Beginning on Friday (May 13), the Dolly and Homer Hand Art Center on the campus of Stetson University will be home to an exhibition of work that best expresses the concept of the Florida School of Art. The public is invited to the opening reception, May 13 at 6 p.m. at the Hand Art Center, 139 E. Michigan Ave., DeLand.
Using forty examples of paintings drawn from private collections throughout Florida, this exhibition explores many of the crosscurrents within and directions of Florida School artists who are increasingly becoming appreciated through the recent publication of a number of award-winning academic and general studies on the subject and the opening of a museum dedicated to the history and development of Florida art, The Cici and Hyatt Brown Museum of Art at the Museum of Arts and Sciences in Daytona Beach, Florida.
The exhibition curator is Gary Libby, director emeritus of the Museum of Arts & Sciences and former assistant professor of Art History at Stetson University. The paintings date from approximately 1825 to 1925, and include work by renowned landscape artist George Inness, Ash Can School realist painter Robert Henri and Highwaymen painter Harold Newton.
The exhibition will also include one of the few surviving paintings by noted Florida artist Lois Bartlett Tracy. Tracy is known for her exploration of the west coast in and around Sarasota, where she often hitched rides in the backcountry to paint “jungle” landscapes of the distant and untouched parts of the State. Her work won a gold medal at the 1939 World’s Fair in New York, but sadly much of her Florida landscape work was lost in a fire.
The exhibition runs through July 3. More information, and Center directions and hours can be found at the Dolly and Homer Hand Art Center website, www.stetson.edu/hand, or call 386-822-7270.
Anonymous says
We need more of things like for our children to get intreated in so they have more to think about then setting some ones hair on fire just to see there. Reaction WTH kind of reaction did he think he was going to get. There needs to be more good activities in our schools, if I was to hit the lotto, I would donate almost every dime to the school district to help our children, they are our future.
anonymous says
The new exhibit about Florida painting at Stetson’s Hand Center is one of its best ! The selected work is important, the installation on a par with the big boys, and the narrative labels are a short-course in understanding where Florida historic art fits in with American art. Congratulations to all who helped bring this experience to DeLand, Volusia and central Florida ! The Oscar Bluemner drawings were very interesting as well. A must-see visit for a family who wants a quality experience in its life. The campus also looks terrific with lots of new trees and shrubs all well-cared for.