pearce, Treasure Island
- Suzy Pease, Gulfport
- Stuart Peterman, Odessa
- Emilie Pritchard, Panama City
- Nick Reale, St. Petersburg
- Shelly Steck Reale, St. Petersburg
- Jan Richardson, St. Petersburg
- Nadine Saitlin, Boca Raton
- Maria Saraceno, St. Petersburg
- Maureen Shankey, St. Petersburg
- Dawn Waters, Gulfport
- Kathy Wilcox, Tallahassee
- Mary Ann Ziegler, Largo
This exhibition is made possible in part with grants from:
Tyler Jones, Premier Sotheby’s International Realty
Perry and Lisa Everett
Important Dates And Information
Submission period opens: December 4, 2020
Submission deadline (Early): December 30, 2020
EARLY entry fees are: Florida CraftArt members: $25 for up to 5 works
Submission deadline (Late): January 13, 2021
LATE entry fees are: Florida CraftArt members: $35 for up to 5 works
Notification of acceptance via email: Week of January 17
Selected artwork due at Florida CraftArt: January 20-23 by appointment with Liz Rogers
Opening reception and award announcements: January 29, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
Closing reception and People’s Choice Award: March 20 4-5:30 p.m.
Art Pick-up: March 23
For general exhibition information or questions related to the call to artists, contact: Florida CraftArt Gallery manager Liz Cooper at (727) 821-7391 or email Liz@FloridaCraftArt.org.