February Exhibitions and Events at Polk Museum of Art

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EXHIBITIONS

8th Annual Florida Outdoor Sculpture Competition
ends February 2009
The Florida Outdoor Sculpture Competition, a joint project of Polk Museum of Art and the City of Winter Haven, is quickly becoming one of the most prestigious outdoor sculpture competitions in the country. The ten sculptures installed in the Central Park area of Downtown Winter Haven will be removed early this month.

Radcliffe Bailey: Between Two Worlds
through March 1, 2009
Radcliffe Bailey is an important African-American artist whose works incorporate painting, collage, and old family photographs. His pieces explore African-American history, as well as his own personal history.

Miroslav Antic: Family Album
through March 1, 2009
Miroslav Antic’s work can best be described as “romantic” and “dreamy” illusionist paintings that feature old family photographs repainted at a large scale. However, he covers these images with a sheer layer of paint that seems to veil the image from our view and adds a pattern on top, a pattern that sometimes appears as water droplets and sometimes as simple dots, to remind us that what we are looking at is just out of reach.

A Moment in Time: Works from the Permanent Collection
through February 25, 2009
As the world around us seems to continue to speed up, one of the advantages of art is that it gives us an opportunity to consider things on our time rather than as they rush by us. This exhibition of works from the Museum’s Permanent Collection provides many such opportunities. Included are paintings, prints, drawings and photographs, representations of scenes both real and imagined, that show how pausing the action for a moment affords us the best chance to consider all the possibilities around us.

Art and Design: Balance
through April 5, 2009
This exhibition is a second in a series of exhibitions over the next two years that will demonstrate the role of the Principles of Design within artworks in the Museum’s Permanent Collection. Upcoming exhibitions will focus on Proportion, Rhythm, Contrast and Movement. In this exhibition, we will explore how artists arrange elements in their compositions in order to distribute the "weight" of the image.

STUDENT EXHIBITIONS AND RECEPTIONS

Harrison School of the Arts Exhibition
through March 1, 2009

EVENTS

The Gala 2009
Saturday, February 28, 2009, 6:00pm – 12:00am
Cost: $350 per person
Polk Museum of Art’s annual black-tie benefit is also one of the best parties in Central Florida. It’s a memorable evening of dancing, socializing, and a wonderful gourmet dinner. A silent auction takes place throughout the evening, as well. Items for auction range from sports memorabilia, great vacation getaways, gourmet meals, jewelry, and more!

LECTURES AND TOURS

Behind the Art: Photography
Friday, February 6, 12:15 – 1:15pm
Cost: Free with Museum admission
Join Krystal Lockhart for a lunchtime presentation about alternative photography methods, followed by a brief workshop for the amateur photographer.

Creative Studies Series - Beyond Belief: Can We Transcend the Dogmas that Divide Us?
Saturday, February 21, 2008, 5:00 – 7:30pm
COST: $12 Members, $15 Non-Members
Join the Center for Creative Studies for wine, light hors d’oeuvres, and a program about Art, Spirituality, Health, or Creativity. Kate Posey will lead a discussion about America's pluralist society, and how that pluralism can lead to polarizing reactions. Willing participants will enact a fable that explores four life approaches, with a discussion about the meaning of the fable and how it applies to each person's life. Registration with payment is due by February 16.

Curator Tour
Tuesday, February 17, 2008, 10:30am
Cost: Free with Museum admission
Join the Curator of Art on a walking tour of the exhibition Radcliffe Bailey: Between Two Worlds.

CLASSES

SpringArt
February 3 – March 26, 2009
Cost: Fee per class. Call 863-688-5423 for details.
Art classes offered for students of all ages and experience levels. Classes include photography, painting, and life drawing.

After School Art
Mondays, February 2 – March 23, 2009, 4:30 – 5:30pm
COST: FREE for everyone
Bring the kids to the Museum on Monday afternoons for a free art activity! Each week our educator will present a different project designed for children of all ages and abilities.
February 2
February 9
February 16
February 23

WORKSHOPS

Family Fun Workshops
Saturdays, 10:30 – noon
COST: FREE for everyone
Drop in for a free workshop designed to accommodate children of all abilities. Workshops will be held on the following dates and at Polk Museum of Art unless noted otherwise:

February 7 - Folk Art at Polk Museum of Art
February 28 - Folk Art at Polk County Historical Museum, Bartow

The Business of Fine Art: Making Your Creativity Profitable
Saturday, February 7, 10:00am–3:30pm. Bring your lunch.
Cost: $60 Members, $75 Non-Members
Registration deadline: February 4
In this informative workshop, instructor Edwin Ryan Bailey will cover the basics for the artist or artist’s representative emerging into the world of professional fine arts: self-promotion, pricing artwork, artist’s resumes, portfolio and image presentation, artist’s statements, press-releases, booking exhibitions, etc. The presentation is designed to help working artists get the edge in a highly competitive market. Participants are encouraged to bring images of their work (if available) and materials for note-taking. Subject hand outs are provided on each of the topics.

Edwin Ryan Bailey's experience includes over two decades as a professional artist and over 15 years teaching on the college level.  He has taught drawing and design at Florida Southern College in Lakeland and painting at various arts organizations.  He has had numerous exhibitions and his work is found in both public and private collections.  Bailey is an art reviewer and is the editor of Art-i-facts Magazine.  His views on art as a profession were featured in the book Careers in Art by Blythe Camenson.

Silk Painting Workshop: Isn’t it Romantic!
Saturday, February 21, 10:00am-3:00pm. Bring your lunch.
Cost: $75 Members, $90 Non-Members
Registration deadline: February 18
Silk Painting is creating art on fabric, with silk as the canvas, using vibrant dyes specifically created for this purpose. Vicky Luffman will show you how to stretch the silk, plan your design and prepare the silk for painting.  Silk painting is a direct paint-on method. Dyes are applied to silk using an exciting array of watercolor techniques. Silk painting is not static; movement and fluidity are the hallmark of this art form. The colors applied to silk find a life and vibrancy that are unique and not shared by any other medium.

All materials will be provided, including design ideas, or, you may wish to bring a photograph or picture that inspires you. (Flowers, landscape, & still life subjects are best for first time silk painters.)  It is suggested that you bring an art apron or an oversized T-shirt to wear due to the permanency of the dyes. You will complete a piece suitable for framing, as well as creating a beautiful scarf to wear.

CRITIQUE

View & Review:  Critiquing Emerging Artists
Friday, February 20, 6:00 – 9:00pm
COST: $15 Artists, $5 Audience. Cash Bar.
Ever wondered what goes on in an artist’s head when they’re creating art? Or what an art professional sees when he or she looks at a piece of art? Then join us for this new series of events! Local artists are encouraged to bring their latest work to show off, and we’ll provide the art professional, wine, and light hors d’oeuvres. Even if you’re not an artist, this is a great way to learn about art and artists in a relaxed, intimate setting.

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Polk Museum of Art is located in Lakeland, Florida.  The Museum is a private, not-for-profit organization dedicated to promoting the arts in Central Florida.  The Museum is one of the top ten art museums in the state of Florida and the only art museum accredited by the American Association of Museums serving the 530,000 residents of Polk County.  Museum hours are Tuesday – Saturday, 10a.m. – 5p.m.; and Sunday, 1 – 5p.m. Admission is $5 for adults, $4 for seniors. Members, students and children are admitted free. The Museum is closed on Mondays and major holidays. The Museum is fully accessible.

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