FUTURE RETRO: DRAWINGS FROM THE GREAT AGE OF THE AMERICAN AUTOMOBILE
Through December 6
This exhibition showcases the beauty and ingenuity of American automotive design during the decades following World War II, a landmark period in car styling, through more than 100 drawings from the collection of Frederick A. Sharf. An eclectic mix of illustrations, from preliminary sketches to fully rendered works, provides a rare glimpse into the creative process at some of America’s premier car companies. Dating from an era when speed and power were increasingly important factors in automotive sales, these drawings show reference to the emerging technologies that influenced postwar car design, such as airplanes and rockets. “Future Retro” is on loan from the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.
WORKING TITLE: A FACULTY EXHIBITION
Through December 13
Polk Museum of Art is proud to present its first exhibition of works by the accomplished arts faculty at two of Polk County’s prestigious colleges: Florida Southern College and Polk State College. This exhibition will be an opportunity for our audiences to see what these talented artists produce when they are not in the classroom. It also will offer students from the respective colleges an opportunity to learn from their professors by seeing and understanding their mentors’ more personal creative explorations. Featured artists will include Sarah Brewington Baulac, Eric Blackmore, Beth Ford, Joe Mitchell, Bill Otremsky, Sam Romero, Holly Scoggins, Kelly Sturhahn and David Woods.
“Coffee with the Artists,” an informal way to chat with the artists about their work, will be 10:30-11:30 a.m. Saturday, November 8, at PMoA. Free to everyone.
REMEMBERING FLORSHEIM
Through October 12
Richard Florsheim (1916-1979) was a prominent American printmaker, painter, sculptor, educator and writer. He graduated from the University of Chicago before studying art at the Museum of Modern Art and the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. He completed his formal art training in Paris at the Musée Nationale d’Art Moderne. Florsheim first gained international recognition in the late 1930s after exhibiting his work at such major institutions as the Salon des Refuses in Paris, the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, the Los Angeles County Museum and the San Francisco Museum of Art. He was a member of the Society of American Graphic Artists and the prestigious National Academy of Design. In 2004, the Richard Florsheim Art Fund donated 60 original works by Florsheim to the Permanent Collection at Polk Museum of Art. This exhibition will include a majority of those works and will mark the first time in a decade that these works have been on public display.
STUDENT GALLERY
ARTWORK BY SUMMER ART CAMP STUDENTS
October 11-November 9
Awards Ceremony: 11 a.m. October 11
Polk Museum of Art will recognize work by the young artists who participated in Summer Art Camp this year. This exhibition is sponsored by MIDFLORIDA.
EVENTS
FIRST FRIDAY: “FRIDAY NIGHT LIVE” – CELEBRATING THE ARTS
Friday, October 3, 5-9 p.m.
Admission: Free
PMoA will join other Lakeland arts organizations downtown in celebrating the arts at October’s First Friday event. Look for our tent!
CLASSES, WORKSHOPS & TOURS
CURATOR TOUR
Friday, October 10, 12:15 p.m.
Admission: Free
Enjoy a special tour of the “Future Retro” exhibition, which is on loan from the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. The tour will be led by Adam Justice, PMoA’s curator of art.
MEET ME AT PMOA: MAKING ART ACCESSIBLE TO PEOPLE WITH DEMENTIA
Thursday, October 16, 1 p.m.
Facilitator: Tinia Clark
Fee: Free (registration required)
This program provides an opportunity for those affected by Alzheimer’s disease (and related dementia) and their caregivers to engage in conversation about art on exhibit at the Museum. Participants will discuss art with a specially trained educator who will create an accepting and engaging environment in which the disease becomes a non-issue to allow participants to experience and interact with the artwork freely. This program is designed for people in the early stages of dementia and their care partners.
The program is offered on the third Thursday of every month; space is limited to 8 participants and their caregivers. To register, contact Matt Belcher at 863.688.5423 or MBelcher@PolkMuseumofArt.org.
Meet Me at PMoA is based on the MOMA Alzheimer’s Project and is a collaboration among Polk Museum of Art, Alzheimer’s Association – Florida Gulf Coast Chapter and the Arts Ensemble International Education Foundation.
FALL ART CLASSES
October 13-November 22
Fees: Vary; registration is required
Polk Museum of Art will offer art classes for students of all ages and experience levels from October 13-November 22. Pre-registration is required. Fees vary by class.
Weekly classes (meeting Monday or Tuesday evenings or Saturday mornings) for adults and teens include photography (beginning to intermediate), acrylic and oil painting, introduction to watercolor, and introduction to drawing.
Fall Art classes give students the opportunity to associate with others with like interests and learn new skills in a laid-back atmosphere. Whether you’re a beginner or a longtime artist, we base our course offerings on the underlying belief that most individuals want to be lifelong learners. As such, we offer classes and instruction for all ages and experience. All Museum instructors are certified art teachers and/or art professionals. For a complete listing of class offerings and to register, please visit www.PolkMuseumofArt.org/classes.
CHILDREN’S PROGRAMS
FAMILY ART WORKSHOPS
Saturdays, 10:30 a.m.-Noon
Cost: FREE for everyone
October 4: Polk Museum of Art*
October 18: Auburndale Public Library
Family Art Workshops provide a safe, fun environment for families to participate together in hands-on activities led by an art educator. Workshops are held at the Museum and at facilities in Polk County as a part of our ongoing community outreach efforts.
* A 30-minute tour of the main exhibition will be given preceding workshops at the Museum. Tours begin at 10 a.m.
AFTER SCHOOL ART
Mondays, October 13-November 17, 4:30 to 5:30 p.m.
Cost: FREE for members, $5 per child for non-members
Art classes for children and their families. Every week our educator presents a new project for children of all ages and abilities. No registration required.
ABOUT POLK MUSEUM OF ART
Polk Museum of Art in Lakeland, Florida, is one of the Top 10 art museums in the State of Florida, an Affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution and the only art museum accredited by the American Association of Museums serving the 561,000 residents of Polk County. Museum hours are 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Tuesdays – Saturdays; 1 – 5 p.m. Sundays; and closed Mondays and major holidays. Admission is free for Museum members. General admission is $5 for adults and $4 for seniors (62 and older). Children and students with student IDs are admitted for free. Special exhibition fees may apply. Admission is free to all on Thursdays, thanks to our partnership with the Chao Foundation; Fridays, thanks to our BB&T; and Saturdays, thanks to MIDFLORIDA. The Museum is fully accessible.