Magical Moments was the theme for the Ocala Art Group showcase of more than 50 pieces of art from 30 local artists this past month at the Chelsea Art Center. With hors d’oeuvres, refreshments, a raffle drawing and Linda DeLuca playing piano, it was a lively afternoon of camaraderie and color.
Jose Rodriguez was the guest judge, who is a well-known plein air painter in his own right, along with teaching at The Villages Charter School. Rodriguez stated that the Ocala Art Group has some very talented artists that made this event very difficult to judge. Having judged The Villages Visual Artists Association and the Colored Pencil Guild events, he stated this is possibly one of the hardest he has had the pleasure of assessing. He was looking for beauty, composition, overall appeal and skill level, which he believes all the artists have in great measure.
Honorable mention awards were handed out to Gail Bannock for her piece “Petal Magic,” Carlene Crowley for “Misty Morning,” and Mary Hayley-Rocks for “Wonders Around the World.” Third place was awarded to Michelle Curry for “Hedge Maze of a Honey Bee,” a mixed-media piece that captures all the essence of the magic of bees. Second place was awarded to Sharon Repple for “Morning Light,” which captures newly ripening blueberries with a dew cast from dawn. First place was awarded to Saul Roldan for his piece “In Search of Truth.” He had left the event minutes prior only to be called back by the group to receive his award. Saul’s piece makes you want to step inside his mind to interpret, as it evokes the inner “battle” we all face in searching for meaning in this world.
Michelle Curry, current president of the Ocala Art Group, and Monica Coburn, who coordinated the event, state that it takes a willing group of members to make events like this a possibility. Former President Lee Asta stated that this is the longest-running group of artists in Ocala for 75 years. Starting at the Appleton Museum of Art, then moving the group to a local library, then Brick City Center for the Arts, and now their current home at the Chelsea Art Center, owned by Barbara Fife.
This group meets on the second Monday of each month and also runs a book club on the second Tuesday every other month with one theme for the books chosen, anything art-related. While some read the books with the readiness to review, others bring works of art inspired by the chosen book.
This coming spring will be the next group exhibit hosted by SouthState Bank from April through June of this year. For more information on the Ocala Art Group, please follow their website at www.ocalaartgroup.org.
