- May 16, 2024
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The town of Longboat Key on April 23 held its eighth annual artists' reception celebrating 10 local artists for their contributions to the culture of the Key.
The 10 artists were Lynn Armstrong-Coffin, Judy Herman, Marie Therese Lacroix, June Morse, Lynn Wellings, Ena Carroll, Barbara Jendrysik, Joni Ross, Cheryl Taub and Madeline Wikler.
Over the past 21 years, the town hall art exhibit has featured 114 local artists and 1,721 pieces of artwork. Susan Phillips, assistant to the town manager, shared that this year’s event was one of the most attended town hall art exhibit receptions. Longboaters browsed many unique art pieces and chatted with the talented artists.
The Observer spoke with five of the artists to learn their stories and why it's important to build a strong community of support for the arts.
Last year, Joni Ross debuted as an artist at the town hall artist reception. Ross didn’t know that her collaging hobby would turn her into a full-on collage artist in a community of encouraging artists and art lovers.
“I think the fact that anyone is calling me an artist is mind-blowing,” said Ross. “I didn't even refer to myself as an artist. I feel very lucky to live where I live, to have this community of great artists where we can share our work. Events like these are so important to get our work out there.”
Ross started collaging during the COVID-19 pandemic. She started mentioning her new hobby to her friends and soon became a local name. She used it as a creative outlet to express herself and connect with others.
“Last year, I was diagnosed with lymphoma very unexpectedly,” said Ross. “It has been quite a journey, but I did quite a bit of collaging during that time. I’m completely self-taught. I've never been to art school or taken an art course. Collaging has been such a great resource for me.”
Ross collages faces, animals and nature. Inspiration comes from everywhere for her. All proceeds from sales of her art will be donated to the Lymphoma Foundation.
Originally from Serbia, Carroll moved to the U.S. when she was 12. While living in Eastern Europe, her next-door neighbor was a well-known artist and was good friends with her family. She said she was always playing in the studio.
“My earliest memories in life are using paints in that studio,” said Carroll. “He would give me a piece of wood to paint on or some paper or scraps. He just sort of awoke this need to use paint and create.”
Carroll paints mostly realism-style paintings, especially landscapes and portraits of her daughters. Lately, she has been experimenting with different materials such as sea glass she finds along the shore of Lake Michigan where she is from.
“Talking to people about my art is my favorite part about being an artist,” said Carroll. “Since I specialize in realism, many people will tell me what my work reminds them of in their lives. We have such shared experiences as human beings, whether it's a beach, a sunset or a vase of flowers, it triggers memories in all of us. I think that's why we love art. We remember a good feeling maybe from our life, or from the time we bought the painting or whatever it is.”
Barbara Jendrysik is a seasoned exhibitor at the town hall. She has participated in every one of the town hall art receptions.
Jendrysik said art has been a lifetime passion, but she didn’t decide to dedicate more time to it until she moved to Longboat Key in 1997. When she started taking art classes on the Key, she ran into her neighbor, Leona Sherwood, who was a well-known artist in the area. Sherwood took Jendrysik under her wing.
“She became my mentor,” said Jendrysik. “She used to tell me, ‘Barbara, you have to get looser in your art.’ I love to do realistic paintings. She encouraged me to use bigger brushes and cover whole canvases. She wanted me to paint all over and start getting bolder with my work. That was her big thing with me as far as advice.”
Jendrysik said that since Sherwood pushed her out of her comfort zone in her art, she has been open to painting a variety of styles. She has done a lot of realism-style paintings such as portraits and illustrating children’s books.
Recently, Jendrysik has gotten inspired by famous paintings and tries to put her own spin on them. This is where she is getting more into abstract painting and experimenting with her work.
Select paintings in her latest collection were inspired by Vincent Van Gogh’s "Starry Night" and will be displayed in the Art Ovation Hotel in May.
“I always love to draw but I never really gave myself permission to pursue it,” said Madeline Wikler.
After years of denying her passion for art, painting a barn in the fields of Maine gave Wikler an epiphany. She has been hooked on being an artist since then.
Wikler is mainly a watercolor artist who paints landscapes and portraits. She also teaches a watercolor class.
Wikler said that she loves events like the town hall exhibit because of the connection that artists can build with each other and art lovers as well.
“That's the thing about the art community,” said Wikler. “You can always pick up something. I always learn something, even when I teach others. I feel very lucky to have that in my life.”
Cheryl Taub said that her father sparked a love for art in her from a young age. When she was growing up, they would always draw together as a way to bond.
Originally from New York, Taub got a master's degree in art education and started teaching art classes for the elderly. When she moved to Sarasota, she started taking art classes herself and was inspired by a local artist, Joseph Mallana. Working with him pushed her to enter art competitions, shows and art groups.
Taub works with mostly acrylic paints on canvas. One of her favorite techniques is crumbling vintage photos from flea markets and out of old yearbooks and then painting over them.
"Art is the perfect way to just put all my feelings out," said Taub. "It's just so consuming, focusing and cathartic."
