Save the Date!

Well, aside from a few little fishies that Christine Thomas would like to add, the mural is ready to launch.  We have the scissors, we have the ribbon, and now we have the date!  So save the date--January 12th, 6-7 pm at the Community Center where the Vero Beach Mural resides.  Wine and a nice variety of hors d'eouvres will be served, and many of the people featured in the mural will be in attendance.

We three artists are busily working on our legends and compiling the information and artwork therein.  Vero Beach Art Club member and Mural Dedication Chairman Margaret Goembel is our expert coordinator for this event, and our whippersnapper VBAC Office Manager Christina Tascon is handling many of the time-sensitive, graphics, marketing and other coordinating duties.

The Reception is free and open to the public, so we expect a great turnout.  We are so looking forward to formally presenting to the City this giant work of art which represents the paradise that is our Vero Beach.  And thanks to all those, aside from we artists, who made this project possible. 

Judy Burgarella
Blogger for the Vero Beach Mural Project

July 18th - Our Gazillionth Vero Beach Mural Painting Session

NOTE: The Vero Beach Mural Project is being Sponsored by the Vero Beach Art Club as a gift to the City.  The artist members of the Vero Beach Art Club who are volunteering their time and talents are Dawn Mill (Project Manager), Christine Thomas (www.innerspacesandouterplaces.com), and Judy Burgarella (http://www.burgarellaart.com/).   Examples of artists' work can also be found on www.verobeachartclub.org/.  The Mural consists of six stretched canvas panels, 36' long by 8' high, each panel 8' x 6'.  Created in and for the Community Center, in their "Florida Room," 2266 14th Avenue, Vero Beach, Florida USA, 772-978-4592.  Visitors are welcome to watch the artists paint between 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. on Mondays and Fridays.
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Wow.  What a day.  My day to sit the gallery (Artists Guild Gallery), and Rita covered for me while I scooted over to the Community Center to see how the installation was going. I fully expected to see one or two of the panels up, but to my surprise they were completely installed.  My eyes teared up as I entered the Florida Room and the sight of all the panels up there altogether took my breath away.  It looked incredible.  Dawn and I just stood there staring at it in awe.

I guess the culmination of working on this big of a project for over a year has struck all three of us.  Christine soon got back from getting her salad and we all got a bit giddy over it, hugging and laughing and getting all mushy.  What a fantastic feeling, and we can hardly wait to show it to the public.  So I laid the tablecloth down on the table (actually it was an old beach towel that's been knocking around in my car), popped the wine, poured it into the lovely 3 wine glasses I brought, and we gave a toast to a job well done.

I had been enjoying getting back my Mondays and Fridays and hadn't given a whole lot of thought to how great it would feel to see it in place, so it was certainly the high point of the day, and probably for the month.  We talked about how we would make a legend, and probably visiting the mural to tweak a bit more now that it's installed and we don't have to wrench our backs moving them around the building.  The City and the people of Vero Beach and Beyond will get years of enjoyment out of the mural, and hopefully the City will enjoy recognition for all the wonderful attributes and exciting things to do in and around Vero Beach, some of which is depicted in this mural.

Left to Right, Dawn K. Mill, Judy Burgarella, Christine Thomas in front of Panels #1 & #2

Panels as they look installed



All panels digitally attached (variations in shads and colors due to separate photographs)

 On the opposite wall resides the mural painted in 2001, which depicts the history of Vero Beach.  Our new mural depicts the habitats of today's Vero Beach.

Older mural, painted in 2001, of which Dawn was one of the artists

    Below are single photographs of each individual panel.  Unfortunately, the first panel did not come out so hot, but I will be sure to get a better picture of it on my next visit.



Panel #1 by Judy Burgarella.  Habitat:  Downtown Vero Beach

 


Panel #2 by Judy Burgarella. Habitats: /Pine flatwoods, Scrub, Sandhill, Hammocks, Cypress Swamp



Panel #3 by Dawn K. Mill.  Habitat: Cypress Swamp, Mangrove Swamp, Lagoon



Panel #4 by Christine Thomas.  Habitat: Lagoon

Panel #5 by Dawn K. Mill.  Habitat: Ocean Drive, Beach, Dunes

Panel #6 by Christine Thomas.  Habitat: Beach, Coastal Strand, Ocean Reef

Well folks, that's it for today, actually it's already tomorrow--been posting for a while.  The postings may be a bit sparce from now on, unless we paint or have ideas we're willing to post which incidentally are many!  Our minds--we three--work overtime with ideas when we're together, so stay tuned.  And also stay tuned for news of when the launch of this wonderful project is.  In the meantime, it can be viewed whenever the room is not being used, so stop in and take a peek.

Ciou!
Judy Burgarella
Blogger for the Vero Beach Mural Project

July 16th, our 100dth+ Mural Painting Session

NOTE: The Vero Beach Mural Project is being Sponsored by the Vero Beach Art Club as a gift to the City.  The artist members of the Vero Beach Art Club who are volunteering their time and talents are Dawn Mill (Project Manager), Christine Thomas (www.innerspacesandouterplaces.com), and Judy Burgarella (http://www.burgarellaart.com/).   Examples of artists' work can also be found on www.verobeachartclub.org/.  The Mural consists of six stretched canvas panels, 36' long by 8' high, each panel 8' x 6'.  Created in and for the Community Center, in their "Florida Room," 2266 14th Avenue, Vero Beach, Florida USA, 772-978-4592.  Visitors are welcome to watch the artists paint between 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. on Mondays and Fridays.


Since this blogger has been "Missing In Action" for a while now, there have been several painting sessions that I have not attended.  Dawn Mill recently finished her part of it also, so Christine has been painting away whenever she got the chance.  Therefore, the sessions number now over 100, but I've lost track since I am not there.  Below are some photo she sent me July 16th (I am posting this July 18th).

Cruiseliner and Sailship on Panel #6 by Christine Thomas



Seagulls and Sailboard by Christine Thomas



Close-up of Seagull with fish by Christine Thomas

Sailboarder and passenger by Christine Thomas

Well, that's all for this post.  Another coming that I'll post tonight, and it's a doozy!

Judy Burgarella
Blogger for the Vero Beach Mural Project

June 22nd, Our 94th Vero Beach Mural Painting Session

NOTE: The Vero Beach Mural Project is being Sponsored by the Vero Beach Art Club as a gift to the City.  The artist members of the Vero Beach Art Club who are volunteering their time and talents are Dawn Mill (Project Manager), Christine Thomas (www.innerspacesandouterplaces.com), and Judy Burgarella (http://www.burgarellaart.com/).   Examples of artists' work can also be found on www.verobeachartclub.org/.  The Mural consists of six stretched canvas panels, 36' long by 8' high, each panel 8' x 6'.  Created in and for the Community Center, in their "Florida Room," 2266 14th Avenue, Vero Beach, Florida USA, 772-978-4592.  Visitors are welcome to watch the artists paint between 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. on Mondays and Fridays.

Today Christine was painting by herself again, and below are a couple of critters she worked on.  Christine said she also worked on her surfer, but wasn't ready to share it with the world yet.  Yeah, hey there Christine ... look out--the world is watching! 

So here's some more "finishing touches:"

Seagull - looks like he's taking a dive!l

Christine's seagull, in the context of his surroundings on Panel #5

Turtle life . . . an integral part of the shoreline in Vero Beach

Well folks, that's all for now, just dribs and drabs until the mural is completely finished, tweaked and installed.  I'll post as more work is done.

Judy Burgarella
Blogger for the Vero Beach Mural Project

June 20th, our 93rd Vero Beach Painting Session

NOTE: The Vero Beach Mural Project is being Sponsored by the Vero Beach Art Club as a gift to the City.  The artist members of the Vero Beach Art Club who are volunteering their time and talents are Dawn Mill (Project Manager), Christine Thomas (www.innerspacesandouterplaces.com), and Judy Burgarella (http://www.burgarellaart.com/).   Examples of artists' work can also be found on www.verobeachartclub.org/.  The Mural consists of six stretched canvas panels, 36' long by 8' high, each panel 8' x 6'.  Created in and for the Community Center, in their "Florida Room," 2266 14th Avenue, Vero Beach, Florida USA, 772-978-4592.  Visitors are welcome to watch the artists paint between 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. on Mondays and Fridays.

Today Christine was painting by herself, and boy did she get a lot done!  I guess we gab too much, but I bet she was lonely.  Anyho-o-o, below are some great pics she sent me to post ... enjoy!

Fishing boat by Christine Thomas in Panel #6

Fishing boat with sailfish

The "Aida"

Baby turtle by Christine

Baby turtle by Christine



Turtles by Christine Thomas

 Well, that's all folks.  I may pop over to see them paint or help out on Friday if time permits.  The mural is looking great, and we can hardly wait to show it off to y'all!

Judy Burgarella
Blogger for the Vero Beach Mural Project

June 1st, Our 84th Vero Beach Mural Painting Session

NOTE: The Vero Beach Mural Project is being Sponsored by the Vero Beach Art Club as a gift to the City.  The artist members of the Vero Beach Art Club who are volunteering their time and talents are Dawn Mill (Project Manager), Christine Thomas (www.innerspacesandouterplaces.com), and Judy Burgarella (http://www.burgarellaart.com/).   Examples of artists' work can also be found on www.verobeachartclub.org/.  The Mural consists of six stretched canvas panels, 36' long by 8' high, each panel 8' x 6'.  Created in and for the Community Center, in their "Florida Room," 2266 14th Avenue, Vero Beach, Florida USA, 772-978-4592.  Visitors are welcome to watch the artists paint between 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. on Mondays and Fridays.

Our working area

Today we had all day to paint, although tonight was the Gallery Stroll on 14th Avenue (11 art galleries) so we had to cut it a bit short to pitch in with the Artists Guild Gallery opening.  But a lot was accomplished, and we are so-o-o-o close to being finished.  Although there are many images I would have loved to clutter up my two canvases with, I'm calling it done.  So I spent the time today painting the sides of everyone's canvases, rather roughly following the patterns around the edges.  I got a little fussy in case the panels are ever shown by themselves.  The first and last panel sides will be totally visible when installed, so I took special care of that.  I also made "booties" out of heavy clear vinyl and duct tape for the corners, to replace the brown tape I had used when we started this project, almost a year ago.  The brown tape had to be removed in order to finally paint the corners.  Canvases have been jostled around an incredible amount of times, actually moved 2 x 84 or 168 times, not including the many times we had to shuffle them around for a variety of reasons.  We're not complaining, but it's been an incredibe amount of work that could only be done by three friends who paint alike and get along.  How rare is that? And we're better friends now than we were when we started--even more rare.

Anyhoo, we joked about my being the chump who is done but now has to do the grunt work of painting edges and making booties, and I made fun of the fact that I'm done and they're not.  All in good fun, and I did manage to squeeze in some time to paint this cute little turtle in between making booties.

Turtle by Judy Burgarella

. . . which is nothing compared to Christine's fabulous sea turtle flying through the ocean!



Christine Thomas' fabulous turtle, with another one in progress

Christine's underwater world is stunning, and her energies need to be devoted to that, so I will try to scumble in the sunrise atop her panel next time. 

Christine Thomas at the canvas, creating her own little underwater world

Dawn is in the process of painting a duck family and they are coming along nicely.  A few more tweaks then she'll move onto her opossum family. 

Dawn Mill working on her duck fmaily near the water's edge

 Installation is scheduled the end of June, if all goes well and manpower and supplies are at the ready.  We can hardly wait to see the canvases up and on display all together.  A shindig is being planned for the fall when things lively up a little and people come back to their own little piece of paradise.  We are tossing around ideas for legends, binders or the like, to explain and elaborate on the many images we've painted.  To see this year-long project come to an end is pretty exciting for us, considering that we've devoted most of our Mondays and Fridays (and some other days) to the mural.  We're pretty proud of it, and hopefully the City and the Vero Beach Art Club will take pride in it too--it's quite a gift to the City of Vero Beach. 

There may be a call for donations if needed, as we realize that both the old mural and the new mural could use some protective lucite covering on the bottoms and corners.  Scratches and scrapes can be seen on the old mural, which we plan to repair.  There are other needs regarding the mural, but more about that later.  For now, if anyone would like to see us at work before we wind up the project, come by the Community Center Monday or Friday, best time is between 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m.  You'll see that it's been quite a productive year.
Ciou!
Judy Burgarella
Blogger for the Vero Beach Mural Project

May 25th, Our 80th Vero Beach Mural Painting Session

NOTE: The Vero Beach Mural Project is being Sponsored by the Vero Beach Art Club as a gift to the City.  The artist members of the Vero Beach Art Club who are volunteering their time and talents are Dawn Mill (Project Manager), Christine Thomas (www.innerspacesandouterplaces.com), and Judy Burgarella (http://www.burgarellaart.com/).   Examples of artists' work can also be found on www.verobeachartclub.org/.  The Mural consists of six stretched canvas panels, 36' long by 8' high, each panel 8' x 6'.  Created in and for the Community Center, in their "Florida Room," 2266 14th Avenue, Vero Beach, Florida USA, 772-978-4592.  Visitors are welcome to watch the artists paint between 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. on Mondays and Fridays.


Well, sorry to say, I have either lost or misplaced my camera, and so I was unable to take any photos of the mural, and today all three of us were working on it ... darn!  However, no new critters or people were completed, it was mostly a day of "cleaning up," and by that I mean correcting mistakes, enhancing, painting all outside edges, and planning our finishing strategy.

Christine worked on her diver, and some colorful fish, and did a little research on her computer.  Dawn expanded some of the Barrier Island and extended the mangroves to better break up some of the blue water.   I was happy with having repainted the blotchy asphalt, which was a big paint-around job because people were scattered around on it.  I finished all the foliage at the bottom of Panels 1 and 2, and painted the outside edges of both, especially making sure the left side of Panel #1's elements wrapped around as the edges will be viewable when it is installed in the Florida Room.  I removed the protective corner tape from the bottom of my panels and painted the corners, then replaced it with clear vinyl corners which I had made.

Other than a 1-1/2 hour interruption on my part for a meeting off-site, we mostly painted until 4:30, taking a quick break for the lunch we'd brought.  This is so boring without pictures, so I will sign off for now.  Hopefully next week I will have wonderful photos of at least one COMPLETED panel.

Ciou!
Judy Burgarella
Blogger for the Vero Beach Mural Project