Arts Council Presents The Connections Project 2016 TOUR

The Florida Keys Council of the Arts works to support all the arts, in all the Keys, all the time. The local arts agency launched its fourth annual Connections Project road show in Key Largo a few months ago and it has arrived (following 4 Keys’ stops along the way!) in Key West at the spacious Royal Furniture showroom in Searstown. The Opening Reception this Friday, April 8th from 5:30-7:30 is hosted by the Elwell family and Royal Furniture. The community is invited to visit the vibrant 24-foot mosaic mural created by local artists and art lovers. The reception with wine and hors d’oeuvres is open to the public. Parking is available in the center located at 3326 North Roosevelt Blvd.

The Connections Project is one of the Arts Council’s more innovative fundraising activities connecting community members with local arts and cultural initiatives. The Arts Council provides a 6×6 blank canvas to local professional artists and artistic residents who then create a piece of art. “We asked them to create art on the canvases in whatever medium or style they chose,” Elizabeth Young, Executive Director explains. “The project is now in its fourth year and the work is outstanding — it really reflects the beauty and the uniqueness of the Keys.” The individual canvases — produced in mediums ranging from oils and watercolor to photography, collage, fabric arts and mixed media — showcase subjects including bright-pink tropical flowers, realistically-depicted birds and sea life, abstract symbols, turquoise ocean and shore, blazing red-orange sunsets, island denizens and waving palms. There’s even a carefully stitched patchwork house with a dog in the window, seemingly waiting for its family’s return.

After connecting with the art, patrons can also collect art by making a $35 donation for one canvas or a $100 donation for three at any reception or online at www.keysarts.com. Once the road show has ended, donors receive a randomly selected piece of the mosaic in the mail. Each work includes an artist statement providing insight into the origin of the work and the artist’s thoughts and inspiration.

Proceeds from Connections Project directly benefit Keys’ artists and arts organizations through Arts Council grants, including the Artists in Schools grant, the audience development grant known as ArtReach and a Special Projects grant.

For more information call the Florida Keys Council of the Arts at 305.295.4369 or visit www.keysarts.com.

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