Frida Rebel, (Digital Photograph, encaustic wax, oil pastel and digital image transfer on board, 2015), featured in the Artists4Artists Exhibition at TSKW.
The first artist grant I ever received was from the Anne McKee Artist Fund in Key West. The year was 2000 and just the beginning of my artistic career. The awarding of this grant not only funded a photo project, but it solidified the belief in myself as an artist in an established and esteemed community of creative individuals. I was fortunate to receive other grants from Anne McKee in 2005 and 2009 as well. These grants encouraged my exploration of the photographic medium and steered my work into new directions. It goes without saying that I would not be where I am (or whom I am ) today if it were not for Anne McKee!
Since 1994, the Anne McKee Artists Fund has been the only grant program of its kind for Florida Keys artists. It has had an immeasurable impact on an entire generation of artists and has helped to shape the cultural landscape in the Keys. In the past 22 years over 250 grants have been given!!
The opening reception is tonight January 5th from 6-8pm. The exhibition dates are from January 5th – 26th at The Studios of Key West, located at 533 Eaton Street. Artwork will be displayed on the 2nd and 3rd floors of TSKW with live performances and book readings in the main theatre.
“When I started, I thought it would help people buy frames and materials,” said McKee of the fund that offers such tangible and intangible benefits to the local creative community. “I never dreamed it would help people do so many big things.”
Thank you Anne McKee! Wish I could be there in person to celebrate with everyone!!
I can hardly believe it’s almost June. Life has been crazy busy (as always) and time is moving FAST! But I would be remiss if I did not write about the Digital Image Transfer & Mix Media workshop I taught at the The Studios of Key West this past February. (I know…I’m throwing it way back and it’s not even Thursday!)
First of all, I gotta say what an honor and privilege it was to come back to Key West as an artist and an educator. After 16 years of island living, I left Key West to reduce my expenses and focus on creative passions back in my hometown of Louisville Kentucky…and I can truly say I have done just that! But Key West is a place I miss dearly and it felt so good to be there again. In addition, TSKW has become even more amazing in my absence (if that was even possible!!) and recently moved into the newly renovated space at 533 Eaton St. The facilities are top notch with artist studios, dedicated classrooms, three exhibition spaces, a theatre for the performing arts, and is attached to (and affiliated with) the independent book store (originally from Miami) Books and Books.
Housing supplied by TSKW during my workshop (which I quickly converted into a studio).
And even more recently, Nancy Klingener, the Southernmost Reporter/Producer for WLRN News is broadcasting from the 3rd floor at TSKW! Add in an amazing staff, a ton of dedicated volunteers and awesome artist housing (including a bicycle) while either teaching a workshop or experiencing a residency. I mean….HELLO(!!!)…everything you want in you local arts organization…and then some!!
I’ve been incorporating encaustic wax with my photographs for some time and recently added digital image transfers to the working equation using alternative print materials by DASS™. Combining the two into a two-day workshop was both a challenge and a blast to teach! Day one was all about image transfers, which were applied to a variety of surfaces, including wood, metal foils, and fine art papers. Day two took those initial results further with the incorporation of mixed media including watercolors, oil paints and encaustic wax.
I love this image created by Camille Blatz who layered an image transfer onto wood with the same image transferred onto kozo rice paper…final piece encased in encaustic wax.
(Click on images in the below photo slider to visit personal websites of featured artists)
I had artists of all mediums sign up for the workshop…photographers, painters, mix media artists and sculptors all represented. The title of the workshop naturally attracts photographers (like myself) who enjoy exploring the possiblities of the medium. But I love how this process transcends photography and speaks to artists of all mediums who are seeking more creative options for their imagery. Ultimately, we all brought something slightly different to the table and learned a lot from one another.
I have been a fan (and friend) of LIsa Esposito from the first moment we met and it was an honor to have her in my workshop. Here, Lisa dips an image transferred onto Stone Paper into encaustic wax just to see what would happen. (I even love her process notes in relation to the image above!)
(Click on images in the below photo slider to visit personal websites of featured artists)
Not only did Mark Hedden have two pieces made during this workshop accepted to the Small Works exhibition at Lemonade Stand Gallery in Key West he even sold one of those pieces. Thats what I’m talking about!
I also taught a really fun gel medium transfer class with kids. Working with a non-toxic acrylic gel medium, students learned the mixed media method of transferring an image to a wood panel. Their ready to hang creations were finished with watercolors, colored pencils and acrylic paint.
It’s an honor to be a featured artist in this exciting exhibition which highlights the past and present work of Monroe County Grant Recipients of the prestigious South Florida Cultural Consortium Award!! Winning this award in 2001 validated and I am eternally grateful to the SFCC for their recognition of my work at such an early stage of my career!
It is a privilege to call many of these artists FRIENDS as well as INSPIRATIONS for my creative practice.
Scroll down to find more information about this fantastic exhibit as well as a list of participating artists with links to their personal websites.The opening reception is TONIGHT from 5-7pm at the Gato Building in Key West. This exhibition will be on display through May 1st, 2015 and is curated and sponsored by the Florida Keys Council of the Arts.
Monroe County Recipients of the South Florida Cultural Consortium from 1989-2014
Monroe County Recipients of the South Florida Cultural Consortium from 1989-2014