The Panama City Center for the Arts opens three new exhibitions for the month of June, including the Southern Watercolor Society’s 46th Annual Exhibition in the Main Gallery.
Photographer Kevin Boldenow presents a visual story of Florida’s vanishing wilderness and history in the Miller Gallery. The Café Gallery features artwork by Jay Winters.
Over 100 watercolor artists from across 19 states in the Southeast will be featured in the Southern Watercolor Society’s 46th annual exhibition. The Main Gallery opened on Friday, June 9 with a reception and awards ceremony. Visitors are welcome to view this exhibition through July 1.
By pairing visuals of the state’s natural scenery with historical narrative, Kevin Boldenow’s Vanishing Florida seeks to share untold stories of Florida’s lost wilderness, with the hope that its viewers recognize the beauty, vitality, and necessity of its natural resources.
“Growing up in the 1960s,” said Boldenow, “I realized how destructive a course we had taken – dumping pollutants into the Great Lakes, air quality, and the use of DDT and other pesticides without proper testing was upsetting the balance of our ecology. By viewing my photography, I’m hoping that people make a concerted effort to preserve our environment and historical treasures for the pleasure and responsible use of future generations.” The exhibition will be on display through July 29.
Local artist Jay Winters has had a lifelong interest in art, but did not pursue it fully until 2014, when he retired from state law enforcement after 28 years. “I have completed several projects over the years as gifts for friends and family,” said Winters, “So I really never stopped creating. I have just gotten much more serious about my art lately.”
Winters likes to include hidden objects to help create additional interest in his works.“Sometimes,” said Winters, “I create a ‘philosophical’ piece that draws on a theme. My ‘free-style’ approach to some paintings lets me be more creative…” His works will be on display in the Café Gallery through June 24.
The Center for the Arts is open Tuesday–Thursday 10 a.m. – 5 p.m., Friday 10 a.m.-7 p.m., and Saturday 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
