Florida Remembered - Memory Paintings by Alyne Harris with Ancillary Panel Discussion
Opening Reception and Artist Meet & Greet:
Saturday, 5/15, NOON-2PM
Show Run: 5/15 - 6/19/21
Online Premier: 5/14
Growing up in Gainesville, Florida, Alyne Harris created art out of necessity. “My mother worked a lot and I had to entertain myself”. Drawing in the sand with a stick was more enjoyable than playing with her sister, brother or the neighborhood children. This enjoyment followed her through the years as an outlet of respite when she wasn’t working. Much like her mother, Alyne has always worked. She painted after work or on the weekends.
Now, Harris is retired and has earned her quiet time painting. She shares, “Now I can earn a living painting.”
Florida landscapes are a favorite subject. She injects Spanish moss, bright flowers, animals, ponds and rainbows. The latter makes her happy as do her angels - Black and white girls with wings floating on fluffy white clouds.
Occasionally, or by request, she will paint graveyard scenes with ghost figures she calls haints. I immediately understood the subject as the southern word for a specific type of ghost or evil spirit from the Gulla Geechee people from the coastal areas and the sea islands of North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and Florida.
What a joy it has been knowing Ms. Harris since 1999. I have enjoyed sharing her work with so many of you as she is one of our Florida folk art living treasures. I hope you will be able to join us this Saturday to meet Alyne in person and view her latest creations.
Past Present Future Panel Discussion
Saturday, June 19, 2021, 2-3pm
FREE EVENT
Celebrate the closing reception of Florida Remembered on June 19th with a panel discussion featuring a few of our favorite local friends.
An hour-long talk with local author Rick Kilby (author of Florida's Healing Waters and recent recipient of the Stetson Kennedy Book Award), renowned landscape photographer Reg Garner and eco-advocate Frank Weaver of Central Florida Recon will be followed by a Q&A session. Panelists will discuss such topics as the relationship between Florida’s rapidly changing landscape and its impact on our local cultural identity.
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