June 24, 2023, Vero Beach – The Galleries at First Pres will offer an opening reception of the Spring Art Installment on Sunday, July 16, 2023, from 1:00 to 3:00pm. The show will feature the works of local artists Lisa Cave, Richard Gillmor, and Gail Jaffe. The galleries are located throughout the campus of First Presbyterian Church at 520 Royal Palm Boulevard in Vero Beach. Admission is free, light refreshments will be provided. The show runs from July 16 until September 30, 2023 with pre-reception viewing available from July 1 through 15.
Growing up in Michigan, Lisa Cave was fascinated by the nature and the lakes all around. As a young adult, she lived in Washington D.C. and Atlanta Metro areas before settling in Vero Beach in 2000 with husband and son. At that time, her main focus was raising her son. As her son was growing up and becoming his own person, she decided it was time for her to fly. After receiving two degrees and working in those fields, her desire to learn something new continued. An abstract painting class in 2019 piqued her interest. In 2022, she was able to focus more on painting. Since childhood, she has had a fascination with the world around her taking in the colors, textures, smells, sounds and movements. It only made sense that her innate desire to create drew her to painting which has allowed her to transport these emotional experiences onto paper and canvas. She presently uses acrylic paint and a variety of mixed media. Her paintings are interpretations of what she is drawn to at that moment, experimenting without fear. She allows the painting to take her where it wants to go, therefore, no two paintings are alike. Lisa currently shares a studio space with 6 other talented and experienced artists in Vero Beach, FL. She is a member of The Vero Beach Art Club and Gallery Veritas, where she recently had her first solo gallery show. Her work can currently be found at Gallery Veritas, Coffee House 1420, often at The VB Art Club and online.
Influenced by Impressionists like Monet and Cézanne, Richard Gillmor started painting water scenes in high school. His father, Richard Sr., already an accomplished artist, encouraged and taught him the finer points of perspective and color theory. After graduating with a sixty-hour major/minor in Fine Art from Western Michigan University, Richard embarked on a 36-year career in sales and marketing. During this time, including several business start-ups, art played a role in things like Ad campaigns and marketing strategies. After retiring in 2005, Richard picked up the brush again and joined the Sebastian River Art Club. Still active in the club, Richard has served as chair of Art in Public Places, Vice President, and President of the club. Regarding his motivation, the artist says, “The interplay of light and reflection on the water remains fascinating to me. Thirty years of living in the Florida Keys and traveling through the Caribbean has given me a huge store of visual memories, and I enjoy putting them down on canvas”. For the last few years, Richard has been displaying and selling his “Kinetic Sculptures” as well as his paintings at venues like Art by the Sea, and Art on the Island in Vero Beach, and the Cultural Alliance in Brevard County. Recently, Richard finished and published his first book, God’s Bar & Grill, an inspiring true story of a church plant in one of the most unlikely places in the Florida Keys.
Gail Jaffe’s art expresses the soul’s longing to receive wholeness, peace, healing and understanding. She attempts to see and is inspired by the energetic subtleties, depth, and symbolism that life presents daily, including her own meditations, dreams, and relationships. Angels are one of her favorite and recurring themes. They represent to Divinity, Love, Faith, and the presence of God within the human heart. Gail’s exhibit at The Galleries at First Pres showcases her theme of angels, and artists of all kinds who are trying to highlight and emphasize beauty in all its forms. Here, the viewer will see lots of Angels, musicians, mermaids, and other whimsical and fun-loving Apostles of Beauty. Please be sure to look closely, as these paintings contain more than what may initially meet the eye. Jaffe believes that we all need to be inspired and uplifted and direct our gaze to those things that bring us hope, peace and joy. She hopes that her paintings can play a small part in making the heart lighter, bring a smile and encourage one to seek beauty in all its forms into their life.
The Galleries at First Pres feature a wide variety of works by local artists, on rotation throughout the year. The Galleries are located throughout the campus of First Presbyterian Church, 520 Royal Palm Boulevard, Vero Beach; they are open for viewing from 12pm to 3pm Monday through Thursday, and on Sunday mornings between church services. Admission is free and open to the community.
For more information, please contact Ginger Lagemann, Music and Arts Administrator, at (772) 562-9088 or ginger@firstpresvero.org.
