One For The Baby Vultures

 

By C.S Gilbert

 

The Florida Keys Council of the Arts is a cultural umbrella organization that truly covers the Keys, from Key West to Key Largo. Based at the historic Gato Building (and former Navy commissary and mess hall, if I remember correctly) in Key West, they support and initiate myriad artistic events, from art shows in the Gato’s narrow halls to wide support of community fine, literary and performing arts through grants and competitions.

 

 

Each week they send out a blast to interested folks about anything and everything of cultural interest—defined a bit narrowly as anything pertaining to the arts—happening in the Keys. This week we were struck by the wealth of options for our young people during the fast-approaching summer vacation.

 

 

Registration is now open for Coral Camp, hosted by Reef Relief for youngsters ages 6 to 12. Offered are weekly sessions, each session meeting Monday through Friday June 9 through Aug. 15, Mondays through Fridays, 8:30 a.m. till 4:30 p.m. Their Environmental Visitor Center is at 623 Greene St. For full details and registration go to reefrelief.org/coral-camp-2014.

 

 

There are Pottery Summer Camps hosted by Key West Pottery, offering two sessions June 10-13 and Aug. 12-15 for ages 4-9 and 10-16. Pre-registration is now open, the arts council reports. Check out the pottery at keywestpottery.com and register by phone 305-900-8303 or in person at 929 Truman St. in Old Town. The pottery’s co-owner and director (with his wife) was among awardees of 2014 Anne McKee grants announced this week.

 

Key West Turtle Museum, 200 Greene St., also offers a kids’ summer camp, with weekly sessions Mondays through Thursdays, 9:30 a.m. till 3:30 p.m. They cite “June 16-19 Sea Turtles, June 23-26 Explorers, June 30-July 3 Art and Artifacts.” The registration form is online at melfisher.com. Phone: 305-294-2633.

 

The Studios of Key West and the Key West Art and Historical Society are holding another summer of Art Camp! with weekly sessions from June 16 through Aug. 1, Mondays to Fridays, 10 a.m. till 4 p.m., meeting at East Martello Museum at 3501 S. Roosevelt Blvd. For info and registration visit tskw.org.

 

Finally, according to the arts council, there is “Camp Bravo! Young and Emerging Stars Musical Theater Camp” for ages six to 14, meeting at Waterfront Playhouse at 319 Wall St., just off Mallory Square. There is a single session, June 9-27, Mondays through Fridays, noon till 5 p.m. Register online at KeysCommunitySchooloftheArts.org.

 

 

Anyone who would like to be on the council’s weekly e-blast list can subscribe via a number of ways most of which make little sense to me, but stalwart Shannon on the council staff reports, “ The same calendar you commented on with the images is also found on our website at http://keysarts.com/your_visit/weekly.html. Click on it now so you can see for yourself. Also our big online ‘Cultural Calendar’ can be found using this link: http://keysarts.mhsoftware.com/

Enjoy!

 

Also in the category of young ‘uns was the most recent show, Time Lapse, at Harrison Gallery, that of Wray pere et fils. Jimmy Wray is universally lauded as an artist in wood, creating intricate, ancient-looking mirrors and well as sleek, contemporary works, all functional art – tables and the like. In this show he was joined by his son, Louie, age 23, who got the photography bug a number of years ago and within the past couple of years has pointed an amazingly focused lens at underwater constructions and creatures. We arrived too late to this lovely show, but remember the name Wray and catch them when they show again.

 

 

Meanwhile, the gallery at 825 White St. turns to both fine and literary art for the May 15 Walk on White, which will launch Ben Harrison’s new book, Sailing Down the Mountain, A Costa Rican Adventure. In the 1970s, Ben and Helen Harrison drove from San Francisco to San Jose, Costa Rica, to build a 38-foot sailboat. The drive was just the beginning of an incredible, often humorous adventure that brought them to Key West. Harrison will be signing the book from 6 till 9 p.m.

 

And at the Lemonade Stand Gallery on lower Petronia is a new show, Sarah Boyts Yoder’s   Never Once, Twice opening Friday, May 16 with a reception 6 till 9 p.m. and, as is the gallery’s practice, a Saturday Champagne Reception May 17 from 11 a.m. till 2 p.m.

 

 

That’s it for now. Gotta fly!

 

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