Artwork from the Florence Regional Arts Alliance (FRAA) is featured in the Florence Chamber of Commerce Visitor’s Center lobby, 290 Highway 101, through the end of September.
“We love the diversity of art provided this month by the Florence Regional Arts Alliance,” says the Chamber’s executive director Bettina Hannigan. “FRAA has become such an essential and dynamic part of the community and their efforts to advance tourism through the promotion of the arts is a tremendous compliment to the Chamber’s work in the region.”
FRAA chose the theme of “Community—Coming Together” for their exhibit, with artwork reflective of Florence’s diverse coastal life. Artists with work on display include, Kristin Anderson, fused glass; Stella Ault, watercolor; Pat Briggs, watercolor; Debi Ford, ceramics; Jack Hibbs, woodworking; Alan B. Huck, painting; Christine Hodges Huck, watercolor; Claudia Ignatieff, oil painting; John Leasure, oil painting; Tom Lederle, ceramics; Carol Lorraine, acrylic painting; Donna Mlinek, felting; Jerry Schneider, photography; Craig Shreeve, photography; Elaine Uellendahl, photography; Jack Uellendahl, photography; Jan Woodford, pastel painting; and Teresa Zook, textiles.
Most works are available for purchase.
“Our Florence community has come together in so many ways – supporting each other, local businesses, local artists, essential workers, our youth, and our community outreach agencies – we wanted to choose a theme for our artwork that reflected the spirit of our community,” says FRAA board president Kristin Anderson. “We commend the Chamber for offering the many galleries and studios in Florence the opportunity to give visitors an artistic glance of all that Florence has to offer.”
“One thing that thrills me nearly every single day is to be in my office, just around the corner of our lobby, and hear visitors exclaim ‘Wow, that’s gorgeous! You have people in Florence who do that?”, adds Hannigan. “Locals should make the Visitors’ Center lobby a regular stop too to see some great local work each month.”
The Chamber is one of the stops on the Second Saturday Art Walk each month and rotates art exhibits monthly among local individuals, galleries, and arts groups.
FRAA is a non-profit organization and art center at 120 Maple Street in Florence. The artists exhibiting at the Chamber this month represent more than 100 members and sponsors, all who share in FRAA’s mission of supporting all the arts, and making Florence an arts destination, according to FRAA representative Claudia Ignatieff.
“Members join FRAA with a wide range of interests and talents, including painting, photography, jewelry, mosaics, stained and fused glass, woodworking, writing, ocean art, knitting, textile arts, and pottery, to name a few,” says Ignatieff. “They also join FRAA to support the many community events FRAA is involved in, such as literary salons; writing classes; poetry events; Second Saturday Art Tours; special events such as the Christmas Festival, Winter Music Festival, and Rhody Days; and support of art in local schools, including youth scholarships.”
“FRAA has excellent teachers who offer classes to the community in such subjects as painting, writing, and felting, and is proud to offer the youth of our community an opportunity to exhibit their artwork on a designated Youth Art Wall at their Art Center and Gallery,” adds Ignatieff.
For more information on the Florence Regional Arts Alliance, their phone number is 541-997-4435 and their website is www.fraaoregon.org
The Chamber’s Visitor’s Center is open Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Saturdays from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. For more information about the Florence Area Chamber of Commerce and how to join or volunteer, drop by 290 Highway 101, visit FlorenceChamber.com, or call 541-997-3128.
