Ocala Art Group Posts %

Art-Venture to the Ocala Civic Theater!

Mary Tougas – May 8, 2023

Mary-Tougas-HANDOUT-Colored-Pencil-Strawberries_5-8-2023 Download

Book Club- “The Lost Wife”, May 2, 2023

Article and Photos contributed by Lee Asta

What a stimulating afternoon we had today! We had two hours of interaction of sharing, talking and listening to a lively discussion led by Artist Member Lynn King, who led our session about “The Lost Wife” by Alyson Richman. This was a historical fiction book about Nazi Germany and a young Jewish Artist and how her art helped her survive in a Concentration camp.

WHAT WAS SO UNUSUAL, YOU ASK? First was —-who attended: 3 of our own members: Lynn King, Cathy Burnside and Lee Asta from OAG AND —-5 other Readers from the Villages from Lee’s “regular “Book Club. There was: Ina Lidsky, Sue Tribble, Anita Andersen, and Debbie Kehoe. (They said they were NOT artists, but we found out differently!!!)

Everyone brought something to the table to share and it seemed like we were old friends. They ALL loved the book and rated it 5 out if 5!!!

They were all contributing with their thoughts about the book and we had 4 pieces of art that had been inspired by this story that were presented by the Attendees!

Next book and date will be announced next month for September. Our Visitors want to come back for another visit also!

Here are some pictures to see what a vibrant group we had and some AMAZING art ..captioned below:

Visitors Anita Andersen (left) and Debbie Kehoe (right) examine the very creative clay work by another Visitor Susan Tribble. She had beautiful details about the story depicted and lots of symbolism! Lee dubbed her with the title “Artist”.

The end of an interesting luncheon with lots of tears and laughter!!! Contact info was exchanged and more friendships and reading buddies were started today!!!! FUN! Thanks to Lynn King for all her hard work!!!

2023 Summer Art Show – July 13 thru Sept 26 at the South State Bank, Ocala

Application deadline is June 8!!

Okay, OAG artists, it’s time to get your next art piece ready for the 2023 Summer Show! You can submit TWO art pieces for the application price of one! The Application deadline is Friday, June 8!
The forms and rules are here.

Gallery Opening at Molly Maguire’s

Here is the link for the Ocala Arts & Entertainment Podcast with Lee Asta, Janice Tindall and Debbie Ceres. Host Sean Thomas interviews the group about the Molly Maguire’s gallery opening, as well as upcoming events for 2023.

Patt Gilmore – April 10, 2023

Demonstration after OAG Meeting at 11am.
Bring sharpened pencils and fine-tip markers. Paper will be provided.

Book Club: “The Muralist”, March 7, 2023

Hostess Cathy Burnside led our March Book Club meeting at the Braised Onion to discuss the book, “The Muralist” by B. A. Shapiro. As you can see from the photographs below, even though there were only three of us there, we had a lively discussion that lasted until 2:15! In attendance were Verna Shelden with her lively hand gestures and Catherine Burnside – deep in thought! Lee Asta brought two of her paintings inspired by the story and showed us her first attempt at “Abstract Expressionism” which was the style of the main characters of this entertaining and educational story. Lee added some additional stories about her deceased “Artist Aunt” Yolanda Fusco who was a NYC artist during that time and worked for the WPA where she met Lee’s uncle. Yolanda used to “hang out with” Andy n Jamie (as in Wyatt), so Lee feels she probably would have been one of the main characters in this book! Google her: Yolanda Fusco. She continued painting even though she was legally blind and continued selling the new work at several art galleries on the East Coast to her loyal fans!!!