Three local art galleries are showcasing work meant to spark conversation.
At Lake County Museum of Art, more than 100 tiny watercolor paintings made with whiskey and other spirits are on display.
They were painted by 15 artists who are part of the prestigious Whiskey Painters of America, and each piece is only 4-by-5 inches, as required by the group.
“The coolest thing about the art pieces is how small they are,” said Ileanne Buigas, the museum’s executive director. “I think it’s so impressive and so neat that they are so tiny.”
Susan Donohoe, of the Village of Mallory Square, has been a member of Whiskey Painters of America for the past two years and is showcasing eight pieces during the exhibition.
“My stuff is different than what most people paint,” said Donohoe, who also goes by SusanJane. “We have a lot of fun in the studio, my characters and myself. They are whimsical. I feel their personality and it comes through.”
It is the group’s third time displaying at the museum, Buigas said.
“The uniqueness of Whiskey Painters of America is there are only 150 of us in the country max at any point in time,” she said. “It’s prestigious in it’s own right. It doesn’t matter if you paint with the alcohol or splash it on the back of the piece when you’re done — it needs to be blessed. There’s alcohol somewhere on each of these pieces.”
Donohoe said before moving to The Villages in 2010 she never had painted, except in the first grade when she was living in Minnesota.
“I started painting (in The Villages) because a friend insisted I join her in oil painting,” she said. “My painting was just ugly, but that was because painting is about technique. After that, I learned the technique and I practiced. All I did was paint, so I learned quickly. We have some great teachers in The Villages.”
Jackii Molsick, of Yalaha, sponsored Donohoe’s membership in Whiskey Painters of America — a requirement to join the group.
“I like painting in small format because it really challenges you to know what you’re doing,” Donohoe said. “You have to really concentrate. It takes just as much work, if not more, to complete as a big piece. I personally like to paint with vodka, because it doesn’t change the color of the paper.”
At the opening reception, those in attendance spoke with artists, painted with watercolors, listened to live music performed by Victor Kusik and for a $20 donation, enjoyed a whiskey tasting sponsored by the Whiskey Kitchen of Mount Dora.
The exhibition will be on display through April 25 at the museum, 213 W. Ruby St., Tavares. The museum accepts donations in lieu of charging an admission fee and is open from noon to 4 p.m. every Thursday, Friday and Saturday. For more information about the exhibition or the museum, visit lakeartmuseum.com.
“The art is all very different,” Buigas said. “Some have so much detail and others are more vague. You can see just about anything with this group of artists.”
Artist With A Purpose will highlight the work of Lake County and Central Florida-based artists at a free one-day showcase from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday at the gallery, 100 S. 4th St., Leesburg.
The event will coincide with the Art and Makers Market from 6 to 10 p.m. and the open mic night at 7:30 p.m.
The showcase will give young Central Florida artists the chance to display up to six pieces that tell powerful stories and inspire change, said Semeion Richardson, the gallery’s CEO and founder.
“I think every young generation has a story of why they express the way they do, what made them become artists, what is the culture that they are in and how did they come to step into that role as artist,” she said. “This gives a platform for brand-new artists to tell their stories through the arts and through the emotions of what they are going through as they take this journey of becoming a full-time artist.”
To learn more about the exhibition or gallery, visit artistwap.com.
Honoring America’s 250th anniversary, the “My Country, ‘Tis of Thee: Celebrating American Art and Design” exhibition is on display at the Appleton Museum of Art, 4333 E. Silver Springs Blvd., Ocala.
The exhibit is a collection of works pulled from throughout the museum celebrating Florida’s contributions to America’s heritage. It will be on display through Sept. 13.
The exhibit was organized into themes using the lyrics of “My Country ‘Tis of Thee,” said Victoria Billig, Appleton Museum of Art’s assistant director of museum operations.
“The Appleton, and museums across the country, are celebrating the country’s semiquincentennial this year,” Billig said. “Throughout three galleries, ‘My Country, ‘Tis of Thee’ highlights more than three centuries of American art and design, with more than 100 works ranging from contemporary furniture to pop art to rare historical photos and documents reflecting the unique history of Florida and Marion County.”
For more information about the exhibition or others on display at the Appleton Museum, visit appletonmuseum.org.
Staff writer Brea Jones can be reached at 352-753-1119, ext. 5414, or brea.jones@thevillagesmedia.com.
