FSU MFA Artists on Exhibit

Marco Island Center for the Arts invites the public to the November “By Virtue of Place: FSU MFA Alumni Exhibition.” The artwork displayed in Lauritzen & Rush Galleries brings together a diverse group of artists who share a common experience and geography.

The artists all received their Master of Fine Arts Degrees from Florida State University (FSU), an interdisciplinary graduate program with a strong focus on research and practice. Adopting a range of approaches and mediums, the works assembled for this exhibition seek to draw attention to the way each artist has developed their unique perspective on what it means to be part of the Florida landscape.

The FSU College of Fine Arts is a place where learning and creativity are nurtured through hands on instruction. The College has one of the top-ranked visual arts programs in the country.

Internationally famed artist and alumni, Emily James, said, “FSU’s fine art program taught me to always strive for originality and creativity. The professors instilled this in me, in every art class.”

The curators for this exhibition are FSU alumni Chalet Comellas and Christina Poindexter. They share backgrounds in painting, photography, performance, installation, and sculpture and met while completing their MFA degrees at FSU. Together they have completed large-scale community outreach projects, and have created performance installations in galleries, art centers and art fairs.

Participating Artists:

•   Nick Collier – interdisciplinary artist employing photography, social practice, and sculpture, residence in St. Petersburg.
•   Elizabeth DiDonna – photographs of performance wearing clay, residence in Tallahassee.
•   Amy Fleming – creates mixed media from discarded trash that have been changed through time, residence in Tallahassee.
•   Becki Rutta – photographs still life Polaroids reminiscent of Dutch Baroque paintings, residence in Tallahassee.
•   Alejandro Simon – abstract mixed media artist, residence in Miami.

“By Virtue of Place: FSU MFA Alumni Exhibition” is on through November 20, 2018, Monday through Friday, from 9 AM to 4 PM. The opening reception, “Second Tuesday,” is from 5:30-7 PM on November 13. There is a suggested $10 donation for non-members. Taste of the Arts appetizers and samplings provided by Hilton Marco Island Beach Resort and Spa.

The artist showcased in the La Petite Galerie, Cheryl Sachs, is a former educator and art teacher from Illinois. Her palette reflects ever-changing colors, light and textures and uses the simplicity of children’s artwork as a source of joy and inspiration.

All the artwork is for sale unless otherwise noted.  The Marco Island Center for the Arts is located at 1010 Winterberry Drive.