Jerry Uelsmann, Untitled, 1987, Gelatin Silver Print, 16 x 20 inches, Collection of Lee and Becky Jackson

Polk Museum of Art’s upcoming exhibition, The Surreal Photography of Jerry Uelsmann, is certain to be a favorite among people who love photography or surrealism. The artist, Jerry Uelsmann, is a former University of Florida photography professor, and he’s been creating dream-like images in his darkroom longer than Photoshop has been around! He uses up to 7 enlarges to create composite images from his original negatives, and then develops the paper using traditional chemical processes.

The exhibition will be a 50 year retrospective of Uelsmann’s work, and it will be on display November 14 – January 17.

Back Porch by Steven S. Gregory

Polk Museum of Art is opening three new exhibitions in June, and the first one is Shelter, an exhibition of works from the Museum’s permanent collection. Since I’ve been having a hard time putting the concept behind this exhibition into my own words, I’m just going to quote PMoA’s Curator of Art, Todd Behrens:

“The idea of a shelter can be anything from a physical enclosure to emotional security. Sometimes shelter is a state of mind in which one feels safe and protected. Sometimes shelter is simply a physical structure that leads to that state of mind.”

Shelter will be up (no pun intended!) June 7 – August 23 in the Museum’s Perkins Gallery, also known as the hallway gallery. Keep in mind that PMoA reduces its hours in the summer: Tues. – Sat. 10am – 4pm and closed Sundays, Mondays and major holidays.

The Museum is planning a great opening reception featuring Laura A. Foster, the Curator of Art from the Frederic Remington Art Museum in Ogdensburg, New York. Laura will speak at 6:00, and then light hors d’oeuvres and a cash bar will be available at 7:00. Also, you’ll be able to enjoy music by local favorites, Billy Needs a Beard!

Admission is free for members of the Museum, and $10 for everyone else! Be sure to get over there for the fun. And if you don’t make it to the opening, the exhibition will be on display through November 9.

Here’s a quick rundown:

Exhibitions:

• Quackery to Remedy: 100 Years of Polk County Medicine and Our Patchwork Heritage: Museum Quilts at the Polk County Historical Museum.
• Members Show II, September 5 – 24, at Arts on the Park.
• Bridges, Livingston & Turro, September 5 – October 17, at Lake Wales Arts Center.
• Frederic Remington Makes Tracks… Adventures and Artistic Impressions, September 13 – November 9, at Polk Museum of Art.
• Generations: The Member’s Exhibition, September 24 – October 12, at Ridge Art Association.
• Platform Florida Art Party #12, one night only, September 27, at Florida Air Museum at Sun’n'Fun.

Performances:

• Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland at Lake Wales Little Theatre, September 12 – 21
• Anton Brees Birthday Carillon Concerts at Bok Tower Gardens, September 14
• Harrison School for the Arts Faculty Recital on September 18
• Nunsensations at Theatre Winter Haven, September 25 – October 12
• The Foreigner at Florida Southern College’s Buckner Theater, September 25 – 28 & October 2 – 5
• Anne of Green Gables at Lakeland Community Theatre, September 26 – 28
• Tea & Symphony: A Different Beat by Imperial Symphony Orchestra at The Lakeland Center on September 30.

Other Events:

• Family Fun Workshop with Polk Museum of Art at Polk County Historical Museum on September 13
• View & Review: Critiquing Emerging Artists at Polk Museum of Art, September 19
• Family Day at Polk Museum of Art, September 20
• Creative Studies Series: Mask of the Shaman Woman at Polk Museum of Art, September 21
• MEGA Monday for Moms Community Expo at Explorations V Children’s Museum, September 23
• A Workshop called “The Business of Fine Art” at Polk Museum of Art, September 27
• From Paintings to Fine Art Prints with Bob Rosensky, hosted by Lakeland Art Guild and held at the Peggy Brown Building at the Lake Mirror Complex, September 29

Whew! I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: If you love the arts, there is always something happening right here in Polk County! So get out there and enjoy it!