PMA Announces New Mayfaire Title Sponsor

Mayfaire by-the-Lake, the iconic fine art show held annually each Mother’s Day weekend along the shores of Lake Morton, will usher in its 48thyear in 2019 with a new title sponsor: Citizens Bank & Trust.  

Mayfaire is presented annually by the Polk Museum of Art at Florida Southern College.

“Mayfaire has such a great reputation in the art community and it is such a popular event that we didn’t have to think twice about becoming involved as the title sponsor,” said Greg Littleton, president and CEO of Citizens Bank & Trust. “We have always enjoyed our partnerships with the Polk Museum of Art and look forward to working with them on the Citizens Bank & Trust Mayfaire by-the Lake.”

Financial support from Citizens Bank & Trust, as well as from past title sponsors, is responsible for making the event possible and helping it achieve prominent status on Sunshine Artist Magazine’s “Best 200 Art Shows” list. Mayfaire by-the-Lake was ranked 45 on the list in 2018.

“Without the support of all of our sponsors, we would not have been able to achieve this stature,” PMA Executive Director Claire Orologas said. “We are honored to have Citizens Bank & Trust pick up the baton and help us continue to present this show annually.”

Citizens Bank & Trust Mayfaire by-the-Lake is May 11-12, 2019, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day. More than 70,000 visitors enjoy the works of about 160 artists in this juried fine arts competition, with $17,000 in awards presented to artists each year. 

Santa’s Elves Fills Shelves for Young Shoppers

The elves are hard at work stocking gifts for Elves Shelves, the shopping experience for youth hosted by The Shop at Polk Museum of Art at Florida Southern College.

Elves Shelves starts Nov. 24 and runs until Dec. 9. Hours are Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday, 1-5 p.m.

Geared toward children ages 5 to 13 and set up outside The Shop in the main gallery, Elves Shelves features items priced mostly between $2 and $10. It provides a comfortable, fun atmosphere for young shoppers who may have a limited budget to buy gifts for family and friends. Children can make their lists and add up their gifts to see if they are within their budgets. 

Shop and Visitor Services staff and volunteers provide paper, pencils and calculators to help children. If they don't find what they are looking for on Elves Shelves, there are other low-cost items throughout The Shop. 

Elves Shelves also offers a free gift-wrapping station where children can wrap their gifts by themselves or with assistance. Staff and volunteers also can wrap gifts for children.

Admission to the Polk Museum of Art is free. The museum is located at 800 E. Palmetto St. Call (863) 688-7743, ext. 246 for more information.

PMA Pays Tribute to Cuban-American Art with New Exhibition

The Polk Museum of Art at Florida Southern College is pleased to present an ode to exiled Cuban-American artists through an exhibition curated from works in the museum’s permanent collection. 

“Exile: 50 Years of Cuban-American Art from the Permanent Collection” is on view through Jan. 13 and was guest-curated by Olga Nodarse Chao, who left Cuba for the United States in 1961. 

Cuban or Cuban-American collections abound in Miami and New York, but having this collection of works in Central Florida is rare and worthy of emphasis, Chao said. 

It features 14 works from 11 artists who exhibit a broad tapestry of talents, styles and preoccupations. The works represent different stages of the Cuban exile and arrivals in the U.S. 

The exodus from Cuba started in 1959 and continued into the early 1960s. It was not until the Mariel Boatlift of 1980 that the exile for political purposes escalated because the people of Cuba were rapidly losing their individual liberties and human rights.

Three untitled works from Roberto Estopiñán are from two of his best-known periods – “The Prisoners,” exhibited at Harvard University’s Fogg Museum in the early 1960s, and “The Fates,” based on the poem “Le Jeune Parc” by Paul Valery – and represent the Old Guard of the first Cubans who came to the States and who already were successful artists in Cuba. Estopiñán fled to the U.S. in 1961. 

The exhibition also includes works from some of the nine Cuban exile artists who exhibited their work in the 1983 show known as “The Miami Generation.” Mario Bencomo’s “Conquering Wind” is his reaction to Chernobyl.Carlos Macía’s “Astres” construction “is a true rarity and a beauty,” and is Chao’s favorite in the exhibition, she said.

The “Exile” exhibition comes at a time when Cuban and Cuban-American artists comprise one of the truly "hot" fields of contemporary art, Chao said, adding, “That is signaled by the dozens of exhibitions in the last few years in Europe and the United States, as well as the very high auction prices obtained recently by Cuban and Cuban-American artists.”

Chao said she hopes those who see the exhibition will gain an understanding of the “uphill battle the exiled artists, and indeed, all exiles,” have faced. 

“Sad Tropics” Artists to Give Free Lectures

Multimedia artists Cristina Molina and Jonathan Traviesa will give two free lectures in November about their collaborative exhibition, “Sad Tropics,” which is on view through Nov. 2 at the Melvin and Burks Galleries at Florida Southern College.

The lectures are scheduled for Nov. 1, 4-5:30 p.m., and Nov. 2, 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Melvin and Burks Galleries at Florida Southern College.

The Nov. 1 lecture is designed for the general public. Florida natives Molina and Traviesa will discuss the inspiration and behind-the-scenes making of the exhibition. A Q-and-A period will follow the lecture.

The Nov. 2 lecture is geared toward high school and college students. Molina and Traviesa will discuss their individual practices and how they came to collaborate on “Sad Tropics.”The artists will discuss the chronology of their art careers and give students background information on the ins and outs of being a professional artist. A Q-and-A period will follow the lecture.

“We are thrilled to give members of the community the chance not simply to meet Cristina and Jonathan themselves but also to interact with them and learn from them about how the installation came to fruition,” said Alex Rich, FSC director of galleries and exhibitions and assistant professor of art history. “The exhibition is intended to be a jumping-off point for conversation, and we can’t wait to see how visitors respond when facing the artists in person.”

The artists’ exhibition was inspired by Claude Levi-Strauss’ book titled, “Tristes Tropiques. “ It focuses on the psychological landscape of paradise, the tropics and Florida mythology. Through photographic murals, videos, and a themed gift shop installation at the Polk Museum of Art at Florida Southern College, the artists celebrate and critique the eccentricities of their Floridian inspiration.

“The show offers an exciting opportunity for the community to see a site-specific installation on our campus, and these public lectures present an even more exciting chance for our community to learn directly from the artists about their process,” Rich said. 

“Sad Tropics” and the artist lectures are supported in part by an award from the National Endowment for the Arts. 

Florida Southern is located at 111 Lake Hollingsworth Dr. in Lakeland.

Southern Homes Renews Strategic Partnership with the Polk Museum of Art

Polk County builder Southern Homes has renewed its Strategic Partnership with the Polk Museum of Art at Florida Southern College, which helps keep admission to the museum free to the public. 

Southern Homes has supported the museum for several years.

“We are strong believers in giving back to the community that we call home,” said Southern Homes Director of Marketing Ashley Link. “The Polk Museum of Art’s exhibitions, classes and cultural events are part of what makes this a vibrant community, and we are honored to support it in its endeavors.”

Executive Director Claire Orologas says the partnership is a key component of the museum’s long-term success because it shows that the community understands the value the museum provides in terms of social, educational and economic benefits to the community.

“Partnerships like this ensure that the museum remains accessible to people from throughout Central Florida, including those in our community who otherwise couldn’t afford to visit a museum,” Orologas said. 

As a hometown builder, Southern Homes operates under the philosophy that it is important to continually strive to make Polk County a better place to live. Through this museum partnership, Southern Homes is able to give back to their customers, and all community members, by ensuring they have free access to the museum. Southern Homes co-owner Ed Laderer and his wife, Amy, especially believe in supporting the arts.

 “When our oldest son was in high school, he announced that he wanted to be an artist,” said Amy Laderer. “He’s opened our eyes to modern art and the world of collecting and performance art, and we want others to have that opportunity as well.” 

The museum unveiled its Strategic Partnership program in 2013 and saw attendance increase 12 percent the first year. Since 2013, attendance is up 7.5 percent, and the program has made it possible to offer free admission every day the museum is open. 

The Polk Museum of Art is located at 800 E. Palmetto St. in Lakeland. It is open Tuesdays through Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Sundays 1-5 p.m. 

Marc Chagall Exhibition Opens Soon at the Polk Museum of Art

A unique show of Marc Chagall’s work debuts Sept. 29 at the Polk Museum of Art at Florida Southern College, and several “firsts” are noted in “Chagall: Stories into Dreams.” 

In addition to being the museum’s first Marc Chagall exhibition, it is the only one of its kind in Florida, and the only one in the country that pairs Chagall’s “Fables of La Fontaine” etchings with his famed “Story of Exodus” lithographs.

This exhibition features 42 works of art, including the complete color lithographic “Story of Exodus” suite (1966), which entails 24 works, and 15 etchings from the “Fables of La Fontaine” series (1952).  

“Chagall:  Stories into Dreams”explores the ways in which Chagall transformed familiar parables in human history into fantastically new visions, said Dr. Alex Rich, curator and director of galleries and exhibitions. 

“Chagall’s Exodus suite presents an exciting visual dialogue with his ‘Fables of La Fontaine’ illustrations,” Rich said. “Visitors will see how Chagall uses these series to illustrate universal concepts of morality and immorality, right and wrong, and good and bad.”

Two additional paintings in the show, “L’Inspiration” and “Deux Têtes,”allude to the creative muses that inspired the artist.

Chagall is one of the best known artists of the 20thcentury due to his self-publicity and ability to mass produce his work, which defies easy stylistic categorization. He took bits of popular movements like Cubism and more obscure movements like Orphism, a manner marked by its light-filled explorations of color,and combined them with his own nostalgia to create uniquely modern work that reflects narrative, allegory and fantasy. 

This exhibition closes on Jan. 6, 2019. The Members Reception is Sept. 28 at 6 p.m. It is free for PMA members and $10 for nonmembers.

Polk Museum of Art Opens Smithsonian American Art Museum Exhibition of Romaine Brooks

The Polk Museum of Art at Florida Southern College presents “The Art of Romaine Brooks,” an exhibition on loan from the Smithsonian American Art Museum, which opens Sept. 28.

At a time when women around the Western world were beginning to break conventions and rules, Brooks crafted an androgynous appearance and a unique artistic voice that challenged beliefs of how women should look and behave. This exhibition includes 18 paintings and 32 drawings, some of which have not been seen in decades.

As an expatriate living in Paris, Brooks was a pioneering artist — in subject matter and in style — adopting in her paintings of women a muted color palette consisting primarily of black, white and various subtle shades of gray, ochre, umber or red, reminiscent of fellow American expatriate master James McNeill Whistler, whose paintings she admired, said Dr. Alex Rich, PMA’s curator and director of galleries and exhibitions. Rich also is an art history professor at Florida Southern.

“On one level, these works provide a glimpse into what people might envision when they think of the increasing independence of women in the 1920s,” Rich said. “The show reflects a time when many women of all classes and nationalities, especially American women who had the freedom to live abroad, were finding ways to break free of their traditional roles. On a deeper level, though, Brooks’ portrait subjects also reflect a lesser-known subculture of outliers and bohemians, many of whom were artists and, like Brooks, many of whom were gay.”

Born in Rome, Italy to wealthy American parents in 1874, Brooks spent most of her life in Paris. She focused on portraiture, which reflected Modernist elements in many ways, and her subjects frequently were her circle of strong, independent female friends. 

Included in this exhibition is Brooks’ 1917 portrait of Russian dancer, actress and art patron Ida Rubinstein. Another exhibition highlight is her 1923 self-portrait. Set against a gray sky above and seaside townscape below, the portrait depicts Brooks in a man’s hat, black coat and gloves. Her pale, gray skin is warmed only by the pop of red in her lips and a faint hint of blush on her cheeks. 

The exhibition runs through Dec. 9, and the museum is hosting several related events. Art historian and critic Cassandra Langer, who became Brooks’ accidental biographer through her search to uncover the artist’s aesthetics, will give a free lecture Oct. 13 at noon.

The Members Reception is scheduled for Sept. 28 at 6:30 p.m. It is free for PMA members and $10 for nonmembers.

“The Art of Romaine Brooks” is organized by the Smithsonian American Art Museum. The C.F. Foundation in Atlanta supports the museum's traveling exhibition program, “Treasures to Go.”

Polk Museum of Art Receives Bank of America Grant for New Teen Scholarships

The Polk Museum of Art at Florida Southern College is pleased to announce that it has received a $2,500 Bank of America grant to help fund a scholarship program geared toward teens.

The Building Vibrant Communities Through Teen Art Class Scholarships program will enable eight Polk County students ages 14-18 from low- to moderate-income level families the opportunity to each take a six-week, tuition-free art class of their choice at the museum and obtain required art supplies at no charge.

“We are honored to receive this critical, groundbreaking grant award,” said Education Manager Ellen Chastain. “The Polk Museum has a long, successful history of raising funds and awarding Art Camp Scholarships to disadvantaged youth ages 7-13, but this is the first time the department has the means to support the older students who are passionate about pursuing higher education art programs to prepare them for art-related careers like graphic design, photography and printmaking.” 

The scholarships will help the museum bridge an economic gap by providing cultural services to under-served high school students who cannot afford to participate in the fee-based programs and purchase their own art supplies, said Executive Director Claire Orologas. 

“We are grateful for Bank of America’s support to enhance the vitality and livability of our entire Polk County community, especially for teens who face financial barriers,” Orologas said.   

PMA offers a series of six-week, small-group Adult and Teen Art Classes in the fall, spring and summer each year. Classes are taught by certified art teachers or art professionals for three hours per session on Monday and Tuesday evenings. Students are instructed in a variety of mediums such as drawing, painting and sculpture, and learn invaluable problem-solving and critical thinking skills that are transferable to any subject. Fall classes begin Oct. 8 and end Nov.13. 

To learn more about the fall schedule and how to apply for a financial-need and merit-based Teen Art Class Scholarship, visit https://polkmuseumofart.org/adultclasses; or contact Ellen Chastain at 863-688-7743 ext. 227 or echastain@polkmuseumofart.org. 

Another Chapter in “The Von Wagner Code”

There has been another discovery since last we wrote about “The Von Wagner Code” and posed the question of whether a masterwork had been discovered in a storage closet at Florida Southern College.

Although the discovery doesn’t officially confirm that the work upon which “The Von Wagner Code” exhibition is centered is a verifiable work of Alexander von Wagner, it adds another piece of evidence to suggest that this could be true. 

In August, Diane Baires – who is the curator of Florida Southern’s Melvin Gallery and works as the Art and Art History Department assistant at the college – located an inventory and an article from 1951 about the college’s art collection that listed a painting in the student lounge called “Claudius Triumph” by “Alexander Wagner.”

“Upon its rediscovery in 2016, it was initially believed that the painting was gifted to the college in 1953 as a 17th century Italian Baroque painting by Domenico Fetti, based on a letter that was believed to relate to the painting,” said Dr. Alex Rich, the Polk Museum of Art’s curator and director of galleries and exhibitions. Rich also is an art history professor at Florida Southern. 

Instead, research confirmed it to be a variant of von Wagner’s 19th century “The Chariot Race.” 

Based on this inventory and newspaper article discovery, however, “we now know the college knew it was by von Wagner way back when after all and that it was on campus as early as 1951, nearly two years before the questionable ‘Fetti’ gift of 1953,” Rich said. “But the college was not aware that the von Wagner was a masterwork, obviously, given what happened to it.”

Sometime in the 1950s or early 1960s, the painting was cut out of its frame, replaced by a mirror, and rolled up in a closet. 

And over the 60 years it was stowed away, what it actually was — a von Wagner — was forgotten. 

“No evidence suggested its provenance, apart from our knowledge of who gifted it,” Rich said. “Upon its rediscovery, it was thus mistaken as the ‘Fetti’ gifted by the same donor in 1953. The confusion stemmed from the fact that both gifts — the von Wagner and the Fetti — were from the same donor but for two entirely different paintings.”

The 1953 letter that offered the gift of the Fetti work and that was thought to concern the rediscovered “Chariot Race” painting was written by Emile E. Watson. But as it turns out, Watson gifted the von Wagner before 1951, and the Fetti in 1953. Excitingly, we know the college once believed it had both a von Wagner and a Fetti.  We have the presumed von Wagner on display at the Museum, but now there’s another thrilling mystery: Where is the Fetti painting?

Learn More

Want to hear more about this exhibition? Watch the Aug. 16 episode of WEDU’s “Arts Plus.”

Polk Museum of Art at Florida Southern College Receives National Endowment for the Arts Grant

The Polk Museum of Art and Florida Southern College are pleased to announce they have received an Arts Engagement in American Communities Grant from the National Endowment for the Arts. 

The grant will help support the “Sad Tropics: Visiting Artists’ Exhibition & Education Project” that will take place at FSC’s Melvin and Burks Galleries. Sad Tropics is a large, site-specific installation piece designed by artists Cristina Molina and Jonathan Traviesa, who will be in Lakeland to install the work on view Sept. 21 through Nov. 2.  

As Florida natives and New Orleans residents, Molina and Traviesa were inspired to create their multimedia exhibition by reflecting on their Florida roots, observing images along their roundtrip drives to visit family in Lakeland, researching Florida’s history and tropical paradise mythology, and naming their project in homage to Claude Levi-Strauss’ book title “Tristes Tropiques.” Through photographic murals, videos and a gift shop installation, the artists’ work celebrates and critiques the eccentricities of the Floridian aspiration.   

Multiple education programs are planned to coincide with the exhibition that will engage FSC art students in the installation process. Programs include a gallery talk and tour for Polk County sixth-12 grade students and parents led by Dr. Alex Rich on Oct. 5; Sad Tropics Artists’ Talk on Nov. 1; and an artists Sseminar for FSC students and faculty on Nov. 2. All programs will be open to the public free-of-charge and will be held at the FSC Melvin and Burks Galleries. 

“We are very excited about receiving national recognition and grant support from the NEA for our Florida Southern College collaborative Sad Tropics project,” said PMA Executive Director Claire Orologas. “It has been quite some time since the Polk Museum of Art has been awarded an NEA grant and it makes it even more special that these funds are supporting an exhibition designed by two Florida-born artists.”  

According to FSC President Dr. Anne Kerr, “Our students and faculty are looking forward to participating in this NEA grant-funded exhibition and education project. It will enrich our entire Florida Southern College and Polk County community, and raise our Polk Museum of Art affiliation to a higher level of nationwide recognition.”