Plein Aire Cottage Artist Mary Rose Holmes- her father's collection of art

On Saturday January 26th from 7.00 p.m the George Algernon Speer Jr. Collection of 22 Highwayment paintings will be on view for the first time at the Leepa Rattner Museum of Art. The show runs through March 9th.

Speer, a fourth generation Floridian and attorney whose cases often were tried in District Court in Palm Beach frequently drove through Fort Pierce, where he became a supporter of the black artists who sold their paintings along the roadside and came to be known as the Highwaymen. He collected 22 paintings and paid on average $20. per painting. 20 of these paintings were deposited in the Attic of his Sandford home, as his wife's taste in art was quite different. She did allow two Highwaymen paintings to hang in their formal home.

Their daughter, Plein Aire Cottage Artist Mary Rose Homes display some of the paintings at their beach house at Indian Rocks Beach, where the prickly cyprus interior and the gulf of Mexico provide a tranquil background.

A young student has been painting with the Plein Aire Cottage Artist, namely John Holmes,13 yrs who is the grandson of Mary Rose Holmes. John has shown an interest in capturing on canvas old Florida and is a keen drawer. Two of John's paintings are hung at the Leepa Rattner Gift Shop.

Helen Tilston Donates Painting to A2K Valentine Dance

Action 2000 of Indian Rocks Beach, whose mandate it to preserve the beauty and history of our unique community are holding their annual "Love is in the Air" Valentine Dance on February 9th at City Hall, Indian Rocks Beach. This is "the party" of the season and is made possible through the tireless efforts of several volunteers. I am donating a painting entitled "Love Changes Everything and the accompanying poem. The painting will be auctioned on the night of the event. The proceeds benefit A2K


LOVE CHANGES EVERYTHING...Ode to Indian Rocks Beach By Helen Tilston

My heart is on fire since I met you

All days have skies of cerulian blue

Your shell pink beach with its outstretched arms
welcomes home the tired, wounded and aching hearts

Your sunshine of soft gold warms the spirit

Your waves of azure, viridian and cobalt keep in rhythm with me

Your gentle breezes encourage me

Your shorebirds dance with me

Your clouds make silly faces at me

Your residents radiate joy and inspire me

So my dear Valentine there is nothing to oppose

and to you my love I wish to propose

May I live with you forever more?

(by Helen Tilston...January 15, 2008)

Sophie Matisse artist

Martinis + Matiseee. The Frank Crum center was rocking last evening. Martinis were sipped and a silent art auction with the proceeds benefitting the Clearwater Free Clinic, a non profit, non government midical facility that provides free medical care to low-income, uninsured residents of upper Ponellas. In 2006 12,000 patient visits and 24,000 courses of medication were provided. Plein Aire Cottage artists www.pleinairecottageartists.com Mary Rose Holmes donated "The Castle Door" and Helen Tilston donated "Sunday at Indian Rocks Beach" Sophie Matisse, the great grand-daughter of Artist Henri Matise, was in attendance and Sophie also donated an original painting fo the event.

Pictured left to Right: Mary Rose Holmes, Helen Tilston and Sophie Matisse

Save Our Cottages Series 5 at Guppys

http://www.clearwatergazette.com/20080117/rocks.html

Susan Makin Florence Biennale 2007

Buon Appetito is the title of Susan's piece which hung at the Biennale. It is oil on canvas. Five panels across by 4 down and each panel measures 24" by 24" This particular piece is painted so realistically that one feels able to pick a blueberry or cherry right from the basket.Susan's understanding of colour and values is particularly evident. Many visitors and curators would smile as they observed this important piece of artwork. Susan's work is outstanding and the Artist is clearly disciplined. Just two weeks prior to attending the Biennale she climbed Kiliminjarro. Susan invited Violetta and I to accompany her to synagogue on Friday night in Firenze. An experience we shall fondly remember. We were graciously invited to Shabas with the Rabbi and his family.