I hope that this space will provide you with interesting insights into the "art happenings" in your community.
I must admit this format is overwhelming to my "right side" personality...but I am willing to give it a try in hopes more residents will take an active role in the visual arts and the support of "your" local artists.
I am the current President of the Art Guild of Orange Park, Inc. (www.artguildoforangepark.com [1]) a 501c (3) non-profit organization with over 115 members. I would probably be surprised by the number of you who have never heard of our group....now you will have the opportunity to learn about one of the more active community based groups in Clay County. Our new website is full of details about our activities and upcoming opportunities for artists in our region.
We welcome all interested in the arts to attend a General Membership Meeting on the first Tuesday of each month at 7PM...we will be meeting in the Lions Club of Orange Park, 423 McIntosh Avenue for the months of March, April and May. Our ususal meeting place is the Orange Park Library but the meeting rooms will be undergoing renovations for the next several months. Our sincere thanks to the Lions Club Board for their kind offer of space in the interim. Our guest speaker on March 6th will be award winning artist Kathleen Mulholland who will demonstrate her creative watercolor techniques. Membership information will be available.
The Art Guild Members currently display artwork in 7 community locations, the Cancer Center of Orange Park on Kingsley, the Orange Park Town Hall, City Hall of Green Cove Springs, the Senior Center, Stowe Avenue, the Fleming Island Library, The Real Estate Gallery on Park Avenue and our newest location the Wehner School of the Arts on College. These exhibits rotate every three months.
The Art Guild also sponsors an Annual $500 Scholarship to a Clay County High School Senior who plans to to pursue a career in the visual arts or arts education. Application information is available on our website. Application deadline is April 1.
We have upcoming exhibit events on March 17th at the Carrie Clarke Day, Art Guild Members will be staffing the Art Exhibit area of the Clay County Agricultural Fair April 5-14th, members will present a "Small Wonders" exhibit in the Great Hang Ups Gallery on Fleming Island in April and will be participating in the St. Margaret's Church Art Fair on April 21.
We would love to have more visitors to our events!!!!
Carolyn