‘Exploring Connection,’ ‘Concrete Jungle,’ and the 2025 Redfish Film Poster Contest Showcase Fresh Artistic Visions at the Center for the Arts
As the vibrant season of spring ushers in new beginnings, three exciting new exhibitions offer a fresh perspective on the world around us. The Main Gallery offers a sneak peek into the Second Annual Redfish Film Festival. The Miller Gallery features Exploring Connection, a multimedia collection of works by local ceramicist Kelly McLendon and artist Jen Honeycutt. In the Spotlight Gallery, Alberto Spirgatis, a student at Gulf Coast State College, brings in a collection of ink and collage works for his exhibition, Concrete Jungle. The public is invited to the opening reception on Friday, April 4 from 5-7 p.m. The exhibits will be on display through April 26.
The Redfish Documentary Film Festival is set to return to Historic Downtown Panama City for its highly anticipated second year, running from April 24 through April 27, 2025. Showcasing an eclectic lineup of groundbreaking documentary films, the festival highlights powerful storytelling from around the world while embracing the rich cultural tapestry of the Gulf Coast.
Leading up to the festival, Redfish is proud to present a special exhibition at the Center for the Arts, featuring the vibrant talent of local artists who participated in the 2025 Redfish Poster Contest. This reception will celebrate the artistic voices that help shape the visual identity of the festival, from seasoned professionals to budding young creatives—including this year’s youngest contributor, a 12-year-old.
The exhibition serves as a tribute to the intersection of art and storytelling, offering festival goers and the community a first glimpse into the creativity behind this year’s festival branding. The event will include an opening reception, providing an opportunity for attendees to meet the artists and enjoy an evening of visual inspiration ahead of the festival’s official programming at the end of the month.
Exploring Connection, featuring the works of Jen Honeycutt and Kelly McLendon in the Miller Gallery, explores the profound role of connection in our everyday lives. Through a dynamic array of two- and three-dimensional pieces—collages, paintings, sculpture, and ceramics—both artists reflect on how connection manifests in their thoughts, experiences, and creative processes. Each artwork offers a glimpse into their journey of uncovering the significance of connection, both as a personal theme and a universal force shaping their artistic expression.
Alberto Spirgatis, a student at Gulf Coast State College, is featured in the Spotlight Gallery in an exhibition titled Concrete Jungle. “I’ve always had an affinity for cartoons and comics,” said Spirgatis. “Really those two mediums have been my main sources of inspiration and are what I hope to be able to pursue as a career.”
Spirgatis was inspired by adult animation from the 1970s and 80s as well as films that take place in major cities from the same era, and music relevant to the time. “I wanted the characters themselves to pop using ink and magazine clippings,” said Spirgatis, “As the ink helps create a high contrast and the clippings allow the subjects to be framed in a way that makes it look like they’re popping out the page.”
The public is invited to the opening reception on Friday, April 4 from 5-7 p.m. at the Center for the Arts. Visitors can meet the artists in the galleries over light hors d’oeuvres during this free event.
The Center for the Arts is open Tuesday–Saturday 10 a.m.–5 p.m., Fridays 10 a.m.-7 p.m.
