The Arts and Cultural Alliance of Sarasota County
Hosts Eleanor Merritt Art Exhibit, Sixty Years of Painting, 1957-2017
Opening Reception is on Thursday, February 9, 2017 from 5 – 6:30 p.m. at the
Center for Arts and Humanity.
(Sarasota, FL) — The Arts and Cultural Alliance of Sarasota County is hosting an exclusive art exhibit featuring Eleanor Merritt’s Retrospective Show, Sixty Years of Painting, 1957-2017. The Opening Reception for the exhibit is Thursday, February 9, 2017 from 5 – 6:30 p.m. on the first floor of the Center for Arts and Humanity, 1226 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota. The reception is free to attend and open to the public.
Merritt has her paintings, collages, sculptures, and murals displayed in a variety of venues and homes around the globe. Her methods of working with forms of female figures and the power of the feminine spirit have been influenced by her studying and experiencing a variety of international cultures. Merritt’s work denotes the rich visual expressions of the inner spiritual lives of women across the diaspora.
Like the fabrics and layers Merritt uses in her mixed media work, her references from years of studying the spiritual lives and imagery of various cultures is woven into her artistic expressions.
Among the locations where Merritt has displayed her unique paintings are the University of Florida, University of Connecticut Cultural Center, American International College, Atlanta Life Insurance Company, Carnegie Endowment Institute in New York City, Contemporary Art Museum in Jacksonville, and the Polk Museum in Lakeland. Merritt is a charter member of the National Museum of Women in the Arts in Washington, D.C., former Board Member of the Ringling Museum of Art, former board member and V.P. of the Women’s Caucus for Art, former President of the Venice Art Center, and a member of the Florida Artists Group, Women Contemporary Artists and the Petticoat Painters.
“We are honored to have the opportunity to host Eleanor Merritt’s artwork here. The exhibit is a true reflection of the variety and caliber of work she has produced since 1957. We look forward to the public viewing this special exhibit,” said Jim Shirley, Executive Director of the Arts and Cultural Alliance of Sarasota County.
The exhibit will run from Thursday, February 2 – Monday, February 27, 2017 at the Center for Arts and Humanity.
The Arts and Cultural Alliance is a member-powered organization that serves as an advocate for arts and culture in Sarasota County. Founded in 1986 by a group of committed citizens, the Alliance has administered more than $17 million in grants to area artists and arts organizations. The Alliance works to ensure arts and culture remain essential to the continuing development of a vibrant, creative community. This is achieved through arts advocacy, education and community outreach. For more information about how you can join the Arts and Cultural Alliance, please visit our website at www.sarasotaarts.org or call (941) 365-5118, extension 304.
