Wednesday, September 7, 2011

September 7th, our 25th Painting Session

Vero Beach Mural Project Sponsored by the Vero Beach Art Club (http://www.verobeachartclub.org/ )  Created by Artist Volunteers Judy Burgarella, Dawn Mill and Christine Thomas.  Stretched canvas panels, 36' long by 8' high, each panel 8' x 6'.  Created in and for the Community Center, in their "Florida Room."  Visitors welcome to watch the artists paint between 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. on Mondays and Fridays.
Monday was Labor Day, so the Community Center was closed.  Tuesday and Wednesday I worked on the mural alone, as Dawn is on vacation and Chris had to work on another painting project.  Since the Florida Room of the Community Center had been reserved by someone else at 1:30 for both days, I had to pack up and be out by 1:00, which was OK with me as it freed me up to paint my "European Doorways." 

Monday Rita and George Ziegler stopped by to check on the progress of the murals.  Rita is president of the Vero Beach Art Club, and she and George are old friends of ours from Connecticut.  My husband Bob stopped by also, and the four of us chatted untill I escorted them out before my paints dried up.  Although it was a short day (8:30-1:00), I got quite a lot done on Judge Stikelether's robe (pictured in the southwest corner of Panel #1), and a few other elements.

The story behind this beautiful robe is that it was made in the early 1980's by Mrs. Leona Smith, of the Brighton Seminole Nation in Okeechobee, Florida, and was custom made for Judge Graham W. Stikelether, Jr. to wear as he presided on the Bench as Indian River County Judge.  The robe was made by hand with over 5,000 individual pieces of fabric.  The color purple in the robe symbolizes Law and Justce.  Judge Stikelether presided over the Bench from 1972 to 1984.

Here is the finished robe.  Knowing the importance of symbols in Indian culture, I am curious as to what these beeautiful patterns mean.  A research project for another day.

Judge Stikelether's Seminole Robe, created by Mrs. Leona Smith, of the Brighton Seminole Nation

A gathering of important people of Vero Beach, from left to right:
"First Lady of Vero Beach" Alma Lee Loy; Mayor Jay Karmer; Judge Stikelether in his famous Seminole Robe; Highwayman artist Ray McClendon

Panel #1 as of September 7th by Judy Burgarella

 I still have some finishing touches to do with that clutch of people, i.e., hands, shoes, highlights, etc.  But next session is Friday, and we'll paint for the whole day which should allow me to completely finish the gathering and get Sue Dinneno started on walking her dog.  Perhaps I'll have time to work on mine and Rita's faces.  Christine should be finished with her project and join me in painting by then.  Stay tuned!
Judy Burgarella
Blogger for the Vero Beach Mural Project
Sponsored by the Vero Beach Art Club

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