Local artists once again drew large crowds of friends, fellow artists and savvy collectors to the 28th annual Art by the Sea Exhibition, presented by the Vero Beach Art Club this past weekend at the Vero Beach Museum of Art. Each of the 126 participants –who are members of the Art Club, the Museum or in many cases both – was allowed to exhibit one original piece not previously in an Art by the Sea show.
Artists donate a percentage of any sales from the show to the Art Club in support of educational outreach programs. The Art Club annually presents a minimum of $10,000 in scholarships to high school seniors, and provides donations for art supplies to encourage budding artists in elementary and middle schools. This year’s show was co-chaired by Judy Rixom and Sherry Haaland.
“This is like old home week,” said ceramic artist Dorinda Walker at the opening reception Friday evening, pleased that her piece, a lovely lamp entitled Sea Life, had sold early in the evening. “It’s a wonderful event to run into all your old friends.”
“We’re getting very, very positive responses,” said Ed Uttridge, whose beautifully carved wooden kinetic sculpture won first prize in the sculpture/3-D category. “It’s pleasing to see people’s response to what we try to communicate; the sense of balance in your life. It’s nice that it’s appreciated by the public.”
“One of my students got a ribbon,” said artist and instructor Marie Morrow with a big smile. “A lot of my students have their work here. I encourage them to put one in every year; to come and get motivated and get to know people. I get excited when they come and get ribbons. They get such a positive energy.”
An independent judge is brought in to ensure impartiality when choosing winners for the show, which includes works in oil, watercolor, acrylic, mixed media, pastel/graphics, sculpture/ 3-D, film and digital photography and jewelry. This year’s judge was R. Lynn Whitelaw, founding director of the Leepa-Rattner Museum of Art in Tarpon Springs and, until his retirement this past October, its first curator. He was also a former curator of education at Tampa Museum of Art
Best in Show went to Gustaf Miller for his creative wooden piece, Mid-Town Tower, in the sculpture/3-D category, an honor he also received in 2011 for his whimsical Yellow Legs sculpture.
