Title: Island Gallery West presents  "Sensational Silks” by January’s Featured Artist — Dawn Gerardot

Dates: Sunday, January 1 through Tuesday, January 31

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.

See the Artist at work! Dawn will be demonstrating painting on silk in the Gallery on Saturday, January 7 and Saturday, January 21 — from 10:30 am to noon.
Marie Garafano will demonstrate painting clouds on Saturday, January 28, from 10:30 am to noon. The demonstrations are free of charge.

Island Gallery West is currently open to applicants wishing to join this cooperative gallery of talented artists. The gallery is located at 5368 Gulf Drive in Holmes Beach, Trolley Stop 15, on
Anna Maria Island. Gallery hours are 10 am to 5 pm, Tuesday through Sunday.
Visit islandgallerywest.artspan.com or call 941-778-6648 for updates about the art and
30 member artists of the gallery.