by donald dusinberre imartsyfartsy@gmail.com
My editor wanted me to compile a reference guide of galleries and museums based on artistic styles. When faced with any difficult challenge such as this, my primary tactics are avoidance and crafty twisting of words. Throughout my six years of college, I’ve become a master at changing my assignments to fit my own pleasures while attempting to satisfy the man.
Categorizing a gallery or museum by artistic style is problematic in a number of ways. Labeling styles and media is an inexact process, and they each represent different aspects of art that always overlap. Most galleries do not focus too tightly on one particular style, although they sometimes limit their media. For example, it might be possible find a gallery that shows only photographs, but the style of the photographs within are likely to vary greatly. But most often, galleries and museums like to keep the possibility of showing a large variety to the largest potential customer base as possible.
Artists can also be misrepresented if their work is shown in a gallery identified by a style different than theirs. Artists are picky when you mislabel their style. They get their smocks all in a bunch, and we all know how temperamental they can be, right? I know I’d hate to be called a Modern artist when it’s so obvious that I’m an Abstract Expressionist.
To be quite literal, this assignment was given to me simply as “different types of galleries” in an email note. So instead of trying to outline the galleries and museums by artistic style, I’m going to pretend that I misunderstood my editor’s exact meaning. My outline will now be based on attitude; that is, what kind of person the various galleries are catering to. Neither the gallery nor the artists whose work hangs in it wants to be misrepresented, so I’d rather misrepresent everybody else. Yes, I’m being stereotypical, but there may be a grain of truth within it, so let’s lighten up and find the gallery that’s right for you!
If you have a ton of disposable income or a fetish for cutting-edge décor, then visit the R. Roberts Gallery in Avondale. As the premiere importer of international art, they can outfit you with names you’ve read about in history books. Or try Fogle Fine Arts, offering quality framing and a personal touch to design consultation. They carry a wide variety of painting styles for the home or business.
If you’re caught up in the Florida lifestyle with all the seascapes, birds and fishes, then look no further than Jacksonville’s beaches. Our entire coastline is littered with galleries, and many of them feature the pastels and neutral colors you’re looking for. Nothing goes with beige carpeting and wicker furniture like a watercolor beach scene and a jar full of seashells. If you want to find a gallery that breaks the beach mold, visit the Stellers Gallery Annex in Neptune Beach.
If you want to experience the counterculture or pretend you’re part of it, check out the Opaq Gallery at TSI or the Jane Gray Gallery. When you go to one of these galleries, you can show all the hipsters who are showing you they’re hip that you’re hip, too. But seriously, the art in these galleries have a huge amount of potential for new and interesting ideas.
If you fancy yourself an old school intellectual, then perhaps you might enjoy the sublime pleasures of the Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens. You can relax in the English garden while you ponder the impact of Renaissance philosophy on modern day artists. Or whatever.
No matter what your style, there are many places in our city that show it. You might have to be patient and a little bold, but Jacksonville is rife with talent and open to the rest of the world’s artists. Just get out there and look, you might learn something.
Even though I’m an artist myself, I’m an underachieving fellow with very little ability to keep myself groomed, let alone stay consistent with following my interest in the arts. Writing the art reviews for EU Jacksonville has re-ignited my determination to stay involved with art, but I’ve really just begun. I haven’t yet found every gallery in every part of town, but we’ll learn together. Here are a few places you can start discovering art for yourself while I’m out finding new ones to tell you about.
Spend a relaxing evening enjoying a few of the finer things in life. On the second Thursday of every month, the Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens hosts Nightlife at the Cummer, a delightful evening of jazz music, high art, and delicious cocktails. While you peruse the extensive display of art history, take advantage of the cash bar, food, and beverages at the coffee bar and light bistro located within the museum.
The Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens
829 Riverside Avenue
www.cummer.org
904.356.6857
There are four Stellers Galleries in the area, the newest of which is the Annex in Neptune Beach. The other Stellers galleries usually have a large assortment of paintings from dozens of artists, but the Annex in Neptune Beach features many pieces from a single artist. These artist exhibitions usually last about a month, and then a new exhibit takes its place. If you happen to like an artist’s work, the Annex offers the perfect opportunity to delve deep and soak in more of the artist’s vision.
The Stellers Gallery Annex
200 First Street North, Neptune Beach
www.stellersgallery.com
904.247.7200
Even though I didn’t speak highly of my initial visit to Opaq, I do believe it has the potential to make a significant mark on Jacksonville’s art scene. There’s a degree of amateurism that lends credibility to the raw ideas displayed there.
TSI
333 East Bay Street, Downtown
www.clubtsi.com
904.424.3531
A brand new gallery in town, their opening was just two weeks ago. I haven’t been yet, but seasoned professionals run the establishment, so the quality is bound to be high. Look for my first review of the Laura Street Gallery in next week’s issue of EU Jacksonville.
Laura Street Gallery
209 Laura Street
904.356.9009
Always featuring quality work, the Jane Gray Gallery is just like the kind of art gallery you’d see in a movie. It’s got a great vibe and even better artwork.
643 Edison Avenue
www.janegraygallery.com
904.338.5790
This event is most likely a one-time thing, but it looks interesting. I think it might be helpful to anyone who collects art or is interested in improving the look of his or her home. BoConcept, in conjunction with Fogle Fine Art, will host an informative event designed to teach folks how to choose and display art in their own home. The event will take place on Thursday, April 12, from 5:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
BoConcept, St. Johns Town Center
4624 Town Crossing Drive, Suite 155
www.boconcept.us
904.996.0661
Many of the artists I’m going to list here are people I’ve already talked about in this newspaper, so don’t be deceived by the title of this article. Neither should you be misled into believing that any of these artists are new artists. The title of this article stems from my experience. I’m new to Jacksonville’s art scene. I went to college and got my degree in art, but up until recently, I never stayed in touch with current art. But all that has changed.
The art and artists I’ve come across in the past few months have impressed me greatly, and they all have styles and ideas unique to themselves. Believe me, that’s a huge commodity. Even if they never get rich or make a living on their work, they have a special ability to express themselves in ways that ninety-nine percent of people will never be able to accomplish.
The first artist is Andrea DeFlorio. I saw her work at the opening for the Bright Young Things exhibit at the Jane Gray Gallery. I had a chance to meet and talk extensively with her. Not only are her paintings rich with color and texture, her personality is, too. It was fascinating to look at her paintings again after learning the concept behind them.
The second artist I want to mention is Dan May. His work was showing in the Burrito Gallery, and his imaginative paintings are full of colorful creatures in human situations. They are a delight to view, and they cause the viewer to daydream as vividly as the images before them. Somehow, they unlock our natural inclination to block out surreality.
Sean Mahan’s work happened to be on the other side of the room at the Burrito Gallery, and his work was equally capable of causing the viewer to daydream. His paintings made me create short narratives for each image, in an attempt to describe each painting’s simple scene. With a precise and unique realistic style, he uses emotive color and subtly expressive characters to direct one’s brain into their stories.
I haven’t directly reviewed the work of Ian Chase, but his work was also present at the Jane Gray Gallery for the Bright Young Things show. With each piece, he exhibits an enormous range of conceptual ability, and every one of them insists on the viewer’s attention, almost against one’s will. Although every artist wants us to think that every aspect of his or her artwork is done purposefully, I really believe it when I view Chase’s work. When I found myself stopping and wondering what something meant, I stayed until I felt I figured it out. For me, that’s the best experience I can have when looking at art.
I know I’ll soon be adding more artists to my list of favorites, and when I find out where and when they will be showing their work again, I will be sure to let you know.
|
