Art Center Sarasota’s
New Exhibitions: May 21-June 26
“Confluence: France”
A curated exhibit of artists from the region of Sarasota’s Sister City
Perpignan, France
“Collective Paper Aesthetics”
A community project designed by Netherlands-based artist Noa Haim
“MASHterpieces”
A collaboration with Goodwill Manasota in which artists transform donated art from Goodwill into new masterpieces
“I’ll Be The Judge”
An open, all-media, all-subject, peer juried exhibition
Opening Reception: Thursday, May 21, 5-7 p.m.
(Sarasota, FL) Art Center Sarasota’s 2014-2015 exhibition season, entitled “Merging Parallels,” continues with four exhibits, which run May 21-June 26. “Confluence: France,” in Gallery 1, is a curated exhibit of contemporary work by artists from the region of Sarasota’s Sister City, Perpignan, France. “Collective Paper Aesthetics,” in Gallery 2, is a collaborative project designed by Netherlands-based designer and journalist Noa Haim. “MASHterpieces,” in Gallery 3, is the second installment of this popular exhibit showcasing transformed art from Goodwill retail shops. “I’ll Be The Judge,” in Gallery 4, is an open, all-media, all-subject, peer juried exhibition. The opening reception for all four exhibits is Thursday, May 21, 5-7 p.m. Art Center Sarasota is located at 707 N. Tamiami Trail, in Sarasota. For more information, call 941-365-2032 or visit www. artsarasota.org.
“Confluence: France” features the work of 11 artists from the region of Sarasota’s Sister City, Perpignan, France. Curated by Adeline Besson, a noted Paris-based curator, this exhibit is the second installment of the acclaimed “Confluence” exhibition series. This annual international art exhibit showcases works by emerging and mid-career artists from the home countries of Sarasota’s Sister Cities. “As the definition of the word ‘Confluence’ suggests, the intention of these exhibitions is the connection of places and the gathering of people,” says Lisa Berger, Art Center Sarasota’s executive director. “The visual arts are a universal language that can help to make this happen.” She shares that “Confluence: France” encompasses a range of media, from drawing to photography to installation pieces.
“Perpignan is a place of cultural confluence,” Berger observes. “It’s situated in the Catalan region of France, close to Spain.” She adds that many famous artists, including Picasso, Raoul Dufy, Miró, Matisse, and Chagall, visited, lived and worked there, along with such renowned writers as Molière, Valéry and Rabelais. The region has also long been celebrated for its culture of crafts, including jewelry-making, pottery, ceramics and textiles. “The artists’ experience of living in the Perpignan region deeply informs their work,” Berger says.
The 11 artists in “Confluence: France” are Armelle Caron, Julien Cassignol, Nicolas Daubanes, Jean Denant, Philippe Domergue, Samuel Dufour Kowalski, Agnès Fornells, Sylvain Fraysse, Pablo Garcia, Emilie Losch, and Aurélie Piau.
“Collective Paper Aesthetics” is a collaborative community project created by Rotterdam-based artist Noa Haim. Haim, originally from Israel, is an architect, designer, and journalist, who started the Collective Paper Aesthetics initiative in 2008 as a way to inspire collaboration and exploration in large groups through art. She works with museums, art and science centers, and cultural and educational organizations around the world using core principles of design, architecture and engineering to create room-sized installations created out of three-dimensional paper and cardboard forms. Visitors to Art Center Sarasota will be able to participate in the creation of a free-form sculpture in the gallery throughout the cycle of this exhibition. The cardboard forms will be available for visitors during the center’s open hours to decorate and assemble, becoming part of the large installation. “The module’s symbolic heart shape inspires a sense of warmth and good will and serves as a place for viewers to sit and reflect,” says Berger.
“MASHterpieces” is the second installment of the popular collaboration between Art Center Sarasota, Goodwill Manasota and ThisWeekinSarasota.com. Berger explains that 30 selected artists were asked to choose a piece of art found at a Goodwill retail store. They then transform that piece by adding elements that are, according to Berger, “in their own creative style or wherever their imagination takes them. Some artists really step out of the box in the repurposing of the original, we only ask that they keep the integrity of the original piece.” ThisWeekinSarasota.com will document the process, through video and online editorial, from original art selection to interviews with the artists. A portion of all sales proceeds are donated back to Goodwill.
I’ll Be The Judge is an open, all-media, all-subject, peer-juried exhibition. All artists who submit to the exhibit will cast their votes on all the artwork submitted to determine which works will be on display. Top votes will determine prize winners.
For more information about Art Center Sarasota, call 941-365-2032 or visit www.artsarasota.org.
About Art Center Sarasota
Art Center Sarasota was the first arts and cultural institution in Sarasota. It was founded in 1926 as the “Sarasota Art Association” by Marcia Rader, the art supervisor for the Sarasota County schools district. In the early years, the group met monthly and sponsored exhibits in rented facilities. The Association was incorporated as a not-for-profit organization in 1943 and has been in its current location in the Sarasota Bayfront Cultural District since 1949. Art Center Sarasota is now a membership-based organization that offers curated and juried exhibitions, adult and youth education programs, outreach initiatives for underserved youth, and culturally related public programming. Art Center Sarasota’s mission is to inspire individual creative expression, nurture artistic talent and provide the community with accessible and diverse visual art opportunities.
Art Center Sarasota
707 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota, FL 34236
Phone: 941-365-2032 § Fax: 941-366-0585
www.artsarasota.org
Gallery Hours:
Free admission
10 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday-Saturday
Closed Sunday
