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For more media info: Polly Tetrault
ArtCenter Manatee
941-746-2862/ polly@artcentermanatee.org
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
ArtCenter Manatee Hosts Only Florida Showing of American Watercolor Society Traveling Exhibition
BRADENTON, Fla. (March 4, 2008) – ArtCenter Manatee in Bradenton, Fla., is proudly hosting Florida’s only showing of the American Watercolor Society (AWS) Traveling Exhibition, March 3 through April 12. Appearing in just eight states, this exhibit features 40 works chosen from 1,346 entries in the 2007 Annual International Competition of the American Watercolor Society. Sponsored by The Knight Foundation, Herald-Tribune and Superior Bank, the exhibition features works by some of the world’s finest watercolor artists, and provides the unique opportunity for the public to purchase their art.
The exhibition features two area artists – Jean Grastorf of St. Petersburg, Fla., and Dean Mitchell of Tampa, Fla. and one of the competition’s three jurists. Mitchell, who grew up in Quincy, Fla., began painting at a very early age and became a Sustaining Member of AWS at 28. Mitchell’s work has been seen in galleries next to such noted artists as Andrew Wyeth.
In adjacent galleries at ArtCenter Manatee will be a companion exhibit featuring the best work of the Florida Suncoast Watercolor Society, which includes members from five counties on the west coast of Florida.
ArtCenter Manatee is located adjacent to the Village of the Arts, an artist-in-residence community that was recently recognized in Art Calendar magazine for having made Bradenton one of the nation’s “10 Great Towns for Working Artists". For more information, please visit www.artcalendar.com.
Admission to both exhibits is free, but donations are appreciated. The opening reception is Friday, March 7, from 5 to 7 p.m., and is free and open to the public. The reception will include hors d’oeuvres and a cash bar. For more exhibit or gallery information, please call 941-746-2862 or visit www.artcentermanatee.org.
The American Watercolor Society began in New York City in 1866 with a group of 11 painters who gathered to hold exhibitions of their work. The AWS holds an annual juried exhibition open to all artists worldwide, with awards exceeding $34,000 annually. AWS Sustaining Members are permitted to sign their work followed by AWS initials, an honor of great value.
Bradenton is located in Florida’s Gulf Islands and promoted by the Bradenton Area Convention & Visitors Bureau along with Anna Maria Island, Longboat Key and Lakewood Ranch. For further information, call (941) 729-9177, ext. 231 or visit www.floridasgulfislands.com.
-Florida’s Gulf Islands-
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