PMoA Offers Spring Break Art Camp

If you’re looking for something educational and artistic to keep the kids occupied over Spring Break, might I suggest Spring Break Art Camp at Polk Museum of Art? Participating children will rotate through three classes: Sculpture, Drawing & Painting, and Performance and Stage Craft. All of the projects will be inspired by the Museum’s Pre-Columbian art collection.

Camp is for children ages 5 - 13 and runs 9:00am - 4:30pm, March 30 - April 3. Tuition is $130 per student for Museum members or $150 per student for non-members. You can register your child by going here, or you can call PMoA at 688-5423.

Exhibition Opening at PMoA This Weekend

This Friday night, Polk Museum of Art will be hosting the opening reception for its newest exhibition, Unbelievable Transformations: Moving Sculptures by Gregory Barsamian. The artist will be talking about his work at 6:00pm and there will be light refreshments and a cash bar starting at 7:00pm. The reception is free for Museum members and $10 for non-members.

I know I’m biased, but I really can not convey in words how cool this exhibition is going to be. Once it’s finally up, I’m going to post some video to give everyone a better idea. In the meantime, here’s a link to a movie of the piece above in action. Keep watching because there’s another piece shown after the halfway mark.

Art Classes Offered at Polk Museum of Art

Polk Museum of Art will be hosting several art classes starting February 3. Classes are available for children, teens, and adults, and in a variety of media. Classes are offered on Tuesday and Thursday evenings and last for eight weeks. The cost of the class includes basic materials, and classes are open to students of all skill levels. Classes to be offered are:

For teens and adults:
Chinese Brush Painting, Tuesdays, 6 - 9pm, $130 Museum Members, $145 Non-Members

Digital Photography II*, Tuesdays, 6 - 9pm, $90 Museum Members, $105 Non-Members (*Students must supply their own digital camera and are encouraged to bring a laptop with Adobe Photoshop installed, if possible.)

Portrait Drawing, Tuesdays, 6 - 9pm, $115 Museum Members, $130 Non-Members

Transformation Through Clay, Tuesdays, 6 - 9pm, $115 Museum Members, $130 Non-Members

Life Drawing*, Thursdays, 6 - 9pm, $115 Museum Members, $130 Non-Members (*Nude models are used. Students under the age of 18 must have written parental consent to participate.)

Acrylic Painting, Thursdays, 6 - 9pm, $130 Museum Members, $145 Non-Members

For children:
Cultural Creations, Tuesdays, 6 - 8pm. Learn about world cultures through creating art. $90 Museum Members, $105 Non-Members

Mud Madness, Thursdays, 6 - 8pm. Learn how to work with clay. $90 Museum Members, $105 Non-Members

Recycle that Paper! Papermaking, Thursdays, 6 - 8pm. Learn to make your own paper and how to use it in your artwork. $90 Museum Members, $105 Non-Members.

For more information or to register for any of these classes, call 863-688-5423

MIDFLORIDA Signs On as Title Sponsor of Polk Museum of Art's Annual Mayfaire by-the-Lake

Polk Museum of Art's Mayfaire by-the-Lake, the annual art festival which takes place on Mother's Day weekend each year, welcomes a new title sponsor beginning in 2009. The Polk Museum of Art is proud to announce its partnership with MIDFLORIDA Federal Credit Union who is expected to serve as the event's title sponsor until 2018.

"We've been very fortunate that the both the community and the area businesses have always embraced Mayfaire. That's evident in the event attendance and the array of local businesses that have provided long-term support for the event,” stated Daniel Stetson, Executive Director of the Polk Museum of Art. "We have only had one other business partner serve as the title sponsor of Mayfaire and we are pleased that MIDFLORIDA has joined us as a new long-term sponsor."

The title sponsorship was most recently held by Volvo, a brand that served as the title sponsor for 5 years, but unfortunately, due to Volvo ceasing representation in Lakeland, the title sponsorship was unable to be renewed.

Polk Museum of Art took this opportunity to approach MIDFLORIDA Federal Credit Union because of their prior interest in the title sponsorship of the festival. Beginning in 2009, the event will be renamed "MIDFLORIDA Mayfaire-by-the-Lake," representing the local financial institution's involvement in Polk Museum of Art's most popular annual event.

"We are proud to be associated with such a community-oriented event. While the negotiations for the sponsorship seemed to move quickly, this is the result of years of interest," stated Kevin Jones, President and CEO of MIDFLORIDA. "Mayfaire is one of the best events in central Florida and attracts people from every walk of life and many different communities. It just seemed like a natural fit for our financial institution."

Polk Museum of Art's MIDFLORIDA Mayfaire-by-the-Lake will take place on the shores of Lake Morton in downtown Lakeland on May 9 – 10, 2009.

Other confirmed sponsors of MIDFLORIDA Mayfaire by-the-Lake at this time are: Premier Sponsors - Colonial Bank, Frost Van den Boom & Smith, P.A., and The Ledger; Children's Art Tent Sponsors - Publix Super Markets Charities and Tampa Maid Foods; Reception & Entertainment Sponsors - Ron & Becky Johnson and Kristen & Dan Gunter; Official Yellow Pages Sponsor - The AT&T Real Yellow Pages; With additional support from - The City of Lakeland, Polk County Tourism & Sports Marketing, Lakeland Runner's Club, Polk County School Board, and VSA arts of Florida - Polk County.

Only a Few Days Left to Bid in Polk Museum of Art's Holiday Art Auction

There are only a few days left to make a bid in Polk Museum of Art's Annual Art Auction. The silent auction and exhibition, which is currently on display at the Museum, will end Sunday evening, December 7. Two pieces have already sold, and 18 others are still available. Artworks are available in a wide range of styles with starting bids ranging from $25 to $2,000.

Images of the auction items can be seen by visiting http://www.polkmuseumofart.org/. Click on the button at the top right hand corner of the page that says "Holiday Art Auction." Or visit this page: http://picasaweb.google.com/PolkMuseumofArt/ArtAuction2008#
Anyone who is interested in a piece, but who cannot make it to the Museum to place a bid, may call the Museum at 863-688-7743 to have staff bid for them, or they may email TBehrens@PolkMuseumofArt.org.

Polk Museum of Art to Host Series of Holiday Events

Polk Museum of Art will host a Holiday Magic Series of Events November 20 - 23. Every day for four days, the Museum will present at least one Holiday event and all of them will have a magical theme. Some events will be for children, including the ever popular Breakfast with Santa, and some, like the Jingle Mingle & Art Auction, will be for adults only.

Check out these great events:

Holiday Luncheon
Thursday, November 20, 2008, Seatings at 11:30am and 1:00pm
Cost: $30 per person
Enjoy the magic of the holidays with your friends! Join us for a scrumptious catered lunch, browse Gems & Jewels, and stroll through the Museum’s galleries. It’s a perfect occasion in elegant holiday surroundings.

Gems & Jewels Wearable Art Event
Thursday, November 20, 2008, 10:00am – 4:00pm
Cost: Free with admission
Your favorite jewelers and artists are back by popular demand to dazzle you with their unique creations. It's a great opportunity to buy a wonderful, hand-crafted present for someone special in your life — or for yourself!

Elves Shelves Gift Shoppe
Saturday, November 22, 2008, 9:00am – 3:00pm
Cost: Free with regular Museum admission. Prices of items vary.
Shhhhhhh! A special Secret Shoppe for children only! Gifts will be reasonably priced for children to purchase holiday items for family and friends. Elves Shelves fun includes creating unique wrapping paper for each selected gift.

Breakfast with Santa & Elf Workshop
Saturday, November 22, 2008, 9:00 – 11:00amCost: $15 per person
Get the kids ready for the Holidays with this magical morning event! Santa Claus will be on hand to visit with everyone while a buffet breakfast is served. After breakfast, the merriment moves upstairs to the Elf Workshop where Santa’s helpers have prepared a fun holiday themed art activity.

Holiday Magic Show
Saturday, November 22, 2008, 11:30am – 12:30pmCost: Free with a ticket to a Santa event or $2 at the door
Sparkle, dazzle, and abracadabra... As if the holidays weren’t magical enough, we’ve decided to add even more with our very own magic show. Bring the kids to be entertained and entranced. You’ll leave wondering what you really saw happen!

Art Auction
November 18 - December 7
Free with Museum admission
Stop by the Museum for your opportunity to buy some fantastic artwork for your collection — or as a gift for someone else’s! 20 pieces are available in a variety of styles and media and at a range of prices. Click here to see images of all of the artwork. If you see something you like, stop by to bid, or call the Museum at 863-688-7743.

“Whet Your Palettes” Cooking Class
Sunday, November 23, 2:30 - 5:30pm
Cost: $50 members and $55 nonmembers
Experience the art of creating fabulous foods with just a few brushstrokes! Join Chef Andy, the owner of TheChefAndy.LLC, for “Home for the Holidays”. Learn to make simple, yet creative appetizers sure to impress family and friends over the holidays. Chef Andy’s passion for food and life will make this a class to remember. Class size is strictly limited to 8 and includes use of apron, recipes, wine pairing, and gallery viewing. Participants must wear closed-toed shoes. Meet Chef Andy to learn about his many achievements, including winning the Wine Spectator’s Award of Excellence at www.thechefandy.com. Pre-registration is required. Call 863-688-7743 x238.

The Holiday Magic Series of Events is sponsored by BCI Engineers & Scientists, Inc with additional support from Polk County Tourism and Sports Marketing.

For more information about the activities, please call 863-688-7743 or visit www.PolkMuseumofArt.org.