Enjoy the beauty and expressiveness of art this weekend at a gallery stroll and at the return of a cherished annual exhibition.
Try something different at this month’s First Friday Gallery Stroll in the Arts District of downtown Vero Beach – start outside the area. The Rowe Gallery, new in town, sits outside the conventional area of the Gallery Stroll. But owner/artist Lori Rowe says she’s keeping her gallery open at least until 6 p.m. So why not start there? Enjoy a libation. Chat with Rowe, a friendly woman who recently returned to Vero Beach after living years in California. View her beautiful art. She says she loves chatting with people when they visit her gallery. “I love it when people pop in just for a cup of coffee,” she says. “People don’t need to feel like they have to buy something.” The Rowe Gallery is at 46 Royal Palm Pointe, Vero Beach. Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursdays, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, and noon to 4 p.m. Sundays. Call 302-521-4175 or visit TheRoweGallery.com. After your visit at the Rowe, head to the actual Gallery Stroll up and down 14th Avenue from 19th to 21st streets. There, about a dozen galleries will remain open until 8 p.m. to welcome visitors. “There’s a really fun atmosphere with people out and about, populating downtown Vero Beach, enjoying the art and the Florida weather,” says Elise Mahovlich, executive assistant for the Cultural Council of Indian River County. “And the restaurants are busy. It makes it feel very community-oriented.” The First Friday Gallery Stroll runs 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Friday, May 7. For more information on the Gallery Stroll, call 772-770-4857 or visit Cultural-Council.org.
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“Through the Eye of the Camera” opens this Friday, May 7, at the A.E. Backus Museum and Gallery in Historic Downtown Fort Pierce. The exhibition attracted more than 170 entries from artists mostly from Florida. The annual exhibition has had a long history. Last year, while the pandemic raged, organizers presented a special online project: Photographers posted works on social media with the hashtag #EyeAmCreative. Certainly, people were thrilled with the participatory aspect of that project. However, this year, organizers are delighted to bring back the proper juried exhibition. “We’re up and running,” says museum executive director Marshall Adams. “We are looking forward to opening 2021 ‘Eye of the Camera.’” The panel of three jurors decided on which works to accept into the competition and which ones receive awards. Entries, which comprise both color and black-and-white, vary in subject matter, including animals, wildlife, landscapes, flora, portraits and more. The photographers are primarily from Florida. “We are sticklers about presentation,” Adams says. “We judge by physical entry, including framing. That can limit it to people who are nearby.” While some people may perceive the Backus Museum to be primarily one that preserves works of Highwaymen artists, for whom Backus was so well known for influencing, the photography exhibition is in keeping with the museum’s mission. “We promote the arts in the community and we preserve the artistic legacy and humanity of A.E. Backus. That gives us the leeway to do a lot of exciting things. He was really interested in encouraging fellow artists to do their best work. We view these juried shows as an extension of that legacy.” The exhibition’s opening hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday, May 7, Saturday, May 8 and Sunday, May 9. Regular hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday and noon to 4 p.m. Sundays. Visitors should call the museum and RSVP so that the museum can regulate the number of people in the galleries at any one time. The A.E. Backus Museum and Gallery is at 500 North Indian River Drive, Fort Pierce. Admission is $5 general and free for children under 18 years of age, students and active military service. Discounts available. Call 772-465-0630 or visit BackusMuseum.org.
See the latest on the runway at the New Horizons Fashion Bazaar’s Outdoor Fashion Show. The event takes place 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Monday, May 10 at the Quail Valley River Club. Dedicated by Michael Thorpe in loving memory of Kimberly Thorpe, the fashion show features local designers, vendors, complimentary champagne and heavy hors d’oeuvres. Presented by Nila Moylan, the event helps raise funds for mental health services in Indian River County. The Quail Valley River Club is at 2345 Highway A1A, Vero Beach. Tickets are $75. Call 772-672-8333 or visit NHTCInc.org/events.
