By Kathy Collins
The August exhibit at the Bruton Memorial Library in Plant City is a fantastic collection of artwork by local artist, Roy Adams. There are six large pieces on display, and the mediums include ink and oilstick on canvas, acrylic on canvas, acrylic on wood and multi-media assemblages. The latter include a whimsical collection of cassette tapes anda piece which uses paint sticks.
In addition, you can view some of Adams’ sketchbooks in a nearby display case.
Adams, who lives in Plant City, is a painter, photographer and printmaker. Adams studied at the Universty of South Florida and has travelled around the world. His work has been shown locally at the Florida Museum of Photographic Art in Tampa and at the Robert W. Willaford Railroad Museum in Plant City, he will have an interesting piece of pop art installed. Adams explained that the piece is a photograph of a railroad pocket watch that has been stamped 20 to 25 times. The piece is in the style of Andy Warhol’s pop art. “A lot of my family has worked on the railroad in Oklahoma and Arkansas,” said Adams.
His artwork has also been shown at the Ft. Smith Regional Art Museum in Arkansas. He has five photos that have been included in the permanent collection at the museum as well. In 2017, Adams will be in a Sketchbook Art Project in Brooklyn, New York.
The current exhibit at the Bruton Memorial Library is truly an eclectic one. In addition to the very interesting mixed media pieces, there is an abstract and one of an American Indian. Adams, who is of Cherokee Indian descent, said, “I really like the Native American painting and wanted to share it. The painting depicts a Native American who was a dancer at the Florida Strawberry Festival.” All of the art on display was created in Plant City.
Chad Loving, the administrative and services assistant for the Bruton Memorial Library said, “Adams’ art is very eye catching and very bold. His use of ordinary but unexpected objects (paint sticks and cassette tapes) is extraordinary.”
The Bruton Memorial Library is located at 302 McLendon St. in Plant City.
For more information on Adams, visit www.printmaker.mysite.com.
