VERO BEACH – The 3-D Summer Stroll around Vero’s Downtown Dine and Design district Friday night produced a steady stream of visitors, all welcomed in a warm, down-home fashion, to the many participating galleries, businesses and restaurants. Karen Leightty welcomed visitors to her new Leightty Gallery, located in the large entryway to the new offices of the Cultural Council of Indian River County and Main Street Vero Beach. The organizations had just moved to the new location, across the street from the Theatre Plaza, that day. Leightty’s exhibit, Electric Winter, is from a one-woman show she had in Chicago, and features her original photography, manipulated into vibrant works of art, and printed on canvas.
At Country Herbals/Downtown Beads, Jeffrey Leonard was doing a superb job as the official greeter at his mother Lauren’s delightful shop, giving out warm welcomes, business cards and samples of her fragrant homemade soaps.
Long time Veroites may remember Yvonne Proctor, who has returned to town after living in Colorado for seven years. The prior owner of Cormis on Ocean Drive and California Dreaming at 3-Avenues, Proctor’s new store on 14th Avenue is Black, White and Tan, and she was having a great time greeting old customers and meeting new ones.
At Gallery VBS Limited, Ron Van Sweringen had printed explanations of his “Astroism” paintings scattered about which describe the unusual process. His unique works are created by throwing the paint onto upright canvas; sometimes requiring up to five thousand throws.
During these slower summer months, a few of the galleries, including the Artists Guild Gallery and Gallery 14, will close their doors until October 1 to refresh the galleries and give the artists a chance to gear up for the upcoming season. Tiger Lily, a working studio as well as a gallery, will be open “by chance or by appointment during the summer,” said artist Shotsi Lajoie.
At Bodega Blue, folks who had completed the ‘stroll’ were enjoying talented guitarist/singers Evelien Van Ekert and Keith Smothers from the band aCute Affliction. Van Ekert traveled to Vero Beach from Belgium to study for a PhD in Medical Entomology at the University of Florida Entomology Lab on Oslo Road. “The opportunity to come work in a lab in Vero Beach fell in my lap,” said Van Ekert. “I don’t ever want to leave again.” {gallery 251}