By Marta Rose-Thorpe
I want to talk about Art! Recently I had the opportunity to interview Dr. Marlene East, a resident of the Grand Lagoon in Panama City Beach and founder of Marlene East Glass Art (www.marleneeastglassart.com). As oftentimes happens, one interesting person leads you to another. My friend and photographer of Grand Lagoon Life magazine, Steve Wiggins knows Marlene and introduced us. Steve knows I have an interest in the arts and a passion for attracting and developing art and culture to our area, so interviewing a local artist for my web-based show, Grand Lagoon Life, The Show, was in order!
Marlene’s fused glass art is a reflection of her life in Panama City Beach and in the Grand Lagoon. She creates functional glass pieces featuring sea turtles, starfish, marlins, mahi mahi, mermaids, herons, and many other creatures we enjoy on our shores. Turquoise, vanilla, emerald, silver, and shades of blue are her most popular colors in items ranging from sinks, bowls and vessels to wall art and jewelry. “I think art bursts out from our souls and experiences,” she shares. “I am a Florida native with cherished memories involving coastal living. I’m sure if I had lived in other places, my art would reflect colors and themes from those locations.”
Marlene also shared that she’d like to see a more concentrated effort to involve students in the arts. From her background as a mental health counselor with a doctorate degree, she feels the arts are critical and necessary to raising responsible, well-rounded, and happy people who thrive in society. She is a fan of STEAM (Science Technology Engineering Arts and Math) as opposed to only STEM education and would like to see Grand Lagoon residents helping support the arts in a much more focused manner.
There are a few art galleries in Panama City, and I’d love to see a public, as well as more private art galleries on the beach. However, Bay County does have a fairly established art scene with all kinds of mixed media artists, textile artists, potters, painters, glass artists, musicians, and dancers. Another truism: Art Places Draw Artists. Several local outlets assist in promoting the Arts and Arts Education in our area: The Center for the Arts in downtown Panama City, Bay Arts Alliance, and Floriopolis in St. Andrews are doing a great job.
Heather Parker’s Floriopolis (FB @floriopolis) on Beck Ave. is a ‘community arts metropolis’ that promotes and produces art exhibits, classes, workshops, and art events for all ages. The Sheraton PCB Resort hosts ongoing two-month art exhibitions in the corridor off their main lobby, highlighting the works of local artists. Max Miller founded the Cultural Hub of NW Florida (www.culturalhubnwfl.org / FB @culturalhubofnwflorida), a 501(3)c that provides a centralized format to inform the general public of local cultural events. Helen Ballance, creator of Beach Art Group and Sunshine Arts Center, hosts art exhibitions, painting classes, and plein air events working in tandem with the Mayor and City Manager to produce art events for the community.
My interview with Marlene, ‘Functional Art-Talk with Grand Lagoon Resident, Marlene East’ is available to view at YouTube @Grand Lagoon Life. Our full conversation will be available via podcast, out soon, and our written interview with Steve Wiggin’s beautiful photos will be featured in the February 2021 issue of Grand Lagoon Life magazine.
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