SPOTLIGHT on the ARTIST!Janet Onofrey moved from Pennsylvania to South Florida where, she says, the sunlight and mild weather beckoned her to paint, “in the open air,” en plein air. Her Masters Degree in Painting led to a residency in Provence, France and time in Barcelona and Paris. She was awarded the South Florida Cultural Consortium Visual and Media Artist Fellowship judged for her extensive body of work. She was accepted into the Skopelos Foundation of Art Residency on Skopelos Island off the coast of Greece in 2016.
Janet has a resume that goes for days. You can see it all here. This ‘spotlight’ is on our friend, the artist we know at Art Gallery 21.
We first spotted Janet with her easel and paints at Justin Flippen Park one fine Saturday morning many years ago. She was painting Out of the Closet. After learning that our little neighborhood art gallery was just down the street, she came to visit. She was ever so encouraging of us as we were still finding our way as a gallery and when we invited her to do a show sometime in the future, we were delighted when she said she would. Since then, Janet has done two one-woman exhibits at Art Gallery 21 and was the inspiration for our upcoming paintout on Wilton Drive. It was her experience and wisdom that gave us the confidence to seek funding from Broward Cultural Division to hold this day long event! So, on Saturday, November 18th the day will include painting in the morning, submitting work for the exhibit in the afternoon, and presenting the exhibit and awards in the evening – an art filled day for sure!
Janet will serve as our jurist for our plein air event, selecting the work to be included in the exhibit. We’re hoping our young artists will join in as well and have dedicated a space in the gallery for their creations!
Thanks to support from Broward Cultural Division and the City of Wilton Manors Leisure Services Department, we will be offering extended gallery hours from November 24th through December 9th, open from 12 Noon to 6 PM on Thursday, Friday and Saturday and we hope residents and visitors to the Island City will take the opportunity to experience this unique art form that has taken the country by storm. They say plein air is the new golf!
When not spotted on the side of the road painting, Janet can be found teaching drawing and painting in several mediums, as well as urban sketching at Boca Raton Museum School of Art and privately. You can see more examples of her work here. If you join us for our Do You Plein Air? event, you’ll have a chance to meet her in person and will discover what a wonderful human being she is! And, so darned talented! From all of us here at Art Gallery 21, “Thank You, Janet!!”
ABOUT ART GALLERY 21
Established in 2012, 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 Island City. Located in the Island City Cultural Center at 600 NE 21st Court in Wilton Manors, Florida, Art Gallery 21 is a volunteer-based organization dedicated to promoting local artists and their creations. To donate to Art Gallery 21, volunteer during an event or exhibit, or for a general inquiry, please email ArtGallery21WCWM@gmail.com or call/text 954.225.5488. Follow Art Gallery 21 on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.