VERO BEACH — Fundraisers in the Vero Beach community are plentiful and varied and one of the standouts, in terms of offering a huge bang for a philanthropist’s buck, is the annual Art Trail, sponsored by the Vero Beach Art Club.
It was a day of sensual stimulation Saturday, as 13 local artists opened their studios to more than 150 art lovers. Proceeds from the event benefit yearly scholarships for local graduating high schoolers who want to pursue an arts-based higher education path.
The challenge is to complete the trail between the hours of 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., a difficult task, considering the eye candy to be ogled at each location, as well as treats made and supplied by Art Club volunteers, to be sampled.
Artists, by necessity and nature, need a lot of alone time. Yet the Art Trail is an opportunity to get out in the world, to indulge their curiosity about their fellow craftsmen, and to absorb some inspiration
For real estate aficionados, it is a chance to see different habitats of people not normally visited. Many trail blazers were getting ideas and items to spice up their beige existences.
The marathon day for both the artists and visitors was worth the exhaustion at the end of the day, as visions of the day’s art danced in the heads of those who undertook the endeavor.
“Please do not think this place usually looks like this,” said almost every artist to their visitors. They pointed to the Art Club volunteers, who came and helped them organize and entertain.
Artists on the Barrier Island included fiber artist Barbara Glab, who displayed an array of colorful, intricate quilts in her Floralton home. One of her quilts, “Blue Heaven,” pulsated with hologram-like qualities.
“This is the farthest distance, but I had to see the quilter,” said Lizdiel Ramos-Hering, “I had to come because I don’t know how to sew, myself. It’s fascinating for me.”
Shotsie Cain Lajoie’s home off of A1A, not far from Jaycee Beach, was the next stop. Spectators reveled in a variety of bold colored painting, sculpture, and mixed-media. LaJoie reigned, in her studio, looking elegant in a green sheath and sexy stilettos, as she showed her latest work, pieces of three sisters in bathing caps covered in colorful flowers, commissioned by their parents. Lajoie explained how she made papier mache masks as impressions for the faces.
“Thank you for opening your home and studio and showing us your work,” said one participant.
“It’s good for the Art Club,” said LaJoie. “And it’s good for me because it helped me get organized.”
Janvier and Gustaf Miller share a home, which is their studio, overlooking the Indian River Lagoon. Gus, who sculpts using wood, metal, and clay, and Jan, who paints acrylics, have been married for 50 years and peacefully co-exist in their art filled, yet spacious, open and airy home. Jan works during the day, and Gus works at night, so they aren’t intruding on each other’s creative process, according to Gus.
Mainland artists who participated included Anne Malsbary, who displayed her compelling wild life and nature photography, as well as a collection of antique photography equipment, in her Grand Harbor home.
Ellen Fisher’s studio in Rockridge was foray into a bright, whimsical world of color. Artistic surprises could be found around every corner, in addition to a delightful pomegranate punch.
Ivo David, known for his impressionistic oil paintings of Vero Beach landmarks, guided visitors through his 2nd Place, SW home studio. Visitors admired his paintings as they sampled delicious ham sandwiches.
Next on the Trail was the home and studio Lis Bech, middle school art teacher by day, multimedia artist by night. Bech works with acrylic, watercolor, and makes block and monotype prints. Her porch floor is an intricate mosaic assembled by her, as her husband listened to the sound of slate and granite cracking from the living room.
Cabin Fever Artists’ studio, was west on 53rd Avenue. Four artists, including Elize Geary, Margaret Goembel, Andrea Lazar, and Catherine Musham displayed a variety of media, including watercolors, acrylics, mixed-media, collage and assemblage in their rustic log cabin studio. The artists are having an open-house on Saturday, Dec. 14 that is not to be missed.
Guests ogled the gorgeous stained glass designs of Eileen Farrell, as the light streamed through the windows of her Isles of Vero studio, showing the brilliant colors of her works.
The day was an artistic field trip requiring stamina. It is well worth training for the next one. You never know what you’ll find inside the home of an artist.
