SOS: Save Our Shores | August 17th - August 28th, 2010

Community Show

"SOS : Save Our Shore" is a community exhibit in reaction to the Gulf oil spill. The show will be up from August 17th-August 28th with a closing reception on August 28th from 6:00pm-8:00pm. There will be a silent auction during the reception with all proceeds going to the artists of our community. This will be a great opportunity to pick up some amazing artwork and show your support for our talented community.

The goal of this show is to give artists and viewers a venue to express their different ideas, feelings and issues about the Gulf oil spill. In this way we can learn from each other and work towards a positive solution to this tragedy. Gallery owner Mercedes Rodgers says, “With so many of us affected by this disaster the Full Circle Gallery thought they would try to do something positive the the community”. So far there has been an amazing response to the show with inquires from New York to Brazil with questions about how to submit. This is going to be a dynamic show with a wide variety of mediums, concepts and styles on display.

During this show Mercedes Rodgers will introduce her "Security Blanket" a conceptual quilt made from reused petroleum-based plastics.

Eye Sore | July 10th - August 7th, 2010

Brad Greek

"Eye Sore" is a retrospective show of artist Brad Greek's paintings. In this show Greek will exhibit paintings spanning two decades of his career. The reception will begin at 6:00pm on Saturday, and Greek will be giving an artists talk around 7pm. During the reception guests will have a chance to win one of Brad's prints by correctly identifying the artist in his “Mystery in Art History” series.

Brad Greek is an award-winning artist who has been exhibiting in the region for decades. He works in a variety of styles and mediums, and explores many different subjects. “Eye Sore” will be the first ever public exhibit to display Greek's early autobiographical work alongside his current stylized landscapes, giving a powerful insight into his psyche. This unique collection will include the artist's early self -portraits, his Mystery in Art History series, and a few other inner vision pieces that were inspired by his past and life experiences.

Greek says of his style, "I'm inclined to paint with a detailed style of realism, but will venture into a symbolic, surrealistic styles as well. Most artists are known for one certain style or subject matter. I understand the logic behind this common practice in the art world. But I feel that this stereotyping of an artist's creativity limits their potential abilities. I have found it impossible to stay with one style or medium. Bringing a variety of work to the table keeps the mind wondering what I will create next.”

Brad Greek's work may be viewed in many locations around the Florida Panhandle, as well as on his website at: www.bradgreek.com. Brad currently resides in Florida with his wife and four children.

The Great Deluge | May 29th - June 22nd, 2010

Doria Grace

Over the past few years, Doria Grace has moved on to look at water as a signifier on a more global scale. Her research has taken her into ancient “deluge” (flood) mythologies, which can be traced back to every culture, from Judeo-Christian to American Indian. Scientists say that those stories originated during the end of the Ice Age, when glaciers across the world began to melt, displacing villages and tribes in their wake. These stories resonate with Doria Grace at this particular point in time due to the melting of our modern-day ice caps. This, her fourth solo show, demands awareness while investigating the theoretical and imagined impact that the melted water from our ice caps would have upon our coast lines and major cities throughout the world. Doria began planning this exhibition long before news of the oil spill hit the Gulf Coast, and it seems sadly appropriate that the reception will take place alongside the community's efforts to save our wildlife and our waters. She hopes that this show will be an arena for community dialogue as well as a place to gather in reverence to the fragility of our planet.

Doria Grace is an artist who has been recreating her personal dream-imagery for over a decade. This exploration intensified in the year 2002 in the city of Montreal, Canada. At that time Doria's displacement from the tropical waters of her home in Florida prompted her to investigate the significance of water's reoccurring imagery in her work. During the 7 years she spent in the northeast surrounded by snow and ice, Doria began digging deep into the dreams and memories of her lifelong engagement with large bodies of water. Doria Grace started by first confronting her emotional body, her childhood self, which had long resided in the Deep South, filled with folklore, mystery and horror. Those first few series of underwater self-portraits pertained to the abjection of the body, the mystical, the fantastical, and the autobiographical. Although her early work and self-portraits sometimes offer a fleeting glimpse of a sinking subject, there is no apparent threat, danger, or urgency. She drifts through a serene, womb-like garden of ephemeral emotion in calm control, yet maintains a subtle vulnerability. For Doria Grace the ancient element of water signifies and embodies all that is hidden behind the veil of consciousness, and in which she explores that which lies beneath the surface.

Astronaut Take Over | April 9th - May 6th, 2010

EJ Nieves

“The Astronaut Take Over” is a multimedia installation piece by artist E.J. Nieves. This installation will be a combination of painting, sculpture and wonder. The “The Astronaut Take Over” reception will be held at Full Circle Gallery on April 9thth, from 6-9 P.M., with the artist commentary at 7:00pm. The Takeover starts now!

E.J. Nieves is a visionary artist who uses the brush as an instrument of intrigue. Many of his works carry a journal-like feel as they portrait Nieves’ innermost thoughts throughout the surface of the canvas. He couples his words alongside fields of color, shape, line, and symbolism that can be seen in his graffiti-like, loose, and playful style of expressionism. Pollock and Warhol are among his most immediate artistic influences. Traces of pop culture can be seen in his work through journal entries which carry messages that are both politically and religiously charged. Nieves has a passion for dealing with the grave nature of being “stuck” or “trapped” in one type of art. Nieves says of his experiences as an artist “One has to understand change in order to impact.” He is using his brush and canvas to share these ideas and allow other to see how they can have an impact.

“The Astronaut Takeover”, AKA T.A.T., is the depiction of a universe that artist E.J. Nieves frequently visits in his mind. This is a place of controlled chaos, wonder, beautiful colors and an endless dialogue of visionary thought. Ej says “If I was the astronaut, then the canvas would be my space, and my brush my shuttle. If one can live their dreams outside the boundaries of everyone else’s black hole (which is regret, fear, hate, etc.) then you too, are an astronaut. The Takeover starts now…”

Strange Bird | February 5th - March 13th, 2010

Mercedes Rodgers

“Strange Bird...A Look at Security” is a multimedia, community-oriented exhibit by artist Mercedes Rodgers. This installation will be a combination of sculpture, film, origami, painting and self-exploration. The “Strange Bird” reception & masquerade party will be held at Full Circle Gallery on February 26th, from 6-9 p.m., with the artist commentary at 7:00pm. A reception will follow in which participants may adorn bird masks and dress of their choosing (all birds of the imagination are of course welcomed) and be photographed in the artists’ human-size birdcage.

This show will feature a hand crocheted, over-sized birdcage, nest, collection of paintings and a video made by the artist that illustrates her process throughout this installation. Mercedes says of the show, “This work is about the many meanings of the bird as a symbol: its imagery and the range of ideas it can evoke. Using the bird as a metaphor I am allowing the viewer to look at their free, uninhibited-self in contrast to their tame, socialized-self and see where their cages lie. It is about how we view birds in nature as free and flying; verses how we see them in captivity as caged domesticated pets or property and how those thoughts of freedom and captivity translate into our own lives”.

The artist invites the public to Full Circle Gallery any time between February 5th and March 13th to contribute to the “Thousand Cranes” aspect of the installation. Participants will be asked to ponder what they believe is the real meaning of personal security as they learn to fold and encapsulate their thoughts within their origami cranes. Non-locals are also encouraged to participate in this installation and may email their contributions directly to the artist at fullcirclegallery@gmail.com, or leave a comment on Full Circle Gallery's Facebook discussion board. The paper cranes will then be placed in the nest and be a part of the show on Feb 26th

The “Strange Bird: A Thousand Cranes Project” will also examine Japanese belief that if a person manages to fold 1000 paper cranes, they will be granted a wish for healing, a good life, a good marriage, or world peace. A thousand paper cranes is a powerful gesture of caring, devotion, and love. During the “Strange Bird: A Thousand Cranes Project”, Mercedes Rogers will to take the wishes, dreams, fears and desires of our community and fold them into 1000 cranes with the hope of bringing security and peace of mind to the collective. If you wish to participate in this project, please answer one or more of the following questions and submit your answer in person or by email. Mercedes will fold all contributions into paper cranes and place them side-by-side in the nest of the installation to be explored together Feb 26th.

Questions:

• What does the word security mean to you?
• Where does your sense of security stem from?
• What words do you associate with insecurity?
• What decisions have you made to try to bring security into your life?
• Have you ever made a decision with the intention of gaining a greater feeling of security, but later found that the decision actually caged you into a specific lifestyle and hampered your freedom?
• How can your needs for security be a burden?
• Can a person ever be truly free of needs?
• Is it possible to be secure and free at the same time?

Seasonal Inspirations | December 5th, 2009 - January 16th, 2010

Sandra Matasick, Sol Davis, and Mercedes Rodgers

“Seasonal Inspirations” is a unique holiday show featuring three regional artists: jeweler Sandra Matasick, painter Sol Davis and potter Mercedes Rodgers. On display will be one-of-a kind art pieces that can only be found at the Full Circle Gallery. Although each artist works in a different medium, they all share the quality of being influenced by other civilizations and times. This inspires them to create work that is mysterious and rich in cultural significance. This exhibit is ideal for holiday shoppers looking for extraordinary, soulful gifts to give their loved ones this year.

Jeweler Sandra Matasick from Gainesville, FL. works in gold, silver and precious stones. The styles and textures on her jewelery come from her study of Byzantine adornments. She describes her work saying “I use small details to tie my pieces to the past and bring them some mystery.” In conjunction with this show Sandra will offer an intensive weekend workshop on lost wax casting January 16th & 17th at Full Circle Gallery.

Painter Sol Davis from Mobile, AL is a multi-media painter inspired by the colors, forms and textures of Harajuku, a fashion and shopping region in Tokyo which is famous for its fantastic design and playful styles. Sol says he “combines the fashion influences with the use of text to activate the space, while giving the viewer an insight into how the garment relates to reality”. His painting style contrasts precise line and loose color to create images that are intriguing and whimsical. Each painting is full of details that make you return to the piece again and again.

Potter Mercedes Rodgers from Fort Walton Beach, FL is inspired by the curves and textures she sees in the natural world. Her newest collection of functional ware is an abstract take on the flower. She has taken traditional plates and mug forms and pushed them a little - turning the rim of mug into petals, or the flute of a wine glass into a stem. She carves small glimpses of spirals and lines to give each piece depth and variety. Mercedes says “I create unique pottery with personality for people to use when they are celebrating, sharing meals and enjoying life, bringing joy and beauty to every day.” A functional piece of art brightens up the most mundane day!

Tattoo & Street Art Exhibit | November 7th - 23rd, 2009

Mikie Banks, Nate Barnes, Dana Melissa Dixon, Terry Dutra, and Tim Shaefer

Full Circle Gallery is proud to present “Tattoo & Street Art Exhibit” - a group exhibition that will showcase the fine art of regional tattoo artists. The show will be open to the public from Saturday, November 7, through Monday, November 23. The reception for this exhibit will be held at Full Circle Gallery on November 7 from 6:00-9:00 P.M.

The “Tattoo & Street Art Exhibit” will investigate the world of tattoo artists and the complexity of their many art forms. The creativity and skill that an artist demonstrates when creating a quality tattoo on a flexible, three-dimensional surface is often under-appreciated by those outside of the body art community. This exhibit showcases both flash artwork and more traditional pieces created by regional tattoo artists. Their work is sure to challenge your preconceived notions of what may be called “art”.

Tattoo artists are often very versatile, and create more than just ink designs on skin. Artist Terry Dutra says he is “torn between different mediums of oil, acrylic and flesh.” Tim Shaefer claims watercolor as his medium, saying “My biggest influences are Andy Bolin, Shauncey Fury, and Uncle Allan. All of them are also tattoo artists.”

Many tattoo artists' careers take them in different directions from traditional artists. Nate Barnes says, “Some people are meant for college, followed by careers in big buildings. For me, tattooing is my home - rewarding, exciting, constantly inspiring, ever changing.” And artist Coallus (Mikie Banks) started making tattoo flash when he was 15, and started tattooing when he was 20. Like many other narrative artists, his works are based in stories, and things that may have happened, but also built around his dreams. Coallus is known for his “broken star” design, which he says “represents broken dreams and perseverance”. But Coallus believes that one should “never give up on what you believe in, and always keep moving forward.”

We thank Kendall Marsh for her work as guest curator of the show. Please join us in exploring the world of these amazing artists!

Atmospheric Surfaces | October 3rd - 25th, 2009

Susie Bowman

Ceramic work as subtle and elegant as Susie Bowman's is a rare find indeed. As a potter, Bowman focuses on soda and wood fired functional art. Susie Bowman graduated from the University of Georgia with a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree with a major in sculpture. She worked for the next several years in television as a graphic designer. After taking time off to raise her children, she returned to her passion for 3 dimensional design. Her renewed interest in clay began when she took several classes at the Brookfield Art Center in Connecticut. She soon set up her own studio after moving to Fairhope, Alabama, and she continued to study pottery at the Penland School of Craft.

Bowman's goal is to create sensual, clean, and graceful forms that serve a specific purpose. ”It is important to me for my pottery to have a relationship between form and function, feel good in your hand as well as on your lips, and to give a sense of pleasure when you use it,” she said. Her work combines ancient forms with a fresh, modern approach.

Bowman continuously strives to supplement and enrich her education by participating in workshops worldwide. During a trip to Japan in October of 2008, she studied Japanese aesthetic and worked with Japanese potters to fire work using a Noborigama wood kiln. This experience culminated in an impressive group show in Echizen, Japan. This past spring Bowman studied with Gay Smith at the La Meridiana International School of Ceramics in Tuscany, Italy. Bowman has also been involved in several art festivals and exhibits, including a recent Best In Show win at Fort Walton Beach’s 2009 “Fire and Earth” Coastal Pottery Exposition.

We invite you to meet Susie and talk to her about her work at her reception October 3rd from 6:00-9:00. We hope to see you there!

Seeking Inspiration | August 29th - September 15th, 2009

Student-Teacher Show and Art Demonstrations

“Seeing Inspiration” is a celebration of the Full Circle Gallery's one year anniversary. The show features work created in the studio by both students and instructors during the past year. “As an instructor I have learned so much from our gifted students, and am proud of their work - as well as inspired by it!” said instructor Doria Grace of her experience at the Full Circle Gallery. During the reception, patrons & attendees will get a chance to see instructors demonstrating the painting, drawing, and pottery techniques taught in their classes. Information on the exciting new fall workshops and class lineup will also be available. You will be able to meet with instructors to gain insight into their teaching methods and perspectives, and to talk about which classes might be right for you. Attendees will also get to meet the students, talk with them about the work they have created, and learn about the kinds of experiences they have had in Full Circle Gallery's studio. The event promises to be an exciting exchange of ideas, and we look forward to seeing you there!

Dual Perspectives| July 18th - Aug 19th, 2009

Jean V. Pugh and Philip Anderson

Artists Jean V. Pugh and Philip Anderson share a collaborative exhibition entitled “Dual Perspectives”. This is a combined exhibit of two artists, who originally made acquaintance through the internet, online, eight years ago, due to a mutual interest in art. The duality of this exhibit lies in the fact that the show features two different perspectives on the same subject matter: the figure, the sea, and music. Although the Pugh and Anderson have only met in person on a few occasions in Fort Walton Beach, they are in constant communication with each other, discussing their latest works and working together via “snail” mail on a piece entitled “Street Corner Jam Session”. Both artists have been considered “Outsider Artists” at different points in their lives although Anderson received his Master's of Art in Drawing & Painting in 2004 from C.W. Post of Long Island University, Brookville, Long Island, New York. In addition to Pugh's drawings, she also works in stained glass depicting the figure. Pugh says, “I use Art to create the world that I see and imagine through the un-structured flow of fashion and Jazz Music. The show is both a collaborative exhibition as well as an exploration of each artists own unique voice and promises to be a dynamic display of color and emotion.

Life's A Beach | June 13th - July 11th, 2009

Community Show

Life’s a Beach Publications publishes a variety of digest-sized magazines that specialize in using local knowledge to enhance the experience of visitors to our area. It periodically sponsors large group exhibitions of local artists who use vibrant color and images of palm trees to portray the playful and whimsical atmosphere of the Emerald Coast in their artwork. The exhibition is also a competition for participating artists. Selected work will appear on an upcoming cover of Life's A Beach magazine - with over 500,000 copies distributed, this is a great opportunity for artists to gain visibility. The artist will also receive a featured editorial and quarter page ad. During the gallery reception the winner will be announced and awarded a ribbon and certificate. The show promises to be a colorful, vibrant display of the Emerald Coast! Our grand prize winner was Brad Greek so look for his article and solo show in the summer of next year. The other two winners were Loretta Menadian and Reba Burrow. Other placing artists were Sean Armbrewster second place, Nancy Jergens third place and Carmen Nnugyn honorable mention.

Heaven & Earth | Apr. 11 - Jun. 4, 2009

Eszra Tanner

This solo show for Eszra Tanner is comprised of a series of digital prints revolving around the small sand dunes and bay area where Heaven and Earth seem to meet almost seamlessly. Eszra Tanner, a self taught artist, has always carried a passion for photography, but has only recently been inspired to take up landscape photography. He says that the colors in the sunsets and sunrises of Florida brought about this change after his move here from Las Vegas in October of 2006. And truly, if any local photographer knows how to capture the rich colors of our landscape, it is Eszra Tanner. Perhaps it is his fresh look upon what we see everyday that renders these landscapes so magical. Tanner uses “very refined techniques to digitally bend light and color to his creative will.” His images are produced by combining multiple photographs of the same scene, each shot at a different shutter speed, and the results are nothing short of breathtaking.

Although he often shoots sunrises and sunsets, Tanner is not afraid of darkness either, and he often superimposes storm clouds atop a stunning sky of gold and magenta. This unabashed bravado brings forth a dynamism and energy not often explored in beach photography, and for this reason Tanner is as much an artist as he is a photographer. Not only does his technique allow him to break through the mechanical limitations imposed by the camera, but it also expresses the stories and beauty of the area he sees in his minds' eye. In fact, Tanner's work looks as if it were a vivid memory of constantly changing landscape, rather than a simple static photograph. This in turn creates a feeling within the viewer of being transported from the gallery into this dream world so clearly his own. Indeed, Tanner's unique sensibility for light and composition is almost surreal in nature, and it brings a special kind of elegance and richness to otherwise ordinary beachscapes, making his work a joy to behold.

Girls Girls Girls | Feb. 13 - Apr. 5, 2009

Coallus

Coallus, a multi-media artist living and working in Pensacola, FL presents his solo show “Girls, Girls, Girls." The installation embodies the influence of Coallus's favorite things- themes of women, cartoons, music, sugar and toys. His work blends the big-eye art forms of the 1970s with a contemporary street art style, and prominently features his signature "broken star" symbol. “Most of my art tells a story: things that may have happened, things I have seen, dreams and aspirations,” says Coallus.

Coallus drew his first tattoo flash series in 1995 and started working as a tattoo artist in 1999. In those years he developed his rendering skills and unique style. Since then, he has gone on to exhibit nationally in Los Angeles, Indianapolis, various cities in Georgia, and all over Florida. He says, “I have never had any real art classes. I just love to create and can't stop... I have to keep working, so I get a lot of practice.” He spent years traveling the country with his band, leaving his mark on city streets from coast to coast. Coallus was heavily influenced by Shepard Fairey’s “Obey” campaign. Fairey's guerrilla art inspired him to create his own mark: the broken star. Representing broken dreams and perseverance, it is a symbol that reminds him to never give up on what he believes in, and to always move forward, looking ahead.

Proper Reason | Dec. 13, 2008 - Feb. 7, 2009

Joe Hobbs

Pensacola glass and ceramics artist Joe Hobbs presents his mixed media installation Proper Reason. This remarkable and thought-provoking work explores Hobbs' personal experience with religious and scientific themes, their interconnected relationship, and how they have shaped his view of the world.

Joe Hobbs grew up on the West Coast. He studied at the Rhode Island School of Design and the California College of the Arts. In 2004, Joe worked with glass sculptor Pino Signoretto at Pilchuck Glass School in Washington State. He returned to the region in 2005 as a member of the Poleturners Union of glass-blowers. In 2006, he was awarded the Gulf Breeze Best of Show for his glasswork. Joe received Great Gulf Coast Judges Award in 2008, and an honorary mention from the Pensacola Museum of Art. He was also a winner in the Twentieth Annual Cinco Banderas Competition where his work was purchased for the Permanent Cinco Banderas Collection.

In his past works, Joe examines the struggles of his ancestors and the effect those struggles had upon him in modernity. Describing his newest body of work, Hobbs says, “Proper Reason is a reflection of personal experiences and emotions that I hope others can relate to.” The show is composed of mixed media display boxes and brightly colored, thought-provoking clay sculptures.

Louisiana Left Behind | Oct. 17 - Dec. 9, 2008

Monique Michelle

New Orleans photographer Monique Michelle takes us on a photographic journey through the devastation of Hurricane Katrina. From the problems and warning signs that were ignored before disaster struck, through the very personal losses suffered in the aftermath, she allows us a glimpse into the life of a survivor.

Monique Michelle has been documenting her French Indian relatives living in the bayou communities of Lafourche, Terrebonne & St. Bernard parishes since 1998. Her imagery offers an intimate perspective into her family's endangered way of life. The photographic documentation she has captured exposes the threat of cultural extinction that exists in South Louisiana, caused by the backlash of environmental injustice and coastal erosion created by mankind's modern manipulations.

In 2005, she teamed up with fellow south Louisianian Mark Krasnoff, and together they documented their journey through the aftermath while following her 90 year old French-Indian grandmother through the debris, all the way "down the road", to Monique's family home in lower St. Bernard Parish. Louisiana Left Behind is a product of their post-Katrina work together.

Monique Michelle continues to document her family, their culture, and the south Louisiana community around her while attempting to rebuild, renew and readapt to life in south Louisiana, post-Katrina.