In December, there is no place more bursting with creativity than the Sunshine State. Thousands of visitors flock to Miami for a weeklong art experience, with individual fairs offering its own specialized view of the art world, allowing attendees to find exactly what they are looking for, or explore them all.
Art Basel Miami Beach is perhaps the most famed of these events, this year occurring December 6 through 9 at the Miami Convention Center. The American edition of the show hosts booths by leading galleries from North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia and Africa, with significant works from masters of modern and contemporary art in all mediums on display, along with creations by a new generation of emerging artists.
Art Miami rings in its 29th edition December 4 through 9. The event has two sister fairs: CONTEXT Art Miami, which runs the same dates as the main fair, and Aqua Art Miami, happening December 5 through 9. Art Miami and CONTEXT Art Miami take place within the same location on Biscayne Bay. Aqua Art Miami is located at the Aqua Hotel in South Beach, and gives collectors a chance to get their hands on new work by fresh talent.
Miami Children’s Museum. Courtesy the Greater Miami Convention and Visitors Bureau, miamiandbeaches.comFeaturing over 140 international exhibitors from 25 countries and 60 cities, and welcoming 60,000 visitors, SCOPE Miami Beach takes place in a bespoke pavilion on the beach. The fair is focused on emerging contemporary artists and multi-disciplinary creative works. Other Miami fairs on the docket in December include Spectrum Miami Art Show, a juried event from December 5 through 9, and PULSE Miami Beach, which happens December 6 through 9.
Based in Florida, the Palm Beach Show Group is a producer of leading fine art, antique and jewelry shows that are highlighted by both contemporary and historic works of art. February 13 through 19, the Palm Beach Jewelry, Art & Antique Show comes to the Palm Beach County Convention Center, which encompasses the Palm Beach Fine Craft Show, February 15 through 17. At the Naples Exhibition Center, the organization hosts the Naples Art, Antique & Jewelry Show, February 22 through 26.
Art Palm Beach and Art Boca Raton round out the major fairs in the state. Both organized by Next Level Fairs, the former takes place January 16 through 20 while the latter occurs March 14 through 18.
In Naples, the Gallery Row district will be of particular interest to art lovers. Leading galleries with nationally known artists make their home there. Hosted by Naples Art District, the ART ALIVE series is an evening with artists on the first Wednesday of every month, and select months feature a “Daytime Artistic Experience” on the third Saturday of the month.
The oldest continuously inhabited European settlement in the United States, St. Augustine’s artistic roots run deep. The St. Augustine Art Association has been promoting arts in the town since 1925 and hosts a monthly First Friday Art Walk from 5 to 9 p.m., founded by the Art Galleries of St. Augustine Group. The 54th annual St. Augustine Art & Craft Festival takes place Thanksgiving weekend in November each year.
Organizations, events and artists throughout Florida are represented within special destination guide, including the Winter Park Paint Out, the Bradenton Area Convention & Visitors Bureau, Light Chasers, Kerry Vosler and Terry Arroyo Mulrooney.
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Light Chasers
terry@lightchasersinc.com www.lightchasersinc.com Light Chasers, Rhythmic Waters, oil, 16 x 20", by Morgan Samuel Price.With nearly 700 members, Light Chasers is one of the largest groups of plein air painters in Florida. A nonprofit organization, their mission is to foster the education, participation, appreciation and exhibition opportunities for plein air painters, and they paint the Florida Suncoast throughout the year. Light Chasers paint Thursday mornings at different locations throughout Sarasota County. They often focus on painting historical and significant landmarks, preserving history through paintings.
Light Chasers, A Posteriori, Landscape in Blue, oil, 18 x 24", by Joseph McGurl.This year the attention is on Light Chasers’ Featured Artists who do demos and workshops for the members. The Featured Artists also put on workshops that artists can sign up for throughout the year. Light Chasers get the first chance to sign up before workshops are advertised to the public.
This year, Palm Avenue Fine Art will sponsor a show of Light Chaser’s Featured Artists. It is Palm Avenue Fine Art that is championing the Featured Artists of the Light Chasers this year with a show of some of the finest painters and educators of the group.
Light Chasers, Everglades Afternoon, oil, 22 x 30", by Katie Dobson Cundiff.Over 4,000 people attended Light Chasers shows in 2018, and upcoming Light Chasers events in 2019 include The Quick Draw Contest on February 6, The Paint Sarasota Paint Out February 14 through 20 and the Members Show the weekend of February 22.
Winter Park Paint Out, Red Yellow and Blue ‘Briarpatch’, oil on canvas, 18 x 24", by Don Sondag.The Albin Polasek Museum & Sculpture Garden will be free to the public during the 11th annual Winter Park Paint Out, April 21 through 27. Twenty-five acclaimed plein air artists will paint live at the Polasek Museum and favorite Winter Park and Orlando locations. Art lovers are invited to watch the artists work, view recently completely works in the Polasek’s “wet room” gallery and online daily, and attend free painting demos throughout the week. Artwork created during the Winter Park Paint Out will be available for purchase with a portion of the proceeds going to support the preservation, maintenance and operations of the museum. This is a juried art festival with beloved Florida artists and exceptional out-of-state participants, including Morgan Samuel Price, Don Sondag and Matthew Cornell.
“I encourage out-of-state visitors to stay the week and immerse themselves in the art of plein air as only our lush Florida setting can host. Fall in love with charming, upscale Winter Park through our iconic live oaks heavy with hanging moss, eclectic urban skylines, bustling café scenes and meaningful ecological gems.”
— Rachel Frisby, curator, Albin Polasek Museum & Sculpture Garden
Winter Park Paint Out, Love You More, oil, 11 x 14", by Kathleen Denis.Ten free, two-hour instructional demos will take place during the weeklong event, with diverse topics ranging from cloud study courses to how to capture moving objects. A highlight of the week is the Sunset Paint-Inon Lake Maitland, in which the public is welcome to watch the magic unfold as artists race to catch the color of the sunset. The festival closes with the Garden Party on Saturday, April 27, from 6 to 9 p.m., at the museum. At this ticketed party, guests can meet the artists, purchase their work and see the entire exhibition of more than 200 freshly created paintings while enjoying food and company.
Artist and actress Jane Seymour will be on site at the Studio at Gulf and Pine in Bradenton, Florida.ArtCenter Manatee marks its 81st year as the area’s premier visual arts center. Featuring works from talented local, state and national artists, exhibitions change monthly in the three large galleries. The national Sumi-e Society of America’s 55th Annual Exhibit was held at the center in November and from January 15 to February 22 the gallery is home to the American Watercolor Society's Traveling Exhibition.
The Studio at Gulf and Pine showcases some of the finest artists and exhibits anywhere. From mid-January to mid-February, the Studio will showcase the work of world-famous artist and performer Jane Seymour. Seymour will be on site January 18 for a VIP reception, and as part of the special engagement, you can hear the artist talk about her work at the Manatee Performing Arts Center on January 19 complete with a book signing and photos.
Village of the Arts, Bradenton, Florida.A vibrant neighborhood with new artists, studios, creative shopping and dining opportunities, it may be said that Village of the Arts is experiencing another renaissance. This eclectic live-work community features colorful, historic cottages filled with everything from award-winning restaurants to specialty shops, art studios where you can interact with the artists directly, healing arts studios offering yoga, acupuncture and meditation, bakeries and 26 of Bradenton’s art galleries along a walking tour.
As a painter Kerry Vosler has always gravitated toward the great outdoors. Combining her love of figurative and plein air painting is her natural state of existence.
“Outside I am inspired by the endless opportunities to edit, as I paint, the multitude of surprises that happen when surrounded by light and atmosphere,” she says. “Indoors I prefer to work with natural north light like that of my circa 1904 Cigar Factory Studio in Tampa, Florida. For me working from life as much as possible is the key to a successful and beautiful painting. Working with people to discover the best way to tell their story in a finished painting is an essential part of my process. In the end I strive for the painting to evoke a painterly and timeless quality.”
See Vosler’s new works of art in her private studio in Tampa, or inquire about her painting and drawing workshops or Classical Atelier for young artists.
Venezuela-born Terry Arroyo Mulrooney is an accomplished watercolor artist. She was a successful business professional, wife and mother leaving her little time for artwork. She began to feel that her life lacked a creative outlet, and decided to return to her passion and devote herself to developing her talents as an artist. She has called Miami home since early childhood, selling art since 2000.
“I express my art to focus on color, detail, contrast and light. I create art that capture natural beauty in architecture, portraits, landscapes or florals,” she says. “Many of my subjects are threatened by climate change. I am determined to record my subjects as they are now and hoping for the future.”
Her upcoming shows include the Art Basel collective exhibition Reciprocal Consciousness at ArtServe in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, from December 6 through 28.
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