ArtCenter Manatee Opens a New Season of Art

August 18, 2021 – Manatee

ArtCenter Manatee opens its new season with an exciting roster of exhibits, events, classes and new handcrafted gifts in the artisan gift shop.

We begin the season with an open, all media, juried show, Create, with a first-place award of $1,500.Create will draw artists from a 4-county area and will be free and open to the public. On display September 8-24.

Keeping with our tradition of offering the finest in exhibits, Create will be followed by the Oil Painters of America (OPA) Eastern Regional Exhibit. The prestigious group will feature 111 of the finest representational oil paintings. Artists, collectors and art enthusiasts will find an unparalleled collection of traditional oil paintings representative of the high quality of work being produced by this acclaimed group. The awarding juror will be respected OPA Signature member and Sarasota resident, Katie Dobson Cundiff. On display in all galleries September 28-October 22.  

On the heels of OPA, we welcome Acrylic Painters USA. Artist Tony Ortega will serve as the juror for this acrylic/water media exhibition. Reflections, an open all media juried show will also be on display. From October 26-November 16.

Coming in November will be local artist James Griffin, an accomplished painter who works primarily in oils. His paintings are noted for their vivid colors and broad, expressive brushstrokes. Join us for Griffin’s exhibit, The Road to Home, our Annual Holiday Extravaganza, and an open show, Small But Mighty. On display November 23-December 28.

Other highlights of the season include Florida watercolorists Susanna Spann and Frank Spino in Charisma of Color and our annual member exhibit, January 4-February 4. 

On February 8 to March 18, we welcome the 154th American Watercolor Society (AWS) Traveling Exhibit. This premier exhibit, featuring the paintings by top watercolorists from around the world, will be shown in only three venues. ArtCenter Manatee will be the only venue in Florida. The opening reception will be Thursday, February 10 from 5:00-7:00. There will be a nominal charge for the exhibit. The reception is free. Also showing will be Florida Suncoast Watercolor Society Aqueous exhibit. April 12-May 13 the 45th Annual Exhibit by the Southern Watercolor Society will be on display in all galleries. 

With exhibits that change monthly in our three galleries there is sure to be something to delight and engage the most discriminating art enthusiast and collector. For a complete list of exhibits, classes and events, please see our website, ArtCenterManatee.org

ArtCenter Manatee’s new Fall Winter Catalog of classes and workshops has just been released in print and online. Offering instruction in painting, watercolor, drawing, glass, pottery, jewelry and special interest subjects including Arts & Healing, all taught by professional artist/instructors. Our schedule includes the very popular Nights Out series (2-hr mini classes) offering everything from glass painting and glass fusing to the more traditional painting, pottery and jewelry.

Rounding out our season will be special events designed to bring art into the community and to raise friends and funds. Featuring Snatch It, Art and More for Grabs on February 5, and the 19th annual Fine Arts Festival of Manatee County in downtown Bradenton at Riverwalk will be held February 19-20. This fine arts festival brings talented multimedia artists together for two days in a location that promotes the rich cultural offerings this area has in abundance.

The artisan boutique gift shop continues to sell the unique handcrafted work of our local and regional artists, offering the finest gifts Manatee County has to offer at very reasonable prices. Our online market, LiveArtfully.org, allows you to shop fine gifts from the comfort of home.

Be sure to visit us online for complete listing of classes, exhibits, and \events

We look forward to welcoming you to ArtCenter Manatee for a wonderful season of art.