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.

On Saturday, November 7, join Winter Haven designer and caterer Phillip Burkhart for this hands-on opportunity. All you have to do is provide your own container. Phillip is bringing the rest, including a boxed lunch that will be served in between the two sessions: one session is 10:30am-1:30pm and the other is 12:30-3:30pm. The cost for the workshop, including lunch, is $30 for Museum Members and $35 for Non-members.

Call 863-688-5423 to register because space is limited!

The concept of Beautiful Things was came from the idea that beauty is found within everything.
The Museum’s curator, Todd Behrens says, “This exhibition is an opportunity to judge your own idea of beauty, taste, art, and potentially, ugliness.”

Everyone is encouraged to discuss the artwork  with the Museum’s Curator by writing about your idea of beauty or about specific pieces that you find beautiful. The goal is to generate conversation about what makes an object beautiful.  Some pieces on display may be more traditionally beautiful while others may have a more subtle form of beauty.

Several pieces in the exhibition have been picked by Museum staff and will include their comments about why they chose a particular piece. Through this exercise you will see that ideas about beauty in art vary widely.

 A Perfect Mesh, on the other hand, is intended to showcase the Museum’s growing collection of screen prints.

Screen printing became well known in the United States through the business of commercial printing. Now it used by major and emerging artists as a useful media for producing original prints.

Thanks to Douglas Screen Printers, Inc., the Museum has been able to purchase several major screen prints over the last few years, including works by Robert Indiana, Jacob Lawrence, Roy Lichtenstein, and Robert Rauschenberg.  In addition to these pieces, the exhibition includes other important screen prints from the Museum’s Permanent Collection.

Both exhibitions open on September 5 and run through November 8. A reception for the exhibitions will be held on Friday, September 11, 5:30 – 8:30pm, with a lecture at 6:00pm. Light refreshments and a cash bar will begin at 7pm. Admission to the reception and lecture is free for Museum members and $10 for non-members.

This year’s Family Day features a “Going Green” theme. Activities and entertainment will feature a variety of eco-friendly ways to be artistic and creative, including the chance to participate in the construction of a large sculpture made from recycled materials. A diverse entertainment schedule will include Tampa Taiko, Japanese drummers whose instruments are made from recycled wine barrels; didgeridoos made from old PVC pipes by Didgeridoo Down Under; a recycled magic show by Luis Campaneria; and more.

The event takes place from 11am – 3pm, and art supplies will be given away while supplies last.

Family Day part of the Diversity Partnership Multicultural Week and is sponsored by: MIDFLORIDA,  The George W. Jenkins Fund though the Community Foundation of Greater Lakeland, BCI Engineers & Scientists, Mosaic, The AT&T Real Yellow Pages, Friends of the Lakeland Public Library, Kohl’s, Pepperidge Farm, and Party People Celebration Company.

1. Eat yummy ice cream!
2. Visit the museums: Polk Museum of Art, Explorations V Children’s Museum, Arts on the Park.
3. Explore Downtown using the City’s walking tour brochure.
4. Go to a First Friday event.
5. Take a walking tour of the outdoor sculptures and art.
6. Play a game of checkers in front of The General Store.
7. See a movie at the historic Polk Theatre.
8. Visit the Downtown Farmers Curb Market on a Saturday.
9. Explore the antique shops.
10. Surf the Internet using the SurfLakeland wifi.
11. Stroll Lake Mirror Promenade & Hollis Garden.
12. See a show at the Lakeland Center, Lakeland Community Theatre, or Imperial Symphony Orchestra.
13. Find historic Lakeland photos in the shops and restaurants.
14. Read a good book on a blanket in Munn Park.
15. Ride your bike around the lakes.
16. Visit Florida Southern College for the Frank Lloyd Wright architecture.
17. Fly a kite or play in the water spouts at Barnett Park.
18. Catch up with the local artists at the shops and galleries.
19. See how many different types of birds you can find at Lake Morton.
20. Walk your dog around Lake Mirror.
21. People watch along Kentucky Ave. while dining al fresco.
22. Catch a sports game at the neighborhood bars.
23. Have breakfast on Saturday DOWNTOWN!
24. Sign up for a guided historic walking tour.
25. Take a tour of Polk Theatre.

Every city and community in Polk County certainly has a long list of things to do, so send us yours! Either email your city’s list to kris@centralfloridasports.comor reply to this opostwith soe of your favorite things to do in Sunny Central Florida.

Check out my full post at arts.lakelandlocal.com for the whole scoop. Then go vote!

Clark Whittington, the founder of Art-O-Mat, will be at the Museum on Saturday, June 27 at 10:30am. He’s going to give a presentation about the machines and their history, and then he’ll talk to artists about how they can have their artwork sold in the nearly 100 Art-O-Mats around the world. The talk/presentation is free with Museum admission.

 The museum will resume normal operating hours on September 1, 2009.

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 program will begin at 12:15pm and is free with admission to the exhibition: $10 for adults, $8 seniors, $5 members, $4 member seniors, and $2 for students Kindergarten through college.