On Exhibit January 19th through February 13th
“Joyful Art from the Heart,”
Paintings by Sally Myers
The Unitarian Universalist Church of Sarasota is pleased to host “Joyful Art from the Heart” – an exhibit of paintings by Sally Myers. The exhibit will be on display in the Lexow Wing Gallery from January 19th through February 13th. The opening receptions will be held on Sunday, January 19th, at 11:00 AM and 12:30 – 1:00 PM.
After a long and successful career in the fashion and musical theater world, Sally picked up paint brushes, palette knife and canvas. She says, “my passion for beautiful colors, flowers and nature make my heart sing and my soul feel spirited. My world bursting with color and brushes in hand brings me unending joy and inspiration.” We invite you to share in her joy!
After a long and successful career in the fashion and musical theater world, Sally picked up paint brushes, palette knife and canvas. She says, “my passion for beautiful colors, flowers and nature make my heart sing and my soul feel spirited. My world bursting with color and brushes in hand brings me unending joy and inspiration.” We invite you to share in her joy!
There will also be a pop-up “Love is in the Air” exhibit of small art pieces by UUCS Arts Council members celebrating the approach of Valentine’s Day.Please stop in the gallery to see both these exhibits!
Gallery Hours
Tuesday through Friday, 10:00 am to 3:00 pm
Sunday 10:00 am to 12:30 pm
Free admission to everyone.
Tuesday through Friday, 10:00 am to 3:00 pm
Sunday 10:00 am to 12:30 pm
Free admission to everyone.
Unitarian Universalist Church of Sarasota's Arts Council
The church and its members have a rich history of support and involvement in the Arts. The mission of the Arts Council is to provide Members and Friends of the Church avenues for artistic expression and appreciation.
The Lexow Wing of the Church was designed as a gallery to help fulfill the mission of the Arts Council. We are proud of the artistic endeavors of our members and others in the community who exhibit their work in the Gallery.
The Arts Council meets the first Saturday of every month at 1:00 pm in the Gallery. If you are interested in the arts, we invite you to visit us at our next meeting. Membership in the UU Arts Council is open to all Church Members and Friends with an interest in the arts and a desire to share your interest with others.
Come share cultural information, help research artists, set up and promote exhibits, help preserve and encourage the aesthetic heritage of the Church, and have some fun in the process.
Current Arts Council members include: Joan Boyce, Sally Coler, Kathy Cook, Gail Coppock, Linda Cordisco, Bet Cummings, Cathy Cyrus, Katya De Luisa, Donald Diddams, Peg Green, Judi Hennard, Esther Jensen, Linda Classon, Sue Kennedy, Valerie Kerwin, John Kokajko, Kathleen Konicek-Moran, Dorothy Okray, Genevieve Perkins, Rick Randall, Rhoda Taylor, Betsy Wilford, and Liz Wolfe.
Above all, enjoy the wonderful art exhibits in the Lexow Wing Gallery brought to us through the efforts of the Arts Council!
The church and its members have a rich history of support and involvement in the Arts. The mission of the Arts Council is to provide Members and Friends of the Church avenues for artistic expression and appreciation.
The Lexow Wing of the Church was designed as a gallery to help fulfill the mission of the Arts Council. We are proud of the artistic endeavors of our members and others in the community who exhibit their work in the Gallery.
The Arts Council meets the first Saturday of every month at 1:00 pm in the Gallery. If you are interested in the arts, we invite you to visit us at our next meeting. Membership in the UU Arts Council is open to all Church Members and Friends with an interest in the arts and a desire to share your interest with others.
Come share cultural information, help research artists, set up and promote exhibits, help preserve and encourage the aesthetic heritage of the Church, and have some fun in the process.
Current Arts Council members include: Joan Boyce, Sally Coler, Kathy Cook, Gail Coppock, Linda Cordisco, Bet Cummings, Cathy Cyrus, Katya De Luisa, Donald Diddams, Peg Green, Judi Hennard, Esther Jensen, Linda Classon, Sue Kennedy, Valerie Kerwin, John Kokajko, Kathleen Konicek-Moran, Dorothy Okray, Genevieve Perkins, Rick Randall, Rhoda Taylor, Betsy Wilford, and Liz Wolfe.
Above all, enjoy the wonderful art exhibits in the Lexow Wing Gallery brought to us through the efforts of the Arts Council!
Click on the artwork below to view members' online displays of art:
Gail Coppock
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Betty Cummings
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Donald Diddams
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Peg Green
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John Kokajko
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Kathleen Konicek-Moran
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Dorothy Okray
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Past exhibits:
On Exhibit December 13th through January 16th
“VEIL” by Jana Millstone,
and
Jewelry by Gail Coppock
The Unitarian Universalist Church of Sarasota is pleased to host the exhibits “VEIL” by Jana Millstone, and jewelry by Gail Coppock. A public Opening Reception will be held Friday, December 13th, from 5:00 to 7:30 PM. Church receptions will be held on Sunday, December 15th, at 11:00 AM and 12:30 – 1:00 PM.
“VEIL” is a thoughtful and moving exhibition of works about women’s rights that uses the veil as a metaphor. It focuses on women living under fundamentalist regimes, but the intent is to explore issues of enlightenment, tolerance and free will for all people.
Millstone says, in part, “Veils are barriers. They obstruct views from both sides. For me, the veil becomes an intriguing way to explore the idea of alternate vantage points. These paintings are about giving voice to contrasting notions, and possibly more important, offering the visual metaphor for the shrouding of truth. I am moved by the compelling humanity that surges from the figures of women in burqas and niqabs (facial veils.)”
The exhibit of handmade jewelry by Gail Coppock incorporates fused glass, alligator vertebrae, fossils, and more. Gail writes that “I've been making one-of-a-kind jewelry since the macrame days of the 1970s and have always enjoyed experimenting with diverse materials. The pieces in my current pedestal display reflect this interest.”
“VEIL” is a thoughtful and moving exhibition of works about women’s rights that uses the veil as a metaphor. It focuses on women living under fundamentalist regimes, but the intent is to explore issues of enlightenment, tolerance and free will for all people.
Millstone says, in part, “Veils are barriers. They obstruct views from both sides. For me, the veil becomes an intriguing way to explore the idea of alternate vantage points. These paintings are about giving voice to contrasting notions, and possibly more important, offering the visual metaphor for the shrouding of truth. I am moved by the compelling humanity that surges from the figures of women in burqas and niqabs (facial veils.)”
The exhibit of handmade jewelry by Gail Coppock incorporates fused glass, alligator vertebrae, fossils, and more. Gail writes that “I've been making one-of-a-kind jewelry since the macrame days of the 1970s and have always enjoyed experimenting with diverse materials. The pieces in my current pedestal display reflect this interest.”
On Display November 24th – December 12th
“UUCS Members’ Exhibit”
The UUCS Arts Council is proud to present this exhibit of art by the Members and Friends of our church. Over 27 artists have work on display, and their work highlights the creativity and craftsmanship among our members.
Come to the Lexow Wing Gallery and discover who these artists are and what they have to say with their art. This annual exhibit will be on display from November 24th through December 12th.
On Exhibit October 20th through November 10th, 2019
“Goddesses Ancient and Modern” by Peg Green,
and
“Pine Needle Baskets” by Kathryn Erickson.
The UUCS Arts Council is pleased to host “Goddesses Ancient and Modern”, fabric art by Peg Green, and “Pine Needle Baskets” by Kathryn Erickson. The opening reception for these two artists will be held Sunday, October 20th, from 11:30 AM to 1:00 PM in the Church’s Lexow Wing Gallery.
Peg Green says: “This is the first public showing of a series that has been my artistic focus for 2 years based on the ancient “Mother Goddess” and “Venus” figurines found in archaeological discoveries across the world. My artworks present characteristic styles from different regions and eras going back as far as 30,000 BC, reinterpreted in fabric. The show also includes research on the ancient cultures and art.”
Kathryn Erickson’s display modernizes the historical pine needle basket to the present day, as local Muhly Grass joins and sometimes replaces pine needles and encircles agate slices to create a basket form that is so much more than a basket. Her unique construction shows what can be done with needle and thread and has been awarded many prizes in various exhibits.
Their work will be on exhibit through November 10th. Please stop in the gallery to see it!
Peg Green says: “This is the first public showing of a series that has been my artistic focus for 2 years based on the ancient “Mother Goddess” and “Venus” figurines found in archaeological discoveries across the world. My artworks present characteristic styles from different regions and eras going back as far as 30,000 BC, reinterpreted in fabric. The show also includes research on the ancient cultures and art.”
Kathryn Erickson’s display modernizes the historical pine needle basket to the present day, as local Muhly Grass joins and sometimes replaces pine needles and encircles agate slices to create a basket form that is so much more than a basket. Her unique construction shows what can be done with needle and thread and has been awarded many prizes in various exhibits.
Their work will be on exhibit through November 10th. Please stop in the gallery to see it!
On Exhibit September 15th through October 17th
“Homelessness in Focus”
Portraits by photographer Allan Mestel
The UUCS Arts Council is pleased to host this thought-provoking exhibit by photographer Allan Mestel. The opening reception will be held Sunday, September 15th, from 11:30 AM to 1:00 PM in the Lexow Wing Gallery.
About the Exhibit
Outside of his work as a commercial and portrait photographer, Allan Mestel’s passion is street photography, specifically street portraiture. His candid, un-posed images of those he captures create what he terms “encounter experiences” for the viewer, an opportunity to look into the faces of those living in the margins eye to eye, on equal terms. The foundational philosophy that underpins this work is that every human life has equal value regardless of economic circumstances, homelessness, addiction, or mental illness.
His shooting protocols (such as always shooting at eye level, never down, and always shooting in close proximity to his subjects) are geared towards creating respectful and intimate portraits of those who are rarely looked square in the eye in life.
The series featured here, ‘Homelessness in Focus’, is a body of portrait work captured over the last two years with the intent of humanizing the homeless community in Southwest Florida.
About Allan Mestel
Allan grew up with photography in his blood. Both his father and brother were cinematographers and by the time he was 10 years old he had a full darkroom set up in his grandmother’s hall closet. By the age of 17 Allan was working full time in the film production business and spent the next 25 years as a photographer and filmmaker in his native Toronto. He has been the recipient of both national and international awards and both as a photographer and as a director and editor of TV commercials. In 1992 he was one of the recipients of the Gold Bessie, awarded for the best TV commercial in Canada.
Since 2015 Allan has owned and operated Allan Mestel Photography, a commercial and portrait photography business in Bradenton, Florida, where he lives with his wife and two small children. Allan’s personal projects are showcased at www.streetworkstudios.com and his commercial work can be seen at www.mestelphoto.com.
Outside of his work as a commercial and portrait photographer, Allan Mestel’s passion is street photography, specifically street portraiture. His candid, un-posed images of those he captures create what he terms “encounter experiences” for the viewer, an opportunity to look into the faces of those living in the margins eye to eye, on equal terms. The foundational philosophy that underpins this work is that every human life has equal value regardless of economic circumstances, homelessness, addiction, or mental illness.
His shooting protocols (such as always shooting at eye level, never down, and always shooting in close proximity to his subjects) are geared towards creating respectful and intimate portraits of those who are rarely looked square in the eye in life.
The series featured here, ‘Homelessness in Focus’, is a body of portrait work captured over the last two years with the intent of humanizing the homeless community in Southwest Florida.
About Allan Mestel
Allan grew up with photography in his blood. Both his father and brother were cinematographers and by the time he was 10 years old he had a full darkroom set up in his grandmother’s hall closet. By the age of 17 Allan was working full time in the film production business and spent the next 25 years as a photographer and filmmaker in his native Toronto. He has been the recipient of both national and international awards and both as a photographer and as a director and editor of TV commercials. In 1992 he was one of the recipients of the Gold Bessie, awarded for the best TV commercial in Canada.
Since 2015 Allan has owned and operated Allan Mestel Photography, a commercial and portrait photography business in Bradenton, Florida, where he lives with his wife and two small children. Allan’s personal projects are showcased at www.streetworkstudios.com and his commercial work can be seen at www.mestelphoto.com.
On Exhibit July 21st through September 12th
“Equine Meadows”
Paintings by Carol Buck
The Arts Council of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Sarasota is pleased to present this exhibit of paintings by artist Carol Buck, July 21st through September 12th, 2019, in the Church’s Lexow Wing Gallery. The opening reception will be from 11:30 AM to 1:00 PM, Sunday, July 21st.
Buck says, “My life experience began as a native Texan, which did at times include cowgirl hats and horses. As my travels led away from Texas, I was fortunate to experience the professions of nursing, aviation/flight instructing and art, and eventually assumed roles as a teacher in each. Art has unquestionably been the common sustaining thread beginning in grammar school and lasting to the present.”
“My oil paintings come alive on canvas or wood panel. The base color is often gold or silver metal leaf, adding a rich tone to the colors that follow. With my interest in drawing, silverpoint has presented a unique medium with challenging approaches. Both gold leaf gilding and silverpoint drawing are ancient techniques that are especially appealing to me.” For questions about her work, contact buckstudio@gmail.com .
The exhibit will be open during Gallery hours and after services on Sunday through September 12th, 2019. Take advantage of this opportunity to see this uniquely detailed work!
Buck says, “My life experience began as a native Texan, which did at times include cowgirl hats and horses. As my travels led away from Texas, I was fortunate to experience the professions of nursing, aviation/flight instructing and art, and eventually assumed roles as a teacher in each. Art has unquestionably been the common sustaining thread beginning in grammar school and lasting to the present.”
“My oil paintings come alive on canvas or wood panel. The base color is often gold or silver metal leaf, adding a rich tone to the colors that follow. With my interest in drawing, silverpoint has presented a unique medium with challenging approaches. Both gold leaf gilding and silverpoint drawing are ancient techniques that are especially appealing to me.” For questions about her work, contact buckstudio@gmail.com .
The exhibit will be open during Gallery hours and after services on Sunday through September 12th, 2019. Take advantage of this opportunity to see this uniquely detailed work!
On Exhibit May 19th through July 18th
"Celebrating Botanical Art”
Paintings and drawings by members of the
Florida Society of Botanical Artists
The Florida Society of Botanical Artists is honoring the American Society of Botanical Artists’ Silver Anniversary with this exhibit of original drawings and paintings by 15 of its artist/members. The UUCS Arts Council is proud to present this exhibit. The opening reception will be held in the Church’s Lexow Wing Gallery from 11:30 AM to 1:00 PM, Sunday, May 19th.
The Florida Society of Botanical Artists, a chapter of the American Society of Botanical Artists, was formed to provide support and professional development to its members as well as sharing their passion for botanical art with the community of artists, art lovers and others inspired by the beauty of the natural world. In addition to the artwork, the exhibit will include information on some of the techniques and research that goes into this work.
The exhibit will be open during Gallery hours and after services on Sunday through July 18th, 2019. Take advantage of this opportunity to see this uniquely detailed work!
The Florida Society of Botanical Artists, a chapter of the American Society of Botanical Artists, was formed to provide support and professional development to its members as well as sharing their passion for botanical art with the community of artists, art lovers and others inspired by the beauty of the natural world. In addition to the artwork, the exhibit will include information on some of the techniques and research that goes into this work.
The exhibit will be open during Gallery hours and after services on Sunday through July 18th, 2019. Take advantage of this opportunity to see this uniquely detailed work!
On Exhibit April 21st through May 16th
“A Good Earth”
Themed Members Art Exhibit
“[We] look not to a perfect heaven, but toward a good earth.”
This quote is from the personal credo of Ed Schempp, a lifelong Unitarian-Universalist activist. Please come to the Gallery and see what our UUCS Members and Friends have created in response to “A Good Earth” as our theme. The pictures here are just a small sample.
The UUCS Arts Council is privileged to present exhibits like this in the Lexow Gallery that differentiate it from other art venues in the area by emphasizing themes that invite direct discourse with the world, such as social justice and environmental interdependence. We are grateful for this privilege.
The exhibit will be open during Gallery hours and after services on Sunday through May 16th, 2019. Take a few minutes to see this artwork – and think about what “A Good Earth” means to you!
The UUCS Arts Council is privileged to present exhibits like this in the Lexow Gallery that differentiate it from other art venues in the area by emphasizing themes that invite direct discourse with the world, such as social justice and environmental interdependence. We are grateful for this privilege.
The exhibit will be open during Gallery hours and after services on Sunday through May 16th, 2019. Take a few minutes to see this artwork – and think about what “A Good Earth” means to you!