SOUTHERN GRACE ARTS AND CRAFTS SHOW Feb 19, 10 am - 3 pm

Artist Grace McKee presenting $460.60 to Denise Downey of Tampa Crossroads
for the Athena House transitional housing for female veterans

As a result of the SOUTHERN GRACE ARTS AND CRAFTS SHOW, the SouthShore Arts Council received $120 for the Firehouse Cultural Arts Center and the Tampa Crossroads received $460.60 in donations earmarked for the Athena House, transitional housing for female veterans.

We had truly magnificent weather and a constant crowd.  This FIRST ANNUAL show was such a success, there should definitely be a SECOND ANNUAL.  Contact Frances Hereford at 813-645-0004 if you want to be on her list.

POST:

A friend of mine, Frances Hereford, owns Southern Grace Inc. in Ruskin. She is having an art show with proceeds to charity and has asked me to invite creative friends to participate.  Not just 2D artists; writers, sculptors, singers, dancers, all the arts.

SOUTHERN GRACE ARTS AND CRAFTS SHOW

Southern Grace Inc.
301 Hwy 41 South, Ruskin, Florida
Saturday, February 19, 10 am - 3 pm

$20 entry fee for a 10' x 10' space will go to SouthShore Arts Council earmarked for the Firehouse Cultural Arts Center
Must bring your own tent, table, et cetera.

20% of sales will go to the Athena House for homeless female vets in this area

http://www.oprah.com/oprahshow/The-Facts-About-Homeless-Veterans-Video

New Legislation covers homeless female vets and children:

http://www.nchv.org/news_article.cfm?id=809

If you have questions, call me, Grace, at 813-766-5040 or Frances at 641-0004.

You will be in good company.  Here are a few early bird entrants:

Fred Rothenbush - Oil Painter

Oil Painting by Fred Rothenbush

Grace McKee - Acrylics, Gyotaku, Giclees and Prints

"Banyan Cathedral" by Grace McKee

Enhanced Gyotaku Print by Grace McKee

Tammy Franco of Beautiful Walls and More - Faux Finishes and Murals

Tammy Franco

Gwen Rollings - Author, WE BAND OF SISTERS - Book Signing

Gwen Rollings - Book Signing

Cynthia Atkins - Fish Lips Hand-Painted Items

Sandy Z. Duran - FireflyHalu Stained Glass Art

Monica Gutierrez - Jewelry

Che Gray - Acrylic Paintings; Tile Paintings

Debby Martin-Cohen - Quilts

Nadine Cooley - Watercolor, Oil and Acrylic paintings

Nancy Coon - Jewelry

Maryanne Wexler - Watercolors and Jewelry

Thanks to reporter Kathy Collins of The Osprey Observer Apollo Beach/Riverview Edition:

Click on the link below, go to page 46, and click on the page to enlarge it for easier reading.

http://www.ospreyobserver.com/digital-archives/2011/2011-02-Riverview/pageflip.html

Look for the ad coming out in The Observer.

Something Fishy Is Going On in Apollo Beach!

What?  GYOTAKU.

What is "gyotaku"?  It is Japanese for "fish rubbing."  Japanese fishermen used fish rubbing to record the size and number of their catch.  Gyotaku has become one type of nature printing.

The direct method calls for ink or paint to be applied directly to the fish.  Fabric, watercolor paper, or Japanese paper is then pressed onto the painted fish to make a print.  Messy?  Yes!  Fun?  Absolutely!

When and where can you get a "taste" (pun intended)?  SouthShore artist Grace McKee will be the instructor for the following events:

Thursday, January 27, 10 am to noon --The Art Studio at Arianna's (across Hwy 41 from MiraBay in Apollo Beach behind the M & I Bank) will host a Gyotaku session . Stop by Arianna's Rugs and Decor by January 24 to sign up. Art supplies and one piece of fabric furnished. $35

Saturday, February 26--MiraBay residents* will be rubbing fish at the clubhouse at 10 am.  Hurry and sign up as the class will fill quickly!  Residents can have a non-resident friend sign up with them on a space-available basis.  Art supplies and one piece of fabric furnished.  $35 

*Residents should sign up by February 22.  Non-residents will be admitted after that.

Hope to see you there!

MiraBay Drinks and Drawing Event Nov 13--Great Fun!



Did you wonder what was happening

around the MiraBay fountain Saturday morning?



We started in the MiraBay clubhouse lounge at 10 am, sharing mimosas

while getting our art supplies for the class.

Karen and Mike are really concentrating.

Judy, Linda and Diane moved to the shade as the day warmed up. 

Grace shares her drawing with Margaret and Kathy.

Everyone created a wonderful work of art and left happy.

"A Painting is Never Finished; It Simply Stops in Interesting Places"--Paul Gardner

Here is my latest painting.  Not completely finished, but getting closer still.

Those of us from Florida have often seen the rain in the distance with a perfectly beautiful day around us.  The name of this painting is "Outrunning the Storm."  Just as we do in our lives, this sailboat is enjoying the beauty around it while attempting to stay ahead of the rain that is coming.

Close-Up:

THANK YOU, CYNTHIA AND DOTI!

What a great time I had today!  Being the featured artist at Meet the Artist was such fun!

We had about 25 visitors who viewed my art and learned about giclees.  Hearing such positive comments and actually having inquiries about possible purchases reaffirms my commitment to my art.  Thank you to all who attended and especially to Cynthia Atkins and Doti Devane of Arianna's Rugs and Decor and to the folks at Sava Cafe who allowed us all to stream into and out of their coffee shop.  And of course to my husband Archie who is constantly supportive. 

I am pleased to have my work on view until the end of the year.  I encourage other SouthShore Arts Council members to consider this opportunity to show.  How wonderful to have people who encourage artists and provide such an outstanding venue!