Mermaids & Manatees

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Art Gallery 21 paid homage to Mayor Justin Flippen with an art exhibition with the theme of Sirens and Sea Cows. Mayor Flippen was lost to us in February 2020 and his youthful enthusiasm for the manatee as a mascot for the City and his ongoing support of the arts was what inspired us to honor him with this exhibit.

 

Three featured artists, Claudia Castillo, Florencia Clement de Grandprey and Javier Lara,  embellished fiberglass manatee statues purchased by Art Gallery 21 which were prominently displayed in the gallery alongside creations by an exceptional assemblage of local artists,  including Suzanne Barton, Susan Marie David, Susan Doll, Laura Ficorilli, Sandy Hill, Diane Montrose, Vicki Rosenthal, Lee Rossi and TrishDelishArt. The manatee statues will be donated to the City of Wilton Manors following the close of the exhibit for placement on City property as public art.

In addition, the doors to the Woman’s Club of Wilton Manors, the home of Art Gallery 21, were wrapped with a manatee design by Dawn Rupersburg of Sunlight Apparel and will remain for a while to come.

In this Pandemic Year, the gallery discovered new ways to deliver art experiences to our friends and followers. The featured artists created videos about their creative processes and our social media platforms hosted musical performances that were recorded in the gallery following  safety protocols. It’s been a challenge, for sure, but our volunteers have been remarkable in their responses to keeping the gallery relevant for which the community has expressed gratitude. In a time when the future seemed unknowable, art was able to bring joy to the lives of so many and it was done in memory of a wonderful young man.

Funding for this project was partially provided by the Broward County Board of County Commissioners as recommended by the Broward Cultural Council.

 

ABOUT ART GALLERY 21

Art Gallery 21, Inc. is a Florida-registered 501c3 non-profit organization working in partnership with Wilton Manors Leisure Services Department to bring art and cultural experiences to the residents and visitors of the Island City. We are housed in the historic Woman’s Club of Wilton Manors, a public building now growing into an active cultural center for the community. To submit your original work for consideration in a future art show, please review our gallery guidelines. Our schedule is planned in July for the following period of October to May. If you would like to donate to Art Gallery 21, volunteer during one of our events or exhibits, or have a general inquiry, please send us an email at ArtGallery21WCWM@gmail.com or call/text 954.225.5488.

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