Is it coincidence or the fact that the universe loves symmetry when, in 2018, Palm Beach artist Ralph Wolfe Cowan, portraitist to some of the world’s most celebrated and wealthy glitterati, died at the same time that portrait artist Serge Strosberg, who lived in New York City for more than a decade, relocated to Palm Beach? Cowan’s career spanned seven decades, and over his … [Read more...]
At 86, artist Lehr finds pandemic a spur to creativity
The time of quarantine, paradoxically, has been a productive one for Miami artist Mira (pronounced My-ra) Lehr, who experienced a burst of creativity. It was quiet and peaceful and with no outside disturbances, she was able to focus on her art. “I was at home like everyone and motivated,” she remembers. “There was more time to reflect, experiment and dream in my studio … [Read more...]
‘Glasstress’ at Boca Museum explores fragile time in a fragile medium
In a major coup for the Boca Raton Museum of Art, Glasstress Boca Raton 2021, an exhibit of 30 international artists who have created new works in glass at the Berengo Studio in Murano, Italy, has returned to the museum and will run through Sept. 5. The exhibit, which opens Wednesday, is a sequel to the Museum’s 2016 Glasstress exhibition featuring new artists and new … [Read more...]
Season Preview 2020-21: Book, literary fests go virtual
Despite the dearth of live events during the winter of COVID-19, there are enough virtual literary events to keep one’s mind engaged. From poetry to fiction to children’s literature and books with local themes and authors, this year’s offerings, while reduced, offer enough stimulation and diversion to almost make you forget our altered state of collective reality. Palm … [Read more...]
JCCs team up for virtual Jewish Book Fest
Along with other iconic institutions such as the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, the Palace of Versailles and the Guggenheim Museum in New York, the Florida JCC Jewish Book Fest has gone online. Proving that there is strength in numbers, this year the Fest partnered with its neighboring Jewish Communty Centers (The Adolph & Rose Levis JCC Sandler Center, … [Read more...]
Lake Worth artist donates 50% of proceeds to needy in pandemic
In a time when artists’ voices have been silenced due to the COVID-19 pandemic, one artist has found a way to not only make his voice heard, but to make an impact on those around him. Lifelong black-and-white photographer Brian Cattelle, 38, a Maine native now based in Lake Worth, has created the 50/50 COVID artwork project, which is designed to donate 50 percent of the … [Read more...]
Cultural Council offers summer virtual programs
Like many art institutions and organizations in this time of COVID-19, the Cultural County for Palm Beach County has shifted its offerings online, with a summer lineup of free virtual programming, including art exhibitions and the performing arts. Their six-performance music series began in June with “A Jazz Tribute to Musicals” featuring Yvette Norwood-Tiger and continues … [Read more...]
Jupiter teen, child star sees bright theater future ahead
For Skye Alyssa Friedman, there’s no down time, even in this moment of COVID-19. These days, the Jupiter resident is busy finishing her home-school classes, logging in to video classes on Zoom, interviewing with prospective colleges, reading plays, taking online dance classes and filming audition tapes. But perhaps that’s nothing new for the red-haired 18-year-old who’s … [Read more...]
Local arts organizations hopeful even as future looks bleak
By Jan Engoren When the Cannes Film Festival is canceled and the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City is projected to lose $100 million after closing down because of the coronavirus, the impact on the arts and culture all over the world is significant. And Palm Beach County is no exception. While many sectors are suffering, arts organizations and cultural … [Read more...]
Coronavirus fears shut Four Arts, Book Festival; other venues staying open
The Society of the Four Arts will close until further notice Friday, cutting short its arts and education season, and the Palm Beach Book Festival scheduled for next week has been canceled. Both are casualties of the worldwide COVID-19, or coronavirus, pandemic. “Coronavirus conference canceled in New York because of coronavirus,” read the headline in New York’s tabloid … [Read more...]