Exhibitions:
Terra Incognita: Photographs of America’s Third Coast
June 21-September 13
On loan from the Ogden Museum of Southern Art in New Orleans, La., this exhibition is a photographic project of 15 years’ duration (1991-2006) by nationally recognized photographer and author Richard Sexton. Latin for “unknown land,” “Terra Incognita” consists of 57 black-and-white photographs of marsh, scrub lands, dunes, beaches, swamps and forests along the Gulf Coast from the mouth of the Mississippi River to the Florida Panhandle. According to R.C. Baker of the Village Voice, “Nothing in these extremely fine-grained prints remotely resembles a ‘snapshot.’ … Sexton’s spare compositions coalesce into a portrait of nature as the ultimate abstractionist.” This exhibition is sponsored by Visit Central Florida, Eaglebrooke, Fleetwing, Rodda Construction Inc., Robert & Malena Puterbaugh, the City of Lakeland and the State of Florida.
Photos available.
Site Specifics: Works by Dan Gunderson & Barbara Sorensen
Through June 8
This exhibition will include installations by two Central Florida artists, Dan Gunderson of Deland and Barbara Sorensen of Winter Park. Working collaboratively, these two artists will transform the Museum with their site-specific installations that will provide visitors an opportunity to experience art environments. Gunderson has been a professor of art at Stetson University for more than 35 years. Having spent 30 years almost exclusively in ceramics, his current works visually express his observation of pop culture. Via the medium of iconic movie characters, his work reflects that we are a composite of our experiences. Sorensen is known for monumental sculptural installations that draw on geological formations and classical elements, but she recently turned her energies to large-scale environmental vessels constructed of metals and resins as well as new, experimental mixed-media prints and two-dimensional works. She discovered clay as an undergraduate at the University of Wisconsin. After completing her degree there, she went on to work with mentors Gunderson, Peter Voulkos, Don Reitz and others who were pushing the medium in fresh, sculptural directions. This exhibition is sponsored by Visit Central Florida, Bankers South, the City of Lakeland, and the State of Florida.
Photos available.
All Decked Out
April 26-July 20
As part of Innoskate 2014, the exhibition All Decked Out! will celebrate the artistic and innovative spirit of skateboarding. Polk Museum of Art is proud to host an exhibition of contemporary artworks that smack of the edgy aesthetic so often associated with skating. Co-organized by Chad and Suzie Cardoza, two Tampa-based artists and independent curators of all things skate, this exhibition includes a diverse checklist of works by artists from around the country. Painted skate decks, skateboard photography, skate-related sketches, and assembled sculptures will coalesce to provide audiences a renewed glimpse into the unique and creative state of contemporary skateboard culture.
Ekphrasis
Through June 22
Ekphrasis is a rhetorical exercise first practiced by the ancient Greeks. Essentially, it is a method of creating a new artwork as directly related to or inspired by an already existing work of art. Ekphrasis often takes the form of prose or poetry. The written piece is not necessarily a mere description of the artwork at hand (although it can be), but is a beautifully written account about the subject of the artwork. It is as if an illustration precedes and inspires the written story. For this exhibition, Polk Museum of Art worked with students at the Lakeland Montessori Middle School. Artworks from the Museum’s Permanent Collection were chosen and assigned to students as inspiration for their own explorations into the ancient art of ekphrasis.
STUDENT GALLERY
VSA Exhibition
May 24-June 15
This exhibition highlights works from the VSA Arts program of Polk County. This program is for gifted students and students with emotional, physical or mental disabilities who are enrolled in Polk County Schools. The artworks selected for the exhibition represent a wide variety of media and techniques. This exhibition is sponsored by MIDFLORIDA.
Award Ceremony: 11 a.m. Saturday, May 31
Create-a-Skate Exhibition
June 21-August 9
Polk Museum of Art is partnering with CreateaSkate.org for a special exhibition of skateboard decks. These decks, designed by middle school students from Hillsborough, Orange, Pinellas and Polk counties, will be on display as part of Innoskate Lakeland. This exhibition is sponsored by MIDFLORIDA.
Award Ceremony: 1 p.m. Saturday, June 21
SUMMER HOURS
Please note the Museum will observe summer hours beginning June 1 through Labor Day. During that time, PMoA will be open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and closed Sunday and Monday.
EVENTS
Central Park Stroll
Thursday, June 12*, 5:30-7:30 p.m., in the Central Park area of downtown Winter Haven
Admission: Free
This annual event is a celebration of the Florida Outdoor Sculpture Competition, now in its 14th year. Sculptures selected in the FLOSC are displayed for 11 months in the Central Park area of downtown Winter Haven. The event includes free children’s art activities and live music. Winners will be announced at the event, and participants will be invited to vote for the coveted People’s Choice Award. *Please note this event was rescheduled from an earlier date due to inclement weather.
Lois Cowles Harrison Week
To honor the memory and legacy of the late Lois Cowles Harrison, an advocate for accessibility in the arts and a lifelong supporter of Polk Museum of Art, the Museum will offer free admission to everyone the week of June 24-28. Ms. Harrison died June 6, 2013.
Innoskate Lakeland
June 20-21
Polk Museum of Art and Lakeland SkatePark at Lake Bonny
Admission: Free
PMoA is partnering with the Smithsonian Institution’s Lemelson Center for the Study of Invention & Innovation and the City of Lakeland to present Innoskate Lakeland. The Lemelson Center created Innoskate in 2013 on the anniversary of Go Skateboarding Day to celebrate the innovation and creative spirit of skateboarding. Now the Lemelson Center is broadening the celebration of skateboard culture by bringing Innoskate to Polk Museum of Art, a Smithsonian Affiliate museum.
Innoskate Lakeland will include a skateboarding festival — with skating, clinics and more — at the Lakeland SkatePark on Lake Bonny (from 9 a.m.-noon) and skateboard art exhibitions, panel discussions and demonstrations at PMoA (from 1 to 3p.m.). The public will be invited to join professional skateboarders and Smithsonian representatives in exploring the intersection of art and innovation through the lens of skateboarding culture.
The public also is invited to the Friday night Innoskate Lakeland Kickoff Party from 6-10 p.m. June 20 at Polk Museum of Art. The event will feature live music, portable skate spots in the parking lot, skateboard art exhibitions and food trucks.
CHILDREN’S PROGRAMS
Summer Art Camp
June 9 – August 1 (2-week sessions); no class on July 4
Ages: 7-14 years old
COST: Fee per class, per student, per session. Discounts given for multiple classes.
Bonus Session: July 14-25 in Winter Haven
Ages: 7-14 years old
COST: $285 for PMoA members; $345 for non-members
The Museum strives to give your child a fun, creative and open atmosphere to develop their love and appreciation for the arts. Summer Art Camp introduces children to unique, creative processes where they will gain inspiration from contemporary artists, artists displayed in the museum galleries and emerging art trends. Classes provide the freedom of exploration through creativity, process, medium and technique to produce unique artwork. For more information or to register, please visit www.PolkMuseumofArt.org/camp or call 863.688.5423.
Family Fun Workshops
Saturdays, 10:30 a.m. – Noon
COST: FREE for everyone
THEME: Silk painting (with Vicky Luffman)
June 7: Polk Museum of Art
June 14: Lake Wales Public Library
Family Fun 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.
POLK MUSEUM OF ART
Museum hours are 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Tuesdays – Saturdays; 1 – 5 p.m. Sundays; and closed Mondays and major holidays.
Exhibit Admission
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 Saturday.