On the first Friday of every month, St. Augustine’s art galleries welcome visitors to browse the latest art exhibits and enjoy refreshments and live entertainment at more than 25 participating galleries. For lovers of local art and culture, the First Friday Artwalk is a great way to celebrate both the start of a new month and the end of a long week. Spend your time hopping from gallery to gallery in the downtown area or jump on a complimentary shuttle and check out the galleries on the beach. But wherever you decide to spend your time, here’s what’s new at the April 6, 2018 First Friday Artwalk.
Anthony Ackrill at Sea Spirits Gallery
Anthony Ackrill was born in Alaska in 1958. He received his formal art training at the Florence Academy of Art in Italy from 1995-2000. The curriculum offered an academic approach to painting and drawing based largely on the principles of art as taught in the painting academies of Europe in the 19th century, meaning a strict adherence to observing nature and painting directly from life while focusing on the human figure. Ackrill became an instructor at the academy, teaching anatomy, figure painting and drawing before returning to Florida, USA.
Since leaving Italy, Ackrill has lived and worked in Gainesville, Florida, producing the paintings currently presented and selling them primarily through galleries and exhibitions in America and Europe. All of the pictures were created with a traditional approach to the craft of painting, in that they were all painted from life, with careful observations of nature and requiring a live model to pose in the studio. These pictures consistently reveal what inspires the artist most — light, nature, water, and humans.
Ackrill’s more dramatic works are large-scale narratives and painted with oil on linen. The artist often uses earth tones but will occasionally choose to expand his palette. Widely collected, Ackrill has exhibited in solo and group shows in the USA as well as Europe. His work is currently available from Fine Arts galleries in Scottsdale, AZ, Charleston, NC, Cincinnati, OH, Sag Harbor, New York, and Chattanooga, Tennessee.
www.seaspiritsgallery.com
Laura O’Neal at Butterfield Garage Art Gallery
Laura is excited to demonstrate her fantastical magical creations at Butterfield Garage Art Gallery on First Friday Art Walk in St. Augustine on April 6, 2018 – one week after the annual “Love Your Mother Eco Fashion Show” at Marsh Landing Country Club in Ponte Vedra, FL on Saturday, March 31. Her theme is inspired by the seasons and her presentation is called “An Oracle of Seasons.” Laura has not only created the innovative and imaginative costumes for the show, using eco-friendly and recycled materials, but she also painted the creations on canvas and wrote original poetry to accompany the pieces. The culmination of this twelve months project will be an exhibition-opening at Butterfield Garage Art Gallery on April 6. Her models will be informally modeling at the gallery that evening from 5 to 9 pm. A portion of the proceeds will go to the Cultural Council at Ponte Vedra Beach (CCPVB). The exhibit will be ongoing through the month of April.
www.butterfieldgarage.com
Lyne St. Amand at The Gallery Group
Artist Lyne St Amand! Great art, people, snacks, atmosphere, and of course, a fabulous artist! Don’t miss this art walk! The Gallery Group is only 1/2 a mile south of the Bridge of Lions, on Anastasia Blvd. Free parking is available and it’s an easy walk from downtown!
www.thegallery.group
Spring Members Show at the St. Augustine Art Association
The Spring Members Show is an exhibition of works in varied styles and media created by STAAA members. Any style or medium may be entered. Entries are accepted on Tuesday, April 3 and Wednesday, April 4. The winners will be on display starting at the April Artwalk and continuing through the month.
www.staaa.org
New Exhibits at High Tide Gallery
High Tide Gallery will feature new Dichroic Glass earrings by Erin Finney, Springtime Sea turtles original paintings by Jami Childers, illuminated Shell Decor by Shelly’s Seaside Designs and new bright colors of Magpie Tatting Jewelry for Artwalk April 6 on Anastasia Island in St. Augustine. Live music by Beth Rutt. Refreshments will be served from 5-9pm. Meet local artists and experience our new gallery space near the lighthouse!
For more information about First Friday Artwalks in St. Augustine, visit www.artgalleriesofstaugustine.com/first-friday-artwalk. Featured image by artist Elizabeth Quinn-Bolduc.
To find more events in St. Augustine, visit our online calendar of events!
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