JANUARY
JOURNEY IN LANDSCAPES
BRETT PIGON SOLO EXHIBITION
December 30 – February 1, 2020
Brett, a Grant, Florida, oil painter, is the featured solo artist for the month of January. Journey in Landscapes is a body of work based on Brett’s interior journeys in his artistic life and on his physical travels. This exhibit opens today, December 30, and will run through February 1. Come to the opening reception and enjoy light refreshments and meet the artist. Brett describes his work in his own words. “My land and waterscapes aim to capture the beauty of nature faithfully as I appreciate it as it is or can be. I am attracted to lighting effects and patterns, textures, and colors that will challenge me as a painter. Sometimes I simply thirst to get that feeling, that striking color. I work at finding the design and technique to achieve a unity of effect and truth of a great painting. He works mainly in oils, but also includes pastel and charcoal in his media. He loves both portraiture and landscapes and works at capturing the unique beauty of nature, especially Florida. His recent training includes mentoring and workshops by master portrait artist Jon K Houghton, figure drawing workshops with Michael Burban of the New York Art Students’ League, and plein air workshops with Larry Moore. Brett is a member of the Strawbridge Art League, and member and past president of the Art Students’ Guild of Brevard, both in Melbourne, FL, and is also a member of the American Portrait Society.
February 3-29
100% Pure Florida a juried exhibition
Fifth Avenue Art Gallery is proud to announce the 14th annual juried exhibition, 100% Pure Florida, opening on February 3, 2020. Pure Florida showcases the varied and extraordinary talents of local, regional and state-wide artists. Pure Florida refers to the artist’s residence, subject matter and style are unlimited.
Our judge this year is Ms. Carla Funk, the Executive Director and Chief Curator of University Museums at the Foosaner Art Museum. She is an experienced museum professional with a demonstrated history of working in Higher Education. Ms. Funk has a strong art historical and curatorial background and holds a master’s degree in Art History, Criticism and Conservation from Florida State University.
The awards presentation will occur at 7 pm at the First Friday Opening Reception on February 7. This reception will run from 5:30 – 8:30 pm. Plan to come and mingle with the artists, have some light refreshments, and soak in the talent that is behind all the work this exhibit will feature. We thank all of our sponsors for the following awards for this year’s competition:
First Place – $500 & a solo exhibit:
Sponsored by McGee Welch Advisors, Merrill Lynch
Second Place – $300
Sponsored by Art Affirmative
Sandy Johnson Memorial Award – $300:
Sponsored by Southern Janitor Supply
Third Place – $200:
Sponsored by Jay & Renee´ Decator
Merit Awards – $100 each, Sponsored by:
Art Gallery of Viera
John & Darcia Francey
North Brevard Art League
SMILE Design
Eau Gallery
Sterling Photo
Brevard Watercolor Society
March
Coast to Coast, paintings by Michiel Bullock
Bullock was born in Kinston, North Carolina in 1949 and lived in West Virginia, Northern Virginia, a brief time in California and, for nearly 40 years, in Florida.
He started painting with oils and, occasionally acrylics, in 1967. “As a self-taught artist, I focus almost entirely on traditional representational landscapes and seascapes, with a strong leaning toward realism done exclusively in oils.”
“I have found a fascination, (possibly an obsession), with the way light, shadow and color come together to bring out the drama that exists in approaching storm clouds or the strength delivered to a powerful ocean wave… or the calmness found in the early morning surf. Working to capture the quiet of the first rays of daylight filtering into the deep forest, carried on the mist of the lingering morning fog. I cannot stand in Yosemite Valley and not be awed by the sheer majesty of El Capitan, yet at once be challenged by the impossibility of trying to recreate its’ beauty on canvas. To travel along the sandy coast of the southeast or the steep perilous cliffs of the Pacific coast, or the mountains and plains in between, and wrestle with simply enjoying natures’ beauty, or rushing back to the studio to put it on canvas. Every day delivers a new gift of color, light and shadow to enjoy and capture with paint and canvas
Michiel’s paintings have been exhibited in numerous art shows throughout the state of Florida. He am also a member of Oil Painters of America.
June 1-27
Petaling Hope, an invitational show
painting by Dorothy Kaliba photography by Mark Mittleman
An invitational show featuring flowers and their healing power, will open and run through June 27.
July
Primary Colors, an invitational show
AUGUST
Aesop and Other Fables
a solo exhibition by Larry Vienneau
August 3-29
Fifth Avenue Art Gallery is proud to announce Larry Vienneau Jr. as our featured artist for the month of April. Aesop and other Fables will open on March 30 and run through April 25. Plan to attend the First Friday Opening Reception on April 3 to meet the artist and experience his view of the world of Ravens and Crows.
Vienneau says of his process “I fell in love with printmaking as soon as I made my first print! It felt like I was opening a wrapped present and, thirty-five years later, I still get excited. It is one of the things that keep me addicted to it. I enjoy painting and drawing but the process of printmaking intrigues me. It is indirect. It is both craft and art. ”Larry’s prints are about history. He loves to learn about the past, and about the stories and belief systems of our many ancestors. Each image has a Narrative, which is as important as the image itself. He wants people to slow down and take the time to read. His artwork also celebrates the intelligent and misunderstood raven and crow. Vienneau explains “I began this new series in 2010, but I started my Ravens images when I lived in Alaska as book illustrations for a Native American writer. I lived in Alaska for a dozen years and my most lasting and powerful memories are of these majestic birds. Though in Florida now, I still explore the image of Ravens and Crows. “Larry holds a BFA in painting from University of Massachusetts Dartmouth and a MFA in Painting/Printmaking from Southern Illinois University. After school he lived on Nantucket Island where he sold artwork in local galleries, and taught printmaking and painting at the Nantucket Artist Association. He briefly lived and exhibited in Hong Kong before moving to Alaska and teaching art at the University of Alaska Fairbanks. Alaska inspired large scale landscape paintings and the start of his Raven Series. He currently resides and works in Florida. This exhibit promises to be exciting and powerful. Plan to come spend some time with the birds.
SEPTEMBER
August 31 – September 26, 2020
100 % PURE FLORIDA BEST OF SHOW
SOLO EXHIBITION by Kathie Benson
Florida & Beyond, art by Kathie Benson, is set to open on August 31, 2020, at Fifth Avenue Art Gallery. There will be a First Friday Opening Reception to meet the artist and mingle with the gallery members on September 4, from 5:30-8:30 pm.
Benson finds the magic in the light as it transforms earth objects. She loves Florida landscapes, the wetlands, the hammocks, scrub habitats, trees, patterns of water and the different ways light strikes the bursting life there. For years she was a frequent visitor to Florida but in 2008 she made it her permanent home.
Kathie, the 100% Pure Florida winner for the year 2019, brings the background of science with her into her artwork. She is a retired high school science teacher. Her watercolors contain a variety of techniques, and she finds delight in experimenting with anything that starts out soluble in water or can permanently adhere to watercolor paper. Bits of the natural world may find themselves incorporated. Kathie also works with water-soluble oils on canvas. Her style ranges from representational to impressionistic.
Benson’s work has been shown at numerous open and juried shows and is displayed in corporate and residential settings. Presently she is a member of Brevard Watercolor Society, North Brevard Art League and the Florida Watercolor Society. This exhibit will run through
OCTOBER
September 28 – October 31, 2020
NATURE’S BEAUTY
Paintings by Tricia Eisen
“Around the Bend” by Tricia Eisen
Fifth Avenue Art Gallery will host Tricia Eisen’s solo show from September 28 until October 31. Nature’s Beauty is a collection of oil paintings inspired by the nature around us. There will be a First Friday Opening Reception on October 2 from 5:30 until 8:30 pm for you to come and meet the artist.
Eisen is currently a member of Fifth Avenue Art Gallery. She began painting in elementary school at the age of 11, when an elderly neighbor gave her some oils and canvas to play with. Tricia continued her experiments with oils through high school. It was there that she learned more about painting and fell in love with it. She said “I’m always trying to learn something new, and to paint for a few hours every day. I am constantly amazed at the perfection of nature, and all of God’s creations. My goal is to paint in the style of realism.”
Eisen’s work has been seen in numerous galleries here in Brevard County and is in private collections and businesses locally and worldwide. “Every painting that I work on is like a Christmas present to me. I can’t wait to finish and see what the final present will be,” said Eisen. Tricia also teaches painting in her studio in Melbourne, and helps her fellow artists/students become successful competing artists as well.
NOVEMBER AND DECEMBER
38TH ANNUAL HOLIDAY CRAFT SHOW
November 2 – January 2, 2020