Spinaflora by Leigh Taylor Michelson
Seaside Sonata by Peter Stilton
Fall Farewell by Kris Parins
ArtCenter Manatee Exhibitions for January 2021 through August 2021
January 5-29 – 3 exhibits
Secret Garden
ACM Curated Exhibit
Kellogg Gallery
A Secret Garden: Step into a magical garden of whimsy, meander along the path among handmade ceramic totems measuring from 3’ to 5’ tall, all gracefully accompanied by photorealistic botanical paintings. Featuring totem artists: Peggy Bishop (New Orleans, LA), Laurie Landry (St. Petersburg, FL), Leigh Taylor Mickelson (Ossining, NY), and Kimberly Miller (Leesburg, FL); as well as Acrylic Painter Susan Martin, (Merritt Island, FL). Serenaded by the comforting babble of water fountains and meditation bells, you’ll be swept away to a serene and peaceful state of mind. Come experience our secret garden, you may want to stay for a while.
Peter Stilton: Walking in the Morning Light – A World More Bright
Curated Exhibit
Searle Gallery
“I have a cinematic mind that doesn’t see arbitrary distinctions or boundaries between music (audio) and painting (visual) or writing (mental). But I do feel an impulsion to share what I hear, see, feel and think which I find so involving and inspiring. Time is not relevant because the spirituality of the art and humanities transcend that materials concept. The arts tend towards a universality that does not include ages, races or any material limitations.
12 x 12
Open, All Media, Juried Exhibit
Reid Hodges Gallery
Juror: Peter Stilton
Online Deadline: December 23, 4 pm
Notifications: December 29 by 5 pm
Receiving: January 2, 9-12 pm
An exhibition limited to works where the OUTSIDE dimensions are 12 x 12 (not larger or smaller but 12×12), whether framed or unframed. What does 12 x 12 mean? 12 inches x 12 inches or 12cm x 12cm or 12mm x 12mm. (Sorry, we can’t accommodate 12 feet or yards!) On 3D pieces, two of the OUTSIDE dimensions are 12 by 12, the third can vary, as in a 12″ round ceramic plate that is 1″ deep.
February 2-March 5 – 2 exhibits
Florida Suncoast Watercolor Society (FSWS) Annual Aqueous Show
FSWS Curated Exhibit
Kellogg & Searle Galleries
Juror: Dean Mitchell
Formed in 1983, the Florida Suncoast Watercolor Society represents more than 200 members, many of whom have achieved statewide and national recognition for their works; it serves members who live along the Florida Gulf coast. FSWS was formed to foster the advancement of and promote excellence in the art of watercolor painting. Our intent is to inform and educate through exhibitions, lectures and painting demonstrations as to the best work currently being done in watercolor. A Juried open aqueous exhibition. The show is open to all artists residing in the counties bordering the West Coast of Florida. All details of entry, juror selection and awards are handled by FSWS. Contact them for more information. https://suncoastwatercolorsociety.com/
Island Gallery West
Curated Exhibit
Reid Hodges Gallery
Our gallery, founded in 1990, has evolved into a successful artists’ cooperative of nearly thirty members. We offer paintings, drawings, photographs, mixed media, ceramic arts and pottery, jewelry, glass mosaics and much more.
Each month of the year, the work of a different artist is highlighted as Featured Artist. A number of our artists teach, or have taught classes, at ArtCenter Manatee.
March 9 – April 9th – 3 exhibits
Waiting by Akbar Akbari, Iran
International Watercolor Society Florida USA
ACM Curated Exhibit
Kellogg Gallery
A curated exhibition featuring master watercolor artists from around the world. The International Watercolor Society has chapters in over 110 countries, and gathers together one of the largest and most diverse group of watercolor artists and art lovers alike. Being one of many nations, cultures, and backgrounds, it provides a great platform for the continual development, learning, and passing of the art of watercolor. In addition to the exchange of ideas between artists in the field and industry, it advocates and supports the next generation of artists with the events and exhibitions that are difficult to come by for many. This is the inaugural exhibition of the recently formed IWS Florida USA Chapter.
Local Inspirations
An Open All Media Juried Exhibit
Searle Gallery
Online Deadline: February 23, 4 pm
Notifications: March 2 by 5 pm
Receiving: March 6, 9-12 pm
Artists are asked, “What in your local neighborhood inspires your art? Is it the ocean, the bridges over the river, the diverse flora and fauna of southwest Florida? Show us how you interpret local familiar scenes we may pass by every day but never really see.”
Beaux’s Arts Of Central Florida
Curated Exhibit
Reid Hodges Gallery
Beaux’s Arts of Central Florida Curated Show. Beaux Arts of Central Florida is a group of award winning artists focusing on Contemporary Art. The artists are members by invitation only. They work in all mediums and place a strong emphasis on experimentation and creativity to produce exceptional art work. The award winning artists of Beaux Arts have been exhibiting their contemporary art as a group throughout Central Florida since 1962.
April 13 – April 30 – 1 Exhibit
Manatee County School District (MCSD) Annual Exhibition
MCSD Curated Exhibit
Kellogg, Searle & Reid Hodges Galleries
ArtCenter Manatee once again joins with the School District of Manatee County to showcase the work of K-12 visual arts students. In Manatee County, we’re fortunate to have a Board of Education that has made a continued commitment to teaching the visual arts in its elementary, middle and high schools. By partnering with ArtCenter Manatee, that commitment is furthered by giving these young artists a ‘voice’ – three museum-quality galleries – where their work can be professionally displayed and where the artists can receive positive recognition by a wider audience.
May 4 – May 28 – 2 Exhibits
Pen Women
Curated Exhibit
Kellogg Gallery
The Promise Of Spring
An Open, All Media Juried Exhibit
Searle & Reid Hodges Galleries
Online Deadline: April 23, 4 pm
Notifications: April 27, by 5 pm
Receiving: May 1, 9-12 pm
Spring is upon us. The days are getting longer, the temperatures are warming up, artists’ are venturing back out to find their inspiration from the blooming flora after the early spring rains. Artists are asked, “What inspires you about the promise of spring?”
June 2 – June 25 – 2 Exhibits
Window View, Lynda Elias
Colors Of Life
An Open All Media Juried Exhibit
Kellogg & Reid Hodges Galleries
Online Deadline: May 21, 4 pm
Notifications: May 25, by 5 pm
Receiving: May 29, 9-12 pm
“Mere color, unspoiled by meaning, and unallied with definite form, can speak to the soul in a thousand different ways”. ~Oscar Wilde. Artists are asked, “what color speaks the loudest to you?”
Sarasota Sumi-e Society
Curated Exhibit
Searle Gallery
A curated exhibit celebrating the 30th anniversary of the local Sumi-e Society chapter. Sumi-e is the Japanese word for Black Ink Painting. East Asian Painting and writing developed together in ancient China using the same materials —brush and ink on paper. Emphasis is placed on the beauty of each individual stroke of the brush. The Chinese speak of “writing a painting” and “painting a poem.” A great painting was judged on three elements: the calligraphy strokes, the words of the poetry (often with double meanings and subtle puns) and the ability of the painting strokes to capture the spirit (Ch’i) of nature rather than a photographic likeness. The artists of Japan, Korea and Malaysia learned from the Chinese and then developed their own versions of East Asian brush painting.
June 29 – July 31 – 1 Exhibits
From The Mind’s Eye
An Open, All Media Juried Exhibit
Kellogg, Searle & Reid Hodges Galleries
Online Deadline: June 18, 4 pm
Notifications: June 22 by 5 pm
Receiving: June 26, 9-12 pm
Many artists rely on their environment to inspire their art work, while others create their work directly from the mind’s eye only. Artists are challenged to channel the visions from their mind’s eye into their work.
A curated exhibition means the curator is responsible for selecting the theme, conceptual focus, title, AND the work.
There are two types of curated shows. One where the ArtCenter acts as curator, and one where we rent the gallery and the group that rents the gallery is the curator, as with Florida Suncoast Watercolor Society. These shows may be juried or not. The group is responsible for the Call For Artists, selection of work and awards, if any.
An open, juried show means the exhibit is open to all artists and an independent juror decides who is in the show and who the award winners are. ArtCenter Manatee chooses the theme of the exhibition, extends a Call For Artists, and invites a juror to select from submissions that they feel best represent the show. The juror then selects award winners from accepted entries. Themes are suggestions only and guide the juror in the selection of awards. Jurors do not see the names of the artists.
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