Carole Fiore: Thread…Transformed

April 1, 2023 – June 22, 2023

Fiber artist Carole Fiore has been stitching since she was in elementary school. Starting off with simple cross stitch samplers using cotton floss, she has since spent her life experimenting with various types of needle arts and threads. To Fiore, embroidery is an expansive medium that takes advantage of traditional threads and ground fabric, as well as new and unusual materials, like construction supplies. Embroidery can be defined as any art form that is accomplished using a needle with an eye.

In recent years, Carole has started exploring techniques that create texture and depth in this mainly two-dimensional art form. She makes use of a wide variety of stitches and mediums to create these images— Zinnias in a Vase (after Clementine Hunter), for example, is a tent stitch piece done in needlepoint on an even weave canvas, a technique used on many church kneelers. Florida – State of the Arts is a mixed media piece stitched with single strands of embroidery floss, featuring a map that was hand-colored with acrylic paints. The most innovative piece in the collection, Sailor Take Warning, is a mixed media rendering of the iconic Saint Marks Lighthouse, using acrylic paint, fabric collage, mirror organza, hand-dyed cheese cloth, memory thread, cotton and silk floss, and straw silk.

Fiore is a member of the Embroiderers’Guild of America, as well as the American Needlework Guild and the Pomegranate Guild of Judaic Needlework. Her work was juried into the last six Art in Gadsden annual exhibitions.

Image: Carole Fiore, Bargello Fiesta, Needlepoint, 10×10 inches

Reflections of Culture: The Crucian Carnival Series

June 28, 2023 – September 9, 2023

Former Army helicopter and airplane pilot turned artist; Michele Tabor Kimbrough has been creating art for over 25 years. Since the devastation from Hurricane Michael to her hometown and to her shop in Marianna, FL, in 2018, she has been working as a full-time artist. Kimbrough’s Crucian Carnival Series concentrates on her travels to St. Croix, a Caribbean Island, during the annual Christmas Parade. Her vibrant use of color gives expression and atmosphere to the culture of this celebration. She centers these watercolor and fluid acrylic pieces on the performers, their clothing, and their movements. Kimbrough’s work has been exhibited dozens of times across Florida and other states and has received numerous awards. She is an active member of several watercolor societies, including the Georgia Watercolor Society, Kentucky Watercolor Society, Watercolor Society of Alabama, and Tallahassee Watercolor Society. She also serves as the President of the Southern Watercolor Society.

Duke Kraai: Moments in Time

September 16 – December 9, 2023

Growing up in the Midwest, Duke Kraai was surrounded by fishing, hunting, and boating, inspiring his choice of landscapes and seascapes. A self-taught watercolor and oil painter, his works largely center on scenes from Florida, Michigan, and New England, reflecting what life is like in these diverse environments. As stated by Kraai, “I hope to catch a moment in time that allows viewers to slow down and experience all the wonders that nature provides.” Kraai has worked as a commercial artist for 20 years, receiving a degree in advertising design and teaching himself to paint with watercolors. He entered his first invitational exhibition in 1993, and has since been featured in numerous juried shows around the state of Florida. He received the First Award of Excellence from the Tallahassee Watercolor Society in 2019 and 2020.

Image: Duke Kraai, Apalachicola Red Fish, 2023, oil, 24 x 19 inches 

Exhibit Your Work in the Munroe Family Community Gallery!

The Munroe Family Community Gallery is an exhibition space on the Gadsden Arts Center & Museum’s 2nd floor dedicated to exhibiting art by local artists in all media and levels. Artists and artist groups can sign up for 3-month exhibition slots. The space is designed to be a learning opportunity for artists, with the opportunity to work directly with Gadsden Arts staff to learn about preparing artwork for exhibition, installing, lighting, and labeling