Window of Art

The corner windows of the CVS pharmacy at 500 Duval Street, previously known in the community as Fast Buck Freddie’s, an artful department store of the past, is host to a display of artwork by local painters Martha Cook and Jimi Lehmkuhl. The show runs through August 15th.

Both Martha and Jimi are academically trained painters who have a passion for painting and have made it their profession. This “window art show”, is a culmination of their years of experience as individuals and as friends. Though Martha’s work is reflective of impressionism and Jimi’s of surrealism, there is a cohesion, like two languages saying the same thing, except visually.

Martha has lived in Key West for 41 years, in her words, “ I am a student of Van Gogh and Milton Avery”. I have always painted – murals, clothing, portraits, still life’s and landscapes; for years I painted the local PUTT PUTT Golf figures.” Jimi has lived in Key West since 1979, an art instructor for public schools and private, he has created murals in homes, restaurants and retail stores throughout Florida and the east coast. “Jimi sculpts the human form with his brush, entwining the figure to an embryonic state, while painting landscapes fertile with life, all reflections of a painters mind”, states Karen Wray, Collections, Key West Gallery.

Many of Martha’s landscape paintings are inspired by her yearly, week long, solo adventures into the Everglades, as well as the Australian Pine forest at Fort Zachary Taylor. Another influence was her friend, patron and employer David Wolkowsky. David hired her for years to copy works by art masters, Martha was David’s ‘painter’. He would find a lovely obscure painting and ask Martha to reproduce it, she was invariably dead-on.  Matisse, Maillol, Diego Rivera; all painted on moveable screens and canvas’s, whatever it was, he wanted it BIG! Seldom seen since her showings at Lucky Street Gallery, she also showed at WoodenHead and Moira’s Gallery.

Jimi was originally trained as a sign painter who evolved into mural paintings as a profession, while continuing to pursue his own creative needs. His sense of realism and mastery of faux art, translates into large floors painted to look like that of a jungle, where patrons followed wooden pathways and avoided realistic snakes! He painted the Miami Subs throughout the southeast; luscious scenes from his imagination, depicting jungles of birds and flowers, a tropical paradise one could step into.

The show begins with Molly and Me”, two young friends and fellow painters, Martha and Molly, sitting at a table in front of a window, having a glass of red wine as light seems to pour over them. Adjacent is a classic still life, “Sunflowers”, no doubt inspired by the works of Van Gogh. And what landscape scenario of Key West would be without “Poinciana’s in the Cemetery”?

Woven into the show, are Jimi’s paintings of sensuous shapes and figures. “Sleeping on the Beach”, an anonymous figure lying on the beach, is bathed in ocean and light. Below Sunflowers” is “Weeping”, a graceful and stylized portrait of a weeping willow. Juxtaposed is a very realistic “Egret” surrounded by banana leaves and white flowers. Included also, are elegant portraits of flowers, reminiscent of Georgia O’Keefe.

This show is a great opportunity to connect with two longtime Key West painters who have portrayed our world through the classic lens of painting, one impressionist, the other surrealist, holding hands in color form and light. In these uncertain days of public interaction, this is a very safe way to view art, from the sidewalk in open air. Thank you CVS pharmacy through your continued support of the community as well as a unique way to share art and culture. Thanks goes also to The Florida Keys Council of the Arts for their support and administration. The show will run through August 15th at CVS, 500 Duval Street. For inquires, please contact Karen at 305-923-4778   collectionskeywest.com

[livemarket market_name="KONK Life LiveMarket" limit=3 category=“” show_signup=0 show_more=0]