Saturday, January 9, 2010

Naples' KAW Gallery Opens at Moon Over Hibiscus

Naples Hibiscus Center with Robert Hayman sponsored an enjoyable evening of art,. Naples artists turned up the heat at this latest Moon over Hibiscus-A Melting Pot of Art! Painters, as scultptors, musicians, dancers, photographers, stylists and video artists kept hundreds of art lovers visiting over 30 artists from 6 pm to 10 pm.
Peformance art is hard to describe; when it’s done well, and the audience gets right next to , and talks with very talented artists, it’s an addictive experience. I’m hooked!

KAW Art Gallery, which features local artists, had its grand opening. The brainstorm of artists/co-owners Peter Gottschalk, Adriana Villalobos and Charles Goings,

Peter Gottschalk, Charles "Chuck' Goings in front of Chuck's Painting
it has 5,000 square feet of art. Charles Goings is one of the most talented and creative artists I've met, equally talented crafting beautiful furniture from magnificent woods, painting varied subjects in different media, and creating beautiful jewelry from natural sources. Some of his more surrealistic paintings feature a white flower, often a lily, sometimes a desert orchid-now you known one of his motifs. Peter works in a “Dr Seuss-ish” style with oils, and is known to the community for LIVEART productions.


Peter says that KAW gallery currently features a dozen artists “all local, absolutely no imports”, unlilke many galleries in the area, “and every month we will rotate in fresh artists.” This current group of artists includes abstract and natural artists. Echo Chernik, who features dynamic Art Nouveau paintings of dreamy, sensual women was chosen as an illustrator for Celestial Seasonings tea. Her feline nude with gas mask and compelling eyeswas painted 15 years ago-ask for the story on it! Juan Diaz is a very talented ceramicist and painter, coming from a family of artists. Vincent Plzak creates a fiery collection of silver figures on a gold and black background.. Monica V. has a retablo style Madonna and Child. Designer Steve Baffa, Frank Nappo and Michael D’Amico are other artists to see.

Stone sculptor Dixie Whatley carves heavy marble to look as light as sea foam or dancing flames . It’s noisy and dusty, so she works in a commercial stone site. It’s not easy-don’t make a big boo-boo, as there’s no Bondo to repair marble! She’s sold four beautiful pieces to rocker Eric Clapton, and her art graces quite a few homes across the USA. She actually started out in TV, interviewing celebrities like David Bowie and Mick Jagger, and while she never met Eric Clapton, he’s one of her collectors. Her father was a rock collector, however she didn’t think of working in stone until she ordered hammers and chisels off the internet, and was soon hooked! After taking just a few whacks on stone ten years ago, her husband said “I think you better do this outside.” Now she makes quite big pieces as well as wearable sculpture.. She says, “It’s like finding my muse-I love it.” “ I like making stone look very light”. She’s succeeded- a viewer asked her “how do you bend the stone?” One young lady had attractive piercings, and a beautiful colored tattoo. I asked who did it, and she brought me to see Matt “Mully “ Mayhern of Naples' Body Branding Tattoo demonstrate his beautiful detailed three dimensional art.

Youthful musicians of the band, "Hey Dakota", played to a standing audience.Zazou featured beautiful home accessories, and Naples' Al Fialkovich of Decanted Wine offered Prosecco and a wonderful unoaked Chardonnay. It's one of my favorite wine shops.
Lunch Bucket offered gyros and Middle Eastern foods downstairs, and The Melting Pot had hot fondues upstairs, to take the chill off the cool, drizzly night. I felt bad for the dancers with fiery torches, bravely performing in the rain.There were about 30 artists in a separate gallery, with an appreciative audience watching their creative talents, and buying art.
There were several musicians in KAW; young and old danced to their beat.
Robert Heyman
Art Lovers
Artists
The Hibiscus Center, and KAW Gallery are at 2850 U.S. 41 North, Naples, KAWgallery.com

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Wow!

This is a first rate "Happening" that's not to be missed!
Naples underground artists and art is alive and flourishing here.

Gallery nights are the best evening's entertainment around-bold art, live music and good food.

Move over NY's SOHO!