Gavlak Palm Beach recently unveiled “Tupelo Honey,” a group exhibition curated by Eloise Janssen and Bethani Wells, on view to the public through October 5 in the The Royal Poinciana Plaza gallery. The exhibition explores southern summer as it flows from day to night. The front gallery explores the dreamy feeling of summer days, while the back gallery space is a rumination on dark coastal nights.
“Tupelo Honey” is named for the honey made from the blossoms of the Ogeechee tupelo gum tree that lines waterways from South Florida to Georgia. “Tupelo Honey” embodies enduring, golden afternoons and serene evenings at the heart of summers of Florida. Stretching summer days and nights leave an indelibly sweet taste in our memories, where time stretches lazily and nature’s embrace is at its most exquisite.
Janssen and Wells, who were both raised in South Florida, drew extensively on their own memories made during summer, as well as inspirations found in the slower season.
“We were both raised in South Florida, where the summers are notoriously hot, and some would say, dreaded. Yet, there is a quiet beauty about this time of year that many people don’t get to see or appreciate. It is when nature has time to grow and rejuvenate, and the same can be said for those who can now relax after the rush of ‘season’ in Palm Beach,” said Janssen. “We wanted to curate an exhibition that emulates this time. We brought together work that ranges in materials, subjects, and artists. By creating a light, fun, and energetic show, we get to encapsulate the feeling of being in the summer sun and the sanctuary of cool nights by the coast.”
Wells draws focus a vignette in the front gallery, which comes to life with three vibrant and meditative works by renowned artists. “I consider the grouping of Blue Eye (for Herb) by Andrew Brischler, Song of Freedom (Daniela García, The Light Within You) by Jose Alvarez (D.O.P.A.), and OCULUS by Rob Wynne to be three spiritual eyes that invite the viewer to gaze inward,” said Wells. “They each have a surrounding radiance, like the beaming feathers in Alvarez’s work and echoing water-like rings in Brischler’s within their compositions that pull the viewer into their core. OCULUS, has a portal-like mirror at the center that directly calls the viewer to reflect on who they are. When one embarks on the invitation to look inward, they gain an understanding of thyself through finding the divine kingdom of God within. From this relationship with God abounds a sweetness, rare and golden, metaphorically like ‘Tupelo Honey.'”
The exhibition presents works by artists Lindsay Adams, Jose Alvarez (D.O.P.A.), Andrew Brischler, Deborah Brown, Taina Cruz, Marc Dennis, Judith Eisler, Braxton Garneau, Manuela Gonzalez, Taha Heydari, Nir Hod, Nancy Lorenz, Maynard Monrow, Anthony Sonnenberg, Awilda Sterling, Betty Tompkins, T.J. Wilcox, and Rob Wynne.
Facebook Comments