Island Gallery West Featured Artist for January-Dawn Gerardotd Artist for November-Marg Williamson

Description

Our Featured Artist for January is Dawn Gerardot, who describes herself as an Experimental Artist. Her exhibit, entitled “Sensational Silks” promises to surprise and delight the viewer. Painting on raw white silk is such a beautiful technique. The colors are so bold and bright. The resulting paintings are absolutely sensational.

Says Dawn, “I feel a creative energy that tugs at the artist in me, and I must follow the idea to completion. This is where ‘happy accidents’ happen: an exciting unpredictable result, an unexpected mingling of colors that becomes your new best friend or a combination of mediums that causes a turn in direction. Every painting is an experiment. I never know what the final look will be, even if I have started with a drawing.”

Originally from Indiana, Dawn graduated from the University of St. Francis and taught secondary education for 14 years; this teaching background provided her with the tools for sharing her knowledge of multiple art mediums. She is currently teaching at ArtCenter Manatee and will soon have classes at Villa Serena in Sarasota and Cresswind at Lakewood Ranch. She also donates her time teaching Senior groups in both Florida and Indiana. A 20-year member of The Orchard Gallery of Fine Art in Ft Wayne, Indiana, Dawn has taught classes, workshops and seminars and has won numerous awards and accolades in many mediums. The most recent award was given by the Artists Guild of Anna Maria Island for one of her silk pieces.

Reception: Please join us for an Art Walk Reception on Friday, January 13, from 5:30 to 7:30 pm. Bring your friends — meet Dawn and many of our artist members, enjoy drinks and bites and live music.