Culture Vulture
Debra Yates and the week in review
Painter and designer Debra Yates opened a new show last week at the Lemonade Stand on Petronia. On display are mostly works from 2010-2013 that have never been shown, she said. All contain her characteristic, bold forms, including some new textures. She is scheduled for an Artists Talk at the gallery on Wednesday April 2, 7 till 8:30 p.m., Featured will be “exciting and inspiring visual images of past work. A fast paced slide show tracks both bold painting and strong design, said a release. “Yates’ son and design partner Benjamin Burle has compiled a progression of 30 years immersed in Art. A slide show of the subtropical modernist projects by BURLEYATESDESIGN will also be shown in the gallery. Be at the Lemonade Stand gallery on Wednesday to see the show of her original works of painting in the gallery, pl;us a look back at and the progression of The Art of Space.”
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In addition to Yates, last week offered a series of remarkable openings, three of which – Marky Pierson’s Everything is Possible in the main gallery at the Custom House, the quartet of Coco Erikson, Elizabeth DeVries, Vera Vasek and Hellen Harrison at the Harrison Gallery and a selection of entrants into the annual competition of the Florida Keys Watercolor Society at the Key West Art Center — can still be visited.
Gone before our April publication will be the superb Lucky Street show. Most striking were Peggy Hinaekian’s abstract landscapes, but well worth seeing was the hazy realism of Seth Smith and the eye on local signage of Corryn Young. Young’s series was completed with assistance from an Anne McKee art grant.
The Art Center, matriarch of local galleries, having been founded during the WPA era, is showing a rather abbreviated selection of the annual competition’s watercolors, including only the third prize winner, Karen Beauprie’s striking Three Koi. Other winners are divided between the Redbone Gallery in Islamarada and the Marat6hon Community Theater till April 15, she said. The artists would be better served to display the work in its entirety and rotate it among the three venues.
Pierson’s vivid, often playful, distinctive work deserves a story all its own; just see it.
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The Arts Council’s Connection Project, which finally reached Key West on March 24 (Royal Furniture in Searstown) completes its journey down the Keys on April 4 at the Gato Building, with a closing reception set for 5:30 p.m. It’s richly worth seeing, for its variety – everyone from well-known professionals to schoolchildren and every possible medium, I think, are represented – and just plain charm. For you who haven’t yet seen The Abstract Eye, this is a chance for a twofer.
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Also opening formally on April 4 during Upper Duval’s First Friday Art Stroll are nature photographer Paul Carmichael’s The Mating Game at Frangipani (on display April 1-30) and the much-anticipated From a Woman’s Hand next door at SoDu. (The Gato is in fact only a short block away, at Simonton and Virginia.) Opening receptions during the stroll runn 6 till 9 p.m.
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The local theater season is far from over. At deadline the Waterfront’s Xanadu was just closing, with two shows in the wings. Also pending is a reprise of Conch Republic: the Musical, running April 25, 26 and 27 at the San Carlos, in celebration of the Conch Republic Anniversary Celebration beginning April 19 — surely one of the Keys foremost cultural statements — and the new By Popular Demand. The latter, a new play by Mike Marrero and Landon Bradbary, runs April 16 through May 3, with some cast changes each week. Interesting. At the Red Barn currently is Claiborne Park.
That’s is for now — gotta fly!
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I had coffee with Edgardo Alvarado-Vazquez this morning and he said to contact you re a novel I have just had published on Amazon. It is called “Kidnapped in Key West” and is a mystery/romance set in Key West. He thought you might be willing to do a review. I am doing a book signing at Grand Vin 1107 Duval Saturday November 29th 4 to 6 pm along with a “Turkey Leftover Challenge” event for all patrons should you wish to participate. My home phone is 305/294-5860.