PANAMA CITY, Florida (May 25, 2020) – The Center for the Arts will be premiering two new exhibitions.
The Main Gallery will be filled with the art of Al Feinstein, a contemporary artist who produces paintings of many themes.
Al Feinstein was born and raised in New York on Long Island, and was fortunate enough to know, as a seventh grader, he was destined to be an architect and artist. After a successful forty-year practice as a licensed architect, he has begun the serious business of art.
“My objective is to make art and my paintings enjoyable to as many people as possible,” said Al Feinstein. “The intention is to arouse a strong reaction from the viewer, which translates to a feeling of familiarity and emotion, which then becomes a memory of the work.”
Feinstein’s art is created with a graphics quality in the background, using bright colors in sometimes startling combinations. He believes that the subject of the painting is the important factor, rather than the peripheral areas. His abstract expressionism work uses acrylic paint and wood oil stain on canvas in a manner that forces the eye to travel to all parts of the piece.
“We’re excited to be able present both of these solo exhibitions to our community,” said Jayson Kretzer, executive director of Bay Arts Alliance. “Both of these artists have extraordinary talent and generous souls. I was first exposed to Mr. Feinstein’s art at his exhibition at Gulf Coast State College and I knew immediately that I wanted to showcase his work here in the Center for the Arts. Olga Guy has been a staple in our community exhibits and we are also working with her on a beautiful mural she is painting downtown.”
In the Miller Gallery, the work of Olga Guy, local watercolor artist & instructor, will be on display.
Olga Guy was born in Honduras, but has lived in Bay County since 2009. While she has been doing art all her life, she started selling her work in 2013 and began teaching art in 2018. Though she spent many years studying with different watercolor artists, she credits Jan Benicoff, a local watercolor instructor, with helping to get her career started as a full-time artist.
This will be her first solo show at the Center for the Arts.
“It’s a great honor to have my first solo show at the Center for the Arts. As a local artist, I feel it’s very rewarding to be given the time and space to share with our community,” said Olga. “As an instructor, I am glad to have the opportunity to show my students what can be achieved if you study, work hard, and have a passion for the arts.”
The series on exhibit will be “Underwater,” a selection of watercolor paintings of sea creatures Olga carefully designed so that the composition of each painting leads the viewer’s eyes to make a connection with the organic shapes and vibrant colors. She has been working on this series since 2014, inspired by the great variety of aquatic life along the Emerald Coast.
All exhibitions will open on Friday, June 4 and will continue through June 26. There will be a meet-the-artists reception on Friday, June 11 from 5pm – 7pm. Light refreshments will be served. Admission is free. Visit the Panama City Center for the Arts, go here: https://www.facebook.com/artspanamacity
