When the juried exhibition, “The Key To Creativity”, opens at The Sidney & Berne Davis Art Center (SBDAC) in downtown Fort Myers, one of the pieces of artwork on display by local artist Eric J. Taubert will offer a meaningful glimpse at several facets of Sanibel Island imagery that were lost to Hurricane Ian late last September.
For their open call to artists for this exhibition, the SBDAC asked, “What is the key that unlocks your creativity? For some it can be a walk among nature, a sunset, meeting a new person, a conversation at a cafe. Or it can come from emotions on the other side of the spectrum, losing somebody, a breakup or depression… For this year’s challenge the SBDAC wants to know what is the key to your creativity so they can share it and help inspire more fellow humans in search for a better world.”
Taubert is an artist, fine art photographer, and writer from Southwest Florida who is most-often drawn towards an examination of coastal scenarios in his work. Salt-crusted working waterfronts. Seaside dive bars. Residents, workers, and tourists in coastal villages, coves, and harbors.
The piece of Taubert’s art that the SBDAC jurors accepted into “The Key To Creativity” exhibition is an aluminum archival dye sublimation (matte) print of a fine art photography collage titled “signs | sanibel island, florida”.
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“My work is created through the process of a slow, deliberate, and mindful look at the interaction of places near the ocean with the human-made stuff found along these coastline areas,” continues Taubert. “How do the sun, and the storms, and the salt water have an impact on the dwellings, signs, tools, boats, docks, fishing gear, and gathering places of the people who live in proximity to them? What truths are revealed in the environmentally sensitive ecotones where complex tourism-economy pressures ceaselessly collide with the sensitive environments, native species, and day-to-day lives of those who call these heavily-marketed destinations home?”
“I’m excited to be showing this timely piece of art in front of a Southwest Florida audience at the Sidney & Berne Davis Art Center,” states Taubert. “‘signs | sanibel island, florida’, was the last artwork I created on Sanibel Island before Hurricane Ian made landfall. Many of the visual elements I photographed to create this piece were wiped away by the powerful hurricane. The Sanibel Causeway landscape. The coastal textures and hospitality messaging at some of Sanibel’s old-Florida beach cottages, like the Blue Dolphin. Weathered wooden signs at the Bailey Tract.”
The SBDAC, run by Florida Arts, Inc. a 501(c)3 organization, is a must-see attraction with a colorful history. The center (located at 2301 First Street, Fort Myers, FL 33901) is dedicated to bringing world-class art events to the Southwest Florida community.
The Key to Creativity juried exhibition at SBDAC was juried by Ava Roeder, Liz Bello, and Nora Sharpe Beyrent. Selected art will be exhibited in the SBDAC main gallery from June 2nd-29th. There will be an opening reception for the exhibition on Friday, June 2nd, from 6 pm to 10 pm. Learn more at sbdac.com.
Learn more about the artwork of Eric J. Taubert at taubertgallery.com
About Sanibel Art Colony
The Sanibel Barometer aspires to elevate the recognition and appreciation of all artists (in all disciplines) who have a connection with Sanibel Island.
With our “Sanibel Art Colony” features, the Sanibel Barometer aims to showcase the artwork, processes, and personalities of artists who are actively creating art in, depicting, and/or inspired by Sanibel Island (and the surrounding areas) in southwest Florida. Some of the artists we’ll be featuring live here full time. Others may live here for half the year – or even just vacation here for a few days or weeks each year. We’ll also be focusing on the history of artwork connected to Sanibel Island. The goal with our “Sanibel Art Colony” initiative is to give a deeper and more inclusive sense of community to ALL artists, in ALL disciplines, and from ALL places who hold a special pace in their artwork for Sanibel island.
Whether you are someone who appreciates seeing Sanibel Art Colony work, a collector who would like to purchase Sanibel-inspired artwork, or an artist who would like to share some of their work which was created in, depicting, and/or inspired by Sanibel Island (and the surrounding areas) in southwest Florida; we’d LOVE to have you join our NEW Sanibel Art Colony Facebook Group at facebook.com/groups/sanibelartcolony
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