- April 20, 2024
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The Florida Women's Art Association's exhibit, "Fresh Works 3: Transitions," will be on display at the Casements through Feb. 27. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
Nancy McElroy, of Ormond Beach, poses with her clay sculpture "Hideaway." Photo by Jarleene Almenas
Marianne Verna, of Ormond Beach, has two pieces in the show: "Yellow Hibiscus" (lower left) and "Anacapri" (right.) Photo by Jarleene Almenas
Christine Broussard, of Ormond-by-the-Sea, stands beside her piece "Harbinger of Good News," a mixed media on canvas artwork. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
LC Tobey, of Ormond Beach, was inspired by the Rubik's Cube for her glass art sculpture "Getting into the Mind of Erno Rubik." Photo by Jarleene Almenas
Elaine Tillard, of Ormond Beach, displays her mixed media art piece, "No ER Shift Change Today." Photo by Jarleene Almenas
Kathleen Pruett, of Ormond Beach, shows off her photograph "The Shadow of a Palm." Photo by Jarleene Almenas
Ormond resident Margé Drew's piece in the Casements is a watercolor painting titled, "Faerie Dancers." Photo by Jarleene Almenas
Constance Dempsey, of Palm Coast, presents "Flowers on Windowsill." Photo by Jarleene Almenas
Evelina Okerstrom, of New Smyrna Beach, shows off her watercolor painting, "Garden Sculptures." Photo by Jarleene Almenas
The Florida Women's Art Association is comprised of over 60 women from central Florida. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
The Big Pause.
That's the phrase the Florida Women's Art Association uses to describe the period of reduced activity caused by cancelation after cancelation of art exhibits due to the pandemic. As art shows begin to cautiously return to museums and local galleries, FLWAA's latest exhibition examines the growth completed during the past year, appropriately titled "Fresh Works 3: Transitions."
“Each artist took ‘Transitions,’ and they used it to express where they were at in their lives — whether it would be a painting of a landscape or whether it would be of women," FLWAA President LC Tobey said. "It told a story about their transitioning.”
A total of 28 artists' works are currently on display at The Casements, located at 25 Riverside Drive. The exhibition will run through Feb. 27, and can viewed during the Casements regular hours of 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, as well as 8 a.m. to noon on Saturdays. In addition, at 2 p.m. each Thursday in February, a FLWAA member artist will host a one-hour salon where, after an introductory talk, guests will be able to converse with the artist.
The concept of the exhibition, and the salons, came from FLWAA member and photographer Kathleen Pruett, said Tobey. The idea of Transitions spurred the membership, which totals over 60 women, to interact with each other to come up with different concepts, ideas, as well as build each other up.
“As women, I think that’s very important — that we network together and encourage each other with positive energy," Tobey said.
For FLWAA Vice President Janet Bernadini, the Big Pause caused her to want to find new way to explore her photography, she said in a press release. She discovered Gelli plate printing, a medium to make monoprints with impressed objects, on YouTube, and she combined that with her photography in a way she describes as reminiscent of silkscreen. That technique is displayed with her piece "Shorebirds," which is part of the exhibition.
"Looking at the work in the show, it is very apparent that many of the members have also been exploring a new voice in their work by reaching out for new was ways to express their ideas," Bernadini said. "Some have gone to larger or smaller scale, some have become more introspective, some have become more playful, but all have found ways to continue to grow through their art."
Tobey's artwork falls into the playful category. Her glass art piece, "Getting into the Mind of Erno Rubik," deconstructs a Rubik's Cube to study the Hungarian Inventor's thought process in creating the colorful puzzle.
Though the Ormond Beach resident has been working with glass, both fused and stained, for three decades, she said she's focused on the art form more in the past five years.
“I just like the way it captures the light and it changes the light," Tobey said. "To me, the light just dances off of a glass.”
Tobey's vision for the future of FLWAA is also to grow. Most of the membership is from Volusia and Flagler counties, but as president, Tobey said she aims to come up with creative ways to connect with artists beyond the local community. With the ongoing pandemic, that often means using virtual platforms such as Zoom.
Still, those connections are a critical part of FLWAA's mission.
“Artists need to celebrate each other as a means of stretching themselves as individuals and as a community," Tobey said. "Sharing each other’s work, I’ve found, is vital to the sustainability and innovation of the arts. When we cross-pollinate with artists of all forms of expression, it creates spirit that resonates with lovers of the arts.”
FLWAA would also love to begin popup shows at all four parks in the corners of the Granada bridge. Art is a great way for people to find an escape, Tobey said. No matter the subject matter, or the medium, art makes you feel good.
“Art is inspirational," Tobey said. "It touches the heart. It touches the soul, and I think you walk away with a different perspective of your life and where your life is going.”
