New exhibits at Boca Raton Museum of Art

In keeping with the spirit of the times, the Boca Raton Museum of Art is hosting six new exhibitions, many of them featuring works by women and artists of color. Three exhibits opened in October and the other three will open Jan. 26, 2021.

Two shows were extended beyond the quarantine and will continue through Jan. 3: Edward Steichen: In Exaltation of Flowers, and Works on Paper: Drawn from the Collection.

“This year has been an unprecedented journey for cultural institutions,” says Irvin Lippman, executive director of the museum. “We are fortunate to be able to provide new initiatives and exhibitions and, most importantly, a safe haven for visitors — a place of repose and enjoyment.”

“Our latest exhibits are part of recent acquisitions underscoring that the museum’s collection continues to evolve with new works by women and artists of color who challenge us to see the world anew,” says Lippman.

One of those women is Jamaican-American artist Renee Cox, known for her collection, “Flipping the Script,” which speaks to race, religion, and gender roles.

Cox flips the script again in her new work titled, “The Signing,” part of the Museum’s latest exhibition. The 15-facetime. long photograph reimagines Howard Chandler Christy’s iconic painting, “Scene at The Signing of the Constitution of the United States.”

In Cox’s interpretation, people of color, wearing traditional African clothing and period clothing from the 1700s or contemporary items, stand in for the founding fathers.

Another artist of color – the late Benjamin Patterson, one of the founding members of the Fluxus art movement during the 1960s-70s, which claims Yoko Ono as one of its own, has his work, “My Thirteen Presidents,”showcased at the museum.

Patterson depicts American presidents, along with their astrological signs, who served during his lifetime (1934- 2016) from Roosevelt to Obama.

Also on display and spanning an entire wall in the first floor gallery is Norwegian artist, Trine Lise Nedreaas’s 22-minute three-panel synchronized film, “The Entertainers” featuring the video, “The Mask,” in which a subject, Arthur, transforms himself into his alter-ego, Arthuro the Clown.

On the museum’s second floor, Delray Beach-based ceramicist and steel sculptor, Jeff Whyman’s, “Out of Nature,” features a selection of his one-of-a-kind ceramics using clays from California and Washington, and fabricated in kilns from Illinois, Missouri, and Florida, all yielding different results.

Whyman creates his works all in one moment while the clay is still wet. He uses the wheel to throw his vessels while spontaneously adding a mix of materials: sea glass, Chinese crystals, and mineral oxides.

Coming in January are “Glasstress Boca Raton 2021,” featuring Chinese dissident artist Ai Weiwei’s Blossom chandelier sculpture, that will travel by boat from Italy to Boca Raton, “An Irresistible Urge to Create: The Monroe Family Collection of Florida Outsider Art,” and “Paul Gervais: Faces and Forms.”

Read more about all of the upcoming shows at bocamuseum.org/art/ upcoming-exhibitions.

 

 

Gift Guide 2020

Tenth Street Hats, an Oakland California company, makes all kinds of hats,  from bowlers to straw boaters, from Panamas to Pork Pies. Brown Derby is  shown $56 tenthstreethats.com.

For the cocktail connoisseur in your life, miniature drink mixers are single- serving craft cocktails for the sophisticated set. Simply pour the contents of one bottle over ice, add a shot of the desired spirit (or not if you prefer a zero proof), and fill to the brim with club soda (or tomato juice for the Bloody Mary). Recipes for each flavor are printed on the box. Includes Mojito, Salted Paloma, Hurricane, Lemon Drop & Bloody Mary $22. https://www.elguapobitters.com/.

Silk pillowcases from Celestial Silk range from $35.99-$39.99 depending on size and can be found at celestialsilk.com or Amazon.

UV CARE Pocket Sterilizer is great for cell phones, keyboards, doorknobs, and countertops. It eliminates germs, bacteria, viruses, allergens, and molds using UV-C light technology. It’s powered by four AAA batteries or a mini USB cable. $42.99 at https://theuvcare.com/ or Amazon.

Thinking of something extra special for your 2020 COVID-quarantine sweetheart? Perhaps all she wants for Christmas is a 14K white gold pendant  with .45ct of diamonds. $1,500 at David Barry Jewelers in Boynton Beach.

B3 Blitz by Creative Brainworks is an engaging, fast-paced game of  skill that will keep kids and adults occupied and help prevent them from going COVID-crazy. B3 Blitz can be played indoors or outdoors, with bean bags or pong balls, and distance from the stand increases the skill level required. Game comes complete with a stand, buckets, 8 bean bags, 4 pong balls, and a convenient drawstring backpack to keep everything in one place. $29.99 on Amazon.

LooHoo Wool Dryer Balls are “a reusable, energy- saving alternative to dryer sheets. They naturally soften clothes without the use of unwanted harmful chemicals contained in dryer sheets.” This $39 set also comes with a 2 oz. bottle of “Sweet Dreams Linen Mist,” and a spring of lavender. https://www.loo-hoo.com/.

Interested in combining your experiences of the past with the technology of today to make sure your memories truly last forever by digitizing your precious moments for future generations? Enter Legacybox. Prices start at $32.99 and up. Simply send your old home movies, photos, memorabilia, and more and they will do the rest.

Dermatologist approved, this CBD infused tinted body shimmer oil is cruelty-free, made in the USA, and comes in three shades. The oil can be applied to face, lip, hair, and body. CBD adds a soothing feel to your daily routine. $45 shopmajorbody.com.

Love to listen and jam out to music whether at the gym or during downtime? Apple Airpods are the best gift for someone who likes to block out their surroundings and tune in to the beat of the music. Buy yours on sale today on Amazon for $159.

Mahjongg wipes are for the man or woman who has everything, and we mean absolutely everything. We bring you Mahjongg wipes from Parkland resident Jill Fox. $11.99 and up at mahjonggwipes.com.

Dangerous Minds Brewing Co. in Pompano Beach. Growlers & Crowlers To-Go of your favorite local brew are the perfect way to imbibe at home, with your socially-distanced crew, or as a gift for the holidays. Growlers $5/ea. Refills vary depending on the variety of beer $10-21/each. https://dangerousmindsbrewing.com/.

Get calm this holiday season. The Calm Gift Set supports everyday stresses, but we like to think of it as spreading peace and relaxation for the holidays. A botanical blend of lemon balm and Charlotte’s Web hemp extract in the tasty Calm gummies plus the high concentration 60mg CBD oil will ease winter days and nights. Add a hemp-infused roll-on to take wellness one step further with aromatherapy self-care. Starting at $115.47. Visit charlottesweb.com/calm-gift-set.

A family’s struggle with their 5-year-old daughter’s cancer spawned the non-profit Colorado company Brave Hoods, selling incredibly soft and comfortable hoodies, T-shirts, mugs, bags, and robes. For every shirt it sells, the company donates one to a child fighting cancer. An incredible variety for all ages, prices range from $12 for a mug to $45 for a hoodie. Visit BraveHoods.org.

Philanthrobee.com offers a plethora of honey-based skincare products for men and women. There’s even a $10 gift card on the site. Prices vary.

Doshi is the company that makes vegan belts, bags, wallets, and more. Items from $20 and up. Lady Bag 2 is their statement vegan bag. $189 at Doshi.shop.

Meet Stealth – the fitness tool that makes sneaking in a workout at home as fun and easy as playing a game! Their unique platform device uses gameplay technology to transform your body into a game controller. $99 on Amazon.

Do you know your Jackson Pollock from your Yayoi Kusama? This modernism edition of “The Museum Tour” can help your whole family learn more about these famous artists. $45 from cityspotsonline.com or Amazon.

‘Selfies’ without a cell phone at Boca art museum

After hitting pause on their exhibits and programming in mid-March due to COVID-19, the Boca Raton Museum of Art reopened to the public on Jun. 3, offering a newly renovated lobby courtesy of board chair, Jody Harrison Grass, a redesigned Wolgin Education Center and free admission through September.

There is still time to catch a number of their time-run exhibitions, including “Eye to I:  Self Portraits from the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery,” kicking off their national tour. Originally running through Jun. 14, the show has been extended through Sept. 20.

At a time when millions of selfies are posted every day and identity is proving to be more fluid, this exhibition from the Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery shines a new light on self-portraiture.

“These artists looked inward in ways we can connect with in our modern time in ways they could not have foreseen,” says Irvin Lippman, executive director of the museum. “They made a lasting mirror effect of themselves, cutting across time and creating a very personal art that engages us – the viewer,” he says. “

The show was organized by the Chief Curator of the National Portrait Gallery at the Smithsonian, Dr. Brandon Brame Fortune and showcases 60 works from the years 1901–2015, in a variety of styles and media ranging from caricatures to photographs, from watercolors to dramatic paintings.

Fortune chose all new works for the national tour, some not part of the original exhibit.

“It was an exercise in balancing works from the 20th century, balancing mediums, looking at representations and including portraits from each decade, across generations and across time, to make sure the show that goes on tour is as strong as the original show,” Fortune said

“Because selfies are so ubiquitous, it seemed like an interesting moment to pause and look at what artists have been doing for years.,” Fortune said. “Their self-expression tells us something about their personal lives and the times in which they created the portrait.”

Self-portraits by prominent figures in the history of portraiture include Robert Arneson, Thomas Hart Benton, Deborah Kass, Elaine de Kooning, Alexander Calder and Jasper Johns, among others.

More recent works include those by artists Ana Mendieta, Chuck Close, Lois Dodd Alison Saar and Cuban-born multi-media artist Maria Magdalena Campos-Pons, whose self-portrait, “When I am not Here, Estoy alla,” (or, When I am not Here, I am There), graces the cover of the exhibit’s catalog.

Standing serenely with her eyes closed, her face covered in white and brown makeup, one arm behind her back and one grasping a Bird of Paradise, Campos-Pons seems to evoke a discussion on the ephemeral nature of shifting identities and self-identity.

Fritz Scholder’s “Self Portrait with Grey Cat,” was the last self-portrait the artist created before he died in 2003, from complications of diabetes.

The dark, moody canvas features the artist boldly facing the viewer as he leans on his cane. His eyes are covered by tinted glasses, and the tubes from his oxygen tank run from his nose across the canvas to the floor, which has been described as a reference to the “shadow of death.”

Also extended through Jan. 3, 2021 and running concurrently with this exhibit is New  York based photographer Phyllis Galembo’s: Maske, a series of large scale photographs documenting African ceremonial masks and costumes and the Museum’s presentation of the “Edward Steichen: In Exaltation of Flowers,” a series of seven large art nouveau panels, inspired in part by Maurice Maeterlinck’s book, The Intelligence of Flowers, and depicts Isadora Duncan, Mercedes de Cordoba, Katharine Rhoades, Marion Beckett and others, along with their floral counterparts.

The seven large art nouveau panels, each ten feet tall, were painted by Steichen from 1911-1914 for the Park Avenue townhouse of Eugene Meyer and his wife, Agnes.

The murals were inspired in part by Maurice Maeterlinck’s book, “he Intelligence of Flowers,” and depict Isadora Duncan, Mercedes de Cordoba, Katharine Rhoades and Marion Beckett, along with their floral counterparts.

For more information, visit:  bocamuseum.org

 

By Jan Engoren

Zoom into Coral Springs art camps

 

The Coral Springs Museum of Art kicked off this summer with a digital camp program,“Zoom into the Studio,”which began June 15, and continues through August 14.

Artists ages 6 to 17 will be able to explore a number of studio art classes online on Zoom, where they will meet children with similar interests, and have fun developing their artistic skills in an interactive and engaging atmosphere.

Ninety-minute classes run Monday through Friday. Fees for members range from $54 to $60, with a $5 sibling discount. For registration information, visit museuminfo@coralsprings.org. Upcoming week-long classes include:

JULY 6 – 10

AGES 6 – 9
Pop Art

Instructor: Deborah Gregg

Young artists will jump right into designing colorful POP art pieces inspired by everyday images and comic books.

 

AGES 9+
Comic Book Design

Instructor: Cory Laub

Young artists will learn the finer points of designing comics, including character design, drawing techniques, and plot development. A lively discussion on the history
of comic books and their characters add to the fun.

AGES 12+
Teen Drawing

Instructor:Deborah Fletcher

Young artists will begin mastering techniques of drawing by adding dimension, value, and structure to their work.

JULY 13 – 17

AGES 6 – 9
Life Under the Sea

Instructor: Isabel Perez

This class allows young artists to experiment with different paper and painting techniques. They will learn about color, composition, texture and shapes, all while exploring life under the sea.

AGES 9+
Exploring Watercolor

Instructor: Pamela Keen

Learn about color, composition, texture and shapes in this out of the ordinary watercolor design class. Artists have fun experimenting with paint to make their own masterpiece. Demonstrations, classroom time for Q & A, and individual interaction will help you create beautiful paintings.

 

JULY 20 – 24

AGES 6–9

Art Around the World

Instructor: Deborah Gregg

Young artists will become world travelers as they learn about different cultures and their art. Throughout the week they will explore a variety of techniques and materials as they take a virtual trip to different destinations around the globe.

AGES 9+
Chibi Character Art

Instructor: Simone Spade

Young artists will learn how to create their own “chibi” character and critter using different art techniques like drawing and watercolor.

AGES 12+
Teen Creative Storytelling

Instructor: Cory Laub

In this class young artists
will learn the multiple ways
in which stories can be told. They will read and discuss short stories, create written work of their own, and learn how to adapt those stories into visual media like comics or movies. They will learn the basics of building a writing outline and plotting a story, the important differences between a prose story and a film or TV script, and what needs to be considered when creating a visual storyboard.

AGES 12+
Sketching Animals

Instructor: Simone Spade

Young artists will learn to properly sketch and complete drawings of animals in this exciting class. Young artists will learn how to properly map out proportions of animals and add details to their drawings in their own creative way.

JULY 27 – 31

AGES 6 – 9
The Wild Things

Instructor: Simone Spade

Young artists will take a walk on the wild side as they master the basics of creating animals using pencil and paint, while also exploring the natural world with a different type of animal featured each day.

AGES 9+
Cartooning

Instructor: Cory Laub

In this class young artists will learn how to draw popular cartoon characters step-by- step. They will practice cartoon drawing techniques and learn about anatomy, perspective, movement, how to create their own characters, and world- building philosophies.

AGES 12+
Teen Painting

Instructor: Simone Spade

This class is all about the exploration of painting. Young artists will enjoy learning different step-by-step skills of completing a work of art where both drawing and painting techniques will be covered.

AUGUST 3–7

AGES6–9
Art Studio

Instructor: Isabel Perez

This class is perfect for the budding artist. During this fun and exciting class the young artist will explore all things drawing and painting. They will be encouraged to use their imaginations as they discover their inherent talent.

 

AGES 9+
Art of the Animal

Instructor: Deborah Fletcher

This fun class will help young artists master the basics
of drawing animals as they explore the creative side of
the natural world and develop skills of bringing their creations to life.

AGES 12+
Painting Illustrations

Instructor: Pamela Keen

Explore the world of painting illustrations. Learn how to convert ideas drawn from various sources of texts into stunning, illustrative watercolor paintings.

AUGUST 10 – 14

AGES 6-9
Multicultural Art

Instructor: Isabel Perez

Young artists will spend the week creating art inspired by different cultures, while also learning about different traditions used to make art around the world.

AGES 9+
Exploring Watercolors

Instructor: Pamela Keen

Learn about color, composition, texture, and shapes in this out of the ordinary watercolor design class. Artists have fun experimenting with paint to make their own masterpiece. Demonstrations, classroom time for Q & A, and individual interaction will help you create beautiful paintings.

 

AGES 12+
Teen Drawing

Instructor: Isabel Perez

Young artists will begin mastering techniques of drawing by adding dimension, value, and structure to their work.