ART
36
showings at the gallery. Among them were Therese Knowles,
Tom Fresh, Bruce Tomlin, Don D. Brown, Helen Terry, James
Hutchinson, Annie Nobles Miller, Lois Savage, Margaret Z.
Smith, Rupert Smith Jr., Marge Thomas, Jack Beidenharn,
Barbara Hightower, Sophus Peterson, Julie Enders, Nora
Summerlin, Michael Sitaras, Jackie Brice, Jackie Schindehette,
Michael Enns and Herman Bemen. Many of those artists
paint in the Indian River School genre, influenced not only by
the landscape surrounding them, but by Backus in particular.
Jackie Schindehette, who now lives in Ocala where she
recently opened her Voila! Art Gallery and Working Studio,
says her first exhibition at the Fort Pierce gallery was a pivotal
point for her as an artist.
“That was a huge step in my professional career,” she says.
“After working and painting with Beanie for eight years, he
told me it was time to go out and start selling my work. It
was a big step to show in a juried exhibition at the gallery.
The gallery was certainly instrumental in giving many of us
a venue to show and the experience to build on our careers.
I think that is what Beanie had in mind when he originally
started it. It really fulfilled a dream.”
She says, though, that Backus and the gallery never presented
“high falutin’ academic” art. “It was a place to enjoy
artwork, to talk with the artists,” she says.
The opening receptions at the gallery certainly echo that
sentiment. According to Frederick, when the Backus opens
2009 – 2010 Backus Museum Season Schedule
Homage to Impressionism
Sept. 26 – Oct. 17, 2009
Featured artists Steven Babecki and Ivo David, along with
members of the American Impressionist Society, will pay
tribute to French Impressionism painting. Colorful, abstract
sculptures by Robert Coon will also be on view.
28th Annual Juried Art Exhibition “The Best of the Best”
Oct. 21 – Nov. 21, 2009
The juried show includes work by some of the best artists
from around the state. Because of its popularity, the show,
formerly known as the Four County Juried Show, has expanded
to include artists from beyond the region. The selection
process is a tremendous undertaking, as hundreds of pieces
will be submitted for judging.
Under the Mistletoe
Nov. 25, 2009 – Jan. 2, 2010
For many years, mistletoe has been included in holiday
decorations, if only to provide an excuse for a stolen kiss.
This holiday season, add the Backus Museum to your list of
holiday traditions. When you give the gift of art, you give a
meaningful gift that lasts a lifetime. Artists include Martin
Cushman, Ahmed Eltemtamy, Therese Ferguson, Rome Heyer,
George Paxton, Suzanne Ritter, Ada Swenson, Peggy Thomas
and Barbara Dodge Zarrella.
Through Women’s Eyes, By Women’s Hands
An Invitational Exhibition
Jan. 6 – Feb. 6, 2010
Through Women’s Eyes, By Women’s Hands promises an
outstanding lineup of talented female artists. More than 40
>>
from across the state will be featured with a wide array of
media, including painting, photography and stoneware.
Art in Bloom
Jan. 29 – 31, 2010
Art in Bloom is a three-day celebration pairing original
works of art and fresh flowers. This special event features
flower arrangements inspired by and placed alongside
paintings, sculpture and other decorative art objects. The
events will include a preview cocktail party on Friday night,
a luncheon and demonstrations on Saturday and Family Day
activities on Sunday.
Tribute to Backus
Feb. 10 – March 13, 2010
For more than 20 years, the Backus Museum has presented
a Tribute to A.E. Backus, the “Dean of Florida Landscape
Painters.” No other 20th century artist captured the Florida
light quite as well as he. Backus came into prominence as a
national artist when his work was hung in President Lyndon
B. Johnson’s library in Texas and in Senate offices in Washington,
D.C. In 1993 he was inducted into the Florida Artists
Hall of Fame. Selected paintings from private collection
on exhibition.
A. E. Backus Brunch & Painting Raffle
Sunday, March 7, 2010
Brunch served from 8:30 a.m. to noon, rain or shine.
Brunch tickets for adults are $12.50 in advance and $15.00
at the door. Children under 10, $5, available at the door only.
The “all you should eat” Backus Brunch is legendary. Feast
on fresh fried mahi-mahi, scrambled eggs, sausage, biscuits
and gravy, pancakes, cheese grits, fresh-squeezed orange
juice and much more. Then at 12:30, the ticket will be drawn
>>
A.E. “Bean” Backus had made a name painting Florida landscapes, but he
insisted that the art gallery he founded not be named for him. It was only
after his death in 1990 that it became the Backus Gallery and Museum.