<p style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>The Backus Museum invites the community to see the </strong><strong>latest outdoor exhibition </strong><a href="https://www.backusmuseum.org/mural-plaza" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.backusmuseum.org/mural-plaza&source=gmail&ust=1744741897776000&usg=AOvVaw0QoCWJ1rMg54XHNZ3F5_1K"><strong><em>The Moods of Nature</em></strong></a></p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">Fort Pierce, Florida – April 4, 2025</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">The A.E. Backus Museum presents <a href="https://www.backusmuseum.org/mural-plaza" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.backusmuseum.org/mural-plaza&source=gmail&ust=1744741897776000&usg=AOvVaw0QoCWJ1rMg54XHNZ3F5_1K"><strong><em>The Moods of Nature</em></strong></a>, the latest in its series of long-term outdoor exhibitions on its campus at 500 North Indian River Drive in Historic Downtown Fort Pierce, Florida. For this presentation of nine mural installations, the Museum has tapped into the rich institutional history of the organization to invite nine award-winning artists from the past thirty years of annual juried photography exhibitions. They were asked to submit their own interpretations of a famous quotation by the Museum’s namesake artist to grace the walls with fresh and inviting images.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>"Whether it be a storm across the Glades, the caress of a fresh breeze, or the silence of the deep woods, it has always been my desire to interpret the moods of nature." — </strong><a href="https://www.backusmuseum.org/a-e-backus" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.backusmuseum.org/a-e-backus&source=gmail&ust=1744741897776000&usg=AOvVaw0z8LnV4nupjZFfQaUv2-KG">A.E. Backus</a><strong>, 1977. </strong> The nine impressively large murals are 6- and 8-feet tall and stretch around the east and north facades of the building in Veterans Memorial Park on the shores of the Indian River. The exhibition and Outdoor Mural Plaza are accessible to the public without charge, even on days or hours when the Museum is closed to the public. The images and information about the artists can also be viewed at <a href="https://www.backusmuseum.org/mural-plaza" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.backusmuseum.org/mural-plaza&source=gmail&ust=1744741897776000&usg=AOvVaw0QoCWJ1rMg54XHNZ3F5_1K">https://www.backusmuseum.org/mural-plaza</a>. <strong><em>The Moods of Nature</em></strong> will be on display for three to five years. The artists participating in <a href="https://www.backusmuseum.org/mural-plaza" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.backusmuseum.org/mural-plaza&source=gmail&ust=1744741897776000&usg=AOvVaw0QoCWJ1rMg54XHNZ3F5_1K"><strong><em>The Moods of Nature</em></strong></a> invitational exhibition include <strong>Austin Bell</strong> (Tallahassee), <strong>David Bence</strong> (Vero Beach), <strong>Manuel Carela</strong> (Port St. Lucie), <strong>Joe Campanellie</strong> (Palm Coast), <strong>Dawn Currie</strong> (Indian Harbour Beach), <strong>Bob Gibson</strong> (Tequesta), <strong>Erika Masterson</strong> (Satellite Beach), <strong>Susan Pantuso</strong> (Fort Pierce), and <strong>Michael Ricciardi</strong> (Vero Beach). All have been past top award winners in the Museum’s longstanding juried photography competition, <strong><em>Through the Eye of the Camera</em></strong>, celebrating its 30<sup>th</sup> anniversary this spring. Thirty donors contributed to the exhibition supporting the Museum’s efforts to create a dramatic and emotional response to our natural environment. The Museum’s Director, J. Marshall Adams said, “We are grateful for the vision and support of our donors on this special project. With their help we were able to create a visible and long-lasting exhibition for residents and visitors to the community to enjoy over and over again, and on their own time.”</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">Inspiration for the Outdoor Mural Plaza, where the exhibition is on view, came from the original concept for the Fort Pierce Art Gallery, as depicted in a 1959 artist's rendering by A.E. Backus. The Gallery envisioned presenting art and exhibitions on this spot in the open air, hanging directly on the walls outside. Exhibitions went up in the morning, and were taken down and secured at night. It wasn't long before an air conditioning system was installed and programming was moved inside. But there was an undeniable accessibility to having art facing the public, on view for all to enjoy. In 2016 as part of the Backus Museum's most recent expansion, the idea of presenting art outside on the facade was revived and launched as a series of long-term thematic exhibitions. The 2017 inaugural exhibition <strong><em>Living Outdoors in Florida</em></strong> included works by artists Tiffany Beasi, Michael Enns, Mary Fragapane, Carlos Inocente Gonzalez, Russell Gulick, Ivan Roque, Tony Rosa, Pedro Rubio, and Jackie Schindehette.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">Presentation of <a href="https://www.backusmuseum.org/mural-plaza" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.backusmuseum.org/mural-plaza&source=gmail&ust=1744741897776000&usg=AOvVaw0QoCWJ1rMg54XHNZ3F5_1K"><strong><em>The Moods of Nature</em></strong></a> would also not be possible without the expert professionalism of these talented businesses and individuals. Each mural panel was printed and produced by SignEdge Graphics. Landscaping to complement the display was designed by Lisa Rouse Nelson and implemented by Gary Roberts Landscaping.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>List of Participation artists and works included in the exhibition</strong></p> <p style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>Austin Bell, Tallahassee</strong> Director's Choice 2023 | Through the Eye of the Camera <strong><em>Marco Island</em></strong> Austin Bell is an award-winning museum curator, author, and photographer. A Florida native, Bell enjoys capturing the beauty of his home state on antique and vintage film cameras. He enjoys blending his passions for history, nature, and film photography in a way that he hopes will inspire appreciation and reflection. His photography has been exhibited throughout Florida and has won awards at the Marco Island Center for the Arts, the A.E. Backus Museum & Gallery, and the Rookery Bay Environmental Learning Center. <em>[Mural Frame Given In Memory of Cameron Preston Morrison, Sr.]</em></p> <p style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>David Bence, Vero Beach</strong> Best of Show 2024 | Through the Eye of the Camera <strong><em> Driftwood Beach</em></strong> David Bence photographs are not windows to the world but a reimagining of that world. Using his camera to transform three-dimensional spaces into lines, shapes, textures, and forms, he creates black and white compositions that hover between the figurative and the abstract. Whether he is shooting a landscape or a close-up image, his compositions present the familiar in a new way, sometimes literally turning the world upside down. Bence discovered photography in art school, excited to find a universal language that allowed him to express himself precisely and purposely. Since then, he has maintained a life-long photographic practice, even during his tenure as an art director. While he still works in other mediums, he is most drawn to ideas that can only be realized through photography. <em>[Mural Frame Given for Remembering Edwin Binney, Crayola Creator]</em></p> <p style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>Manuel Carela, Port St. Lucie</strong> Best of Show 2021 | Through the Eye of the Camera <strong><em>Orange Splash</em></strong> Manuel Carela is a Dominican Republic photographer based in Florida. He is passionate about nature and creative photography. Throughout his career, he has participated in various photography competitions, earning awards in both the Dominican Republic and Florida. His work focuses on capturing the essence and beauty of the natural world, aiming to evoke emotions and narratives that connect viewers with the majesty of nature.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>Joe Campanellie, Palm Coast</strong> Best of Show 2023 | Through the Eye of the Camera <strong><em>Lovers' Quarrel</em></strong> Joe Campanellie is a Master Photographer, Photographic Craftsman, Certified Professional Photographer, and an Approved Affiliate Juror with the Professional Photographers of America (PPA). He also holds the prestigious Fellowship Degree from The American Society of Photographers (ASP), a distinction achieved by only 136 individuals worldwide since its inception in 1970.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">Before relocating to Florida, Campanellie and his wife had a portrait studio in Maryland. Moving to Florida allowed Joe to pursue his passion for avian and nature photography on a full-time basis. Campanellie maintains an active schedule of speaking and judging, addressing professional photography organizations, schools, and seminars. Over the course of 35 years, he has been involved in both local and international photographic competitions, earning some of the industry’s most prestigious awards from Kodak, Fuji, PPA, and ASP.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>Dawn Currie, Indian Harbour Beach</strong> Best of Show 2019 | Through the Eye of the Camera <strong><em>Atlantic Sunrise</em></strong> Dawn Currie lives in Indian Harbour Beach, Florida. She attended Rochester Institute of Technology, taking classes in professional photography and photographic processing and finishing. She is the recipient of Photographic Society of America Awards of Merit: Bronze Portfolio Distinction (BPSA), Nature Division 4-star Exhibitor, Projected Image Division – Color 4-star Exhibitor, Projected Image Division – Monochrome 3-star Exhibitor, Recognition of Photographic Achievement - Proficiency (PPSA).</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">Currie has received numerous local, state, national, and international awards for her photography. Her work has been featured in numerous newspapers and magazines, including the PSA Journal, Florida Today, and The Peregrine Fund's 2019 Calendar. Collectors can see Dawn's work in various venues under the auspices of the Brevard Cultural Alliance's Art in Public Places program. She regularly participates in juried and solo gallery exhibitions across the U.S., and her work resides in several private collections. <em>[Mural Frame Given In Memory of Ruth S. and John Huggins]</em></p> <p style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>Bob Gibson, Tequesta</strong> Director's Choice 2024 | Through the Eye of the Camera <strong><em>Spoonbill</em></strong></p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">Bob Gibson’s family moved to Palm Beach County in 1961, a time when beaches and dunes were open and undeveloped, and the rivers, ocean, and shorelines teemed with wildlife. He retired in 2018, which allowed him to combine his love of photography with his appreciation for Florida’s remaining wilderness areas and historic towns.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">His images have appeared in numerous national magazines and Florida art exhibitions. He is a Nikon Professional Services Member, a photography teacher at the Lighthouse ArtCenter in Tequesta, and has conducted wildlife and waterscape workshops in Oregon, Wyoming, California, and Alaska. He is currently working on a book and exhibition titled “FloridaLand—1960,” which illustrates the Sunshine State’s homespun roadside attractions before the arrival of Interstate Highways and Walt Disney World.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;"><em>[Mural Frame Given in Honor of Wayne and Lynn Rouse]</em></p> <p style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>Erika Masterson, Satellite Beach</strong> Best of Show 2015 | Through the Eye of the Camera <strong><em>Union</em></strong> Erika Masterson is a Fine Art Photographer, living between two worlds, a lakeside cabin tucked in the Southern Appalachian mountains and a quiet beach town on Florida’s east coast. She received her degree in photography from the Southeastern Center for Photographic Studies in Daytona Beach, Florida in 1990. Masterson’s most recent accolades include a solo exhibition at the Soho Gallery, New York and the Co-Jurors Choice award by Joyce Tenneson under the theme “The Intimate Portrait”. She was also chosen as a Julia Margaret Cameron finalist for her series “A Message for my Daughter” and was selected as Black and White Magazine’s Portfolio Spotlight winner for her series "Sara’s Sojourn". Her images are also being sold around the world and on greeting cards with Palm Press and book covers. She has also self-published four books with her series of work. <em>[Mural Frame Given by Lisa and Dan Nelson]</em> <strong>Susan Pantuso, Fort Pierce</strong> Best of Show 2017 | Through the Eye of the Camera <strong><em>Beauty Within the Swamp</em></strong> Susan Pantuso is very passionate about photography. Her love for God’s creation sends her in search of all that is wondrous. In a world that can be harsh and troubled, she finds inspiration by focusing on that which is beautiful hoping to inspire and resonate with others on a deeper level.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">Pantuso has received awards both locally and internationally for her work. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Education and a Master of Photography degree awarded by the Professional Photographers of America organization. She also believes in being a lifelong learner and focuses on advancements in photography and technology. Where the skies meet the sea and the clouds are its mountains, South Florida is where she calls home.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>Michael Ricciardi, Vero Beach</strong> Best of Show 2014 | Through the Eye of the Camera <strong><em>Clown Anemone Fish</em></strong> Michael Ricciardi has had a passion for photography for over 40 years. After receiving his scuba certification in 1980, he was fortunate to gain invaluable underwater diving and photography experience through liveaboard, diving all over the world. As a serious and professional underwater photographer, Ricciardi continued to travel the world seeking the most pristine underwater environments. He has logged over 1400 dives in the Caribbean, Pacific, Indonesia and Indian oceans. Ricciardi’s work has been published in Continental Airlines Pacific in-flight Magazines and he has won awards in many area photography contests at several important venues including the A.E. Backus Museum & Gallery, Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge, and the Vero Beach Museum of Art photography exhibitions. One of his photographs was published in the World Wildlife Fund's 2018 calendar. <em>[Mural Frame Given in memory of Hoyt C. & Dottie Murphy, Friends of Bean]</em></p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">ALL DATES AND PROGRAMMING SUBJECT TO CHANGE; PLEASE CHECK THE <a href="https://www.backusmuseum.org/" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.backusmuseum.org/&source=gmail&ust=1744741897776000&usg=AOvVaw2gqDHpQSyYvC4vmNCswne2">WEBSITE</a> FOR ANY UPDATES OR CANCELLATIONS.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;"><a href="https://www.backusmuseum.org/" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.backusmuseum.org/&source=gmail&ust=1744741897776000&usg=AOvVaw2gqDHpQSyYvC4vmNCswne2"><strong>About the A.E. Backus Museum & Gallery</strong></a></p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">Since its founding in 1960 and the first day the doors opened in 1961, the A.E. Backus Museum & Gallery has been a center and catalyst for creativity and culture in our region. The Museum houses the nation’s largest public presentation of artwork by Florida’s preeminent painter, <a href="https://backusmuseum.org/a-e-backus" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://backusmuseum.org/a-e-backus&source=gmail&ust=1744741897776000&usg=AOvVaw35UUtR9uswSL9__4TrH-xP">A.E. “Bean” Backus (1906-1990)</a>, and also continues its more than sixty-year tradition of exhibiting and celebrating the paintings of the original <a href="https://backusmuseum.org/highwaymen" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://backusmuseum.org/highwaymen&source=gmail&ust=1744741897776000&usg=AOvVaw0X0lewCmE1jv2n5yyYhuP1">Florida Highwaymen</a>, who got their start here. In addition, the Museum organizes and hosts changing exhibitions from artists of regional, national and international acclaim. The Backus Museum was recognized as the 2022 Best of the Best Community Choice Award for Best Art Gallery; and the 2021 Best Tourist Attraction – 2018 Best Museum / Best of the Treasure Coast by the readers of <em>Indian River</em> <em>Magazine</em>.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;"><a href="https://www.backusmuseum.org/visit" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.backusmuseum.org/visit&source=gmail&ust=1744741897776000&usg=AOvVaw3ThV0LJmF3YZMLvn0bNIBO">Schedule:</a> Regular Hours Wednesday – Saturday, 10 AM to 4 PM; Sunday, 12 Noon to 4 PM. Closed Easter Sunday and May 3-4. Admission is $5 per person; AARP, AAA, and Veterans with appropriate ID receive a $2 discount. Students with school ID, children under 18, active duty military, and current members are always free. Visitors are asked to follow the latest public health guidance for the safety and comfort of guests, staff, and volunteers.</p>