By Kathy L. Collins
Since 2000, the Brandon League of Fine Arts has been presenting ARTworks, a juried art show each September at Center Place in Brandon. This year, the show and the artists who entered artwork have been given the spotlight at the TECO Public Art Gallery in downtown Tampa. The artwork will be on exhibit for the public to see through January 2, 2015.
The Brandon League of Fine Arts was formed in 1959 and is dedicated to improving the cultural climate of the greater Brandon community. ARTworks 2014, a juried competition with prize money, is one of many yearly events sponsored by the Brandon League of Fine Arts. The show is open to local artists and those from surrounding communities. The 30 fabulous works of art presented in this show offer a glimpse of the wide array of talented artists who live and work in the Tampa Bay area and beyond.
ARTworks 2014 has a collection of varying mediums. Debra Radke is the curator of the TECO Public Art Gallery and the judge for this year’s ARTworks. Radke said of the collection currently on display, “Watercolor media is well represented by Brandon resident Roxanne Tobaison with her piece titled Japonica Empress, a wonderfully realistic painting of a Camellia bloom. As anyone who has painted knows, whites are extremely difficult to capture in any media.”
“On a more contemporary note, Orange Sunshine by Lithia resident Judy Strong looks like airbrush it’s so perfectly rendered. Strong worked at Disney and that is reflected in her style. It is a very pleasant, almost saccharine take on a smiling sun. Who would think an artist could do anything ‘new’ with an icon like the sun?” said Radke.
“Wine’s Almost Done by Tampa resident Kathy Durdin shows her strong collage technique. I would attribute her success with cut paper, composition and color to her mastery of the watercolor paintings she is known for. At first glance, the work appears to be a watercolor painting- but upon closer inspection one is surprised to discover it is a collage,” said Radke.
The TECO Public Art Gallery is located at 702 N. Franklin St. in Tampa. It is open Monday-Friday from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. For information about this exhibition, contact Radke at 767-1600 or at dradke1 @tampabay.rr.com. For information about the artists, visit www.blfa.us.
