Pelican Island Conservation Society (PICS) Annual Indian River Bird and Nature Art Show will be at the Environmental Learning Center in Wabasso Monday October 3rd – Saturday Oct 29th at 1pm. The Art Show is held in October each year around the National Wildlife Refuge Week, this year the 9th-15th. This show benefits the PICS group.
60+ artists are expected to enter the juried art show.
There will be an artists reception followed by a keynote speaker on Friday Oct 7th from 4:30-6:30 with Featured Speaker, Ruth Stanbridge, at 7, both are FREE to enter. Ruth will talk about the Jungle Trail, … the history of a “trail” that turned into a commercial corridor for agriculture and the famous Indian River citrus and, also, because it became a gateway for tourist, treasure hunters, and today’s winter residents. That “trail” was known as the “inlet road”, State Road 252, and finally the Federal designation of A1A. Today, it is Indian River County’s Jungle Trail Greenway and is still the narrow dirt road it started out to be. It is also listed on the National Register of Historic Places – only a few roads make that list!
Other events are planned including several sunset wine and cheese pontoon cruises to Pelican Island; Saturday, October 8, 4:30 to 7:15pm
Saturday, October 15, 4:30 to 7:15pm, Saturday, October 22, 4:15 to 7:00pm
Watch www.firstrefuge.org/indian-river-birding-fest-nature-art-show or Discoverelc.org for additional events during the month.
Judges this year include:
Karen Ekonomou AKA Keko: Clay
Keko is an accomplished painter and ceramic artist, rediscovering clay about 16 years ago. She is quick to point out her imaginative and colorful paintings are now in the three dimension of clay. Growing up and living on the sunny coast of Florida, she often sculpts flamboyant marine characters that look as if they were plucked right from the shoreline then whimsically posed. “I find myself laughing at my silly sculptures. While making them I try and imagine how they ended up in this crazy position with such a puzzled look on their face.”
Keko is co-founder of Flametree Clay Art Gallery on 14th Avenue in Vero Beach, where she currently exhibits her fun and funky ceramic art, and her colorful birdbaths can be found in M. Maison on Ocean Drive and Costal Comforts in the Village Shops in Vero Beach Her past work has been featured in shops and galleries all along the eastern seaboard from Vermont to St. Croix.
Shelia Lougheed Acrylic and Mixed Media
Majoring in Graphic Design from Western CT State College, I completed my undergraduate studies through Springfield College with a concentration on Human Services. I began my master’s in Art Therapy at The College of New Rochelle, and two years into my studies I was waylaid with my first (of many) colon cancer diagnoses. I was an Art Therapist with a cancer support group in CT, Ann’s Place. When I was ill I was a group member, when in remission I was their facilitator.
From CT, Manhattan, North Carolina, and Florida have been invited to show my work through various galleries. Upon relocating to FL, under the tutelage of Frits Van Eeden, I have been gifted with many mural commissions, and private exhibits.
David LoPresti, Plein air
David is all about fun and it’s reflected in his artwork. The aeronautical industry has been part of his life since he was born. He has delved into the world of art, showing work at the Vero Beach Museum of Art and in a gallery on 14th avenue in Vero Beach. His pieces are now in several states adding design, joy, and culture to people’s homes. In 2021, the LoPresti Art Studio and Gallery opened. You can see David creating work there along with viewing the gallery.
“I love to find the hidden beauty in industrial and contemporary items and use them as the basis for my art. Especially when I can make people see our everyday world in a new light. When I use a manhole cover in my art people tell me that they now look at all of the manhole covers that they pass each day and it makes them appreciate the design like they never have before,” said David LoPresti.
ELC is open 8-5 Mon-Fr and 8-4 on Sat and Sun the show is open during these hours and visitors are subject to entrance fee.
You can find out more by emailing debbieainvero@gmail.com or calling PICS at 772-202-0697 OR EMAILING INFO@FIRSTREFUGE.ORG or calling ELC at 772-589-5050.
