FEBRUARY 2023

February Exhibition in the Founders Gallery

20x20x20 Landscapes by Ken Bowser

February 4 - 10am-7pm

Opening Reception - 4-7pm • Artist talk at 6pm

Exhibition through January 29, 2023

Beyond the obvious and tragic health effects, the impacts of the Covid pandemic were varied and often unexpected. Our personal coping strategies drove many of those impacts. The desire to avoid the virus pushed many into isolation and others into the relative safety of the outdoors. For artists, that decision can alter the trajectory of a career. For Ken Bowser, that was the case. Ken had long been a writer and book illustrator when he prepared to embark on a book tour in March 2020. The emergence of Covid profoundly altered Ken’s plans. He dusted off his Plein air easel box, headed outside, and threw himself into the creation of a range of landscape paintings. True to his experience as both an artist and writer, Ken created a poem or short narrative to accompany each painting. 

As you likely know, February is Black History Month. We are celebrating the contributions and achievements of Black Americans by telling the story of Thurgood Marshall. Marshall graduated first in his class at Howard University Law School in 1933. In various legal roles attached to the NAACP, Marshall argued 32 civil rights cases before the US Supreme Court, winning 29. The landmark Brown v Board of Education of Topeka, KS, was the culminating case of Marshall's career as a lawyer. The 1954 ruling held that "in the field of public education, the doctrine of 'separate but equal' has no place." This ruling began the process of desegregation.

Over the next 13 years, Marshall held various Federal judgeships and was the US Solicitor General from 1965 to 1967. Marshall made history when, as a Lyndon Johnson nominee, he became the first African American Supreme Court Justice on October 2, 1967.

The Hub on Canal is proud to present the George Stevens play, Thurgood, on Friday, February 3, in the auditorium at New Smyrna Beach High School. In this one-person performance, Thurgood will be played by veteran actor Larry Murphy.  Thurgood debuted off-Broadway in 2006, starring James Earl Jones. The Broadway debut came two years later and starred Lawrence Fishburne. Fishburne was nominated for a Tony.

This is a powerful performance about an American hero. I've seen Murphy's portrayal twice before. Don't miss the chance to see this.

Changing gears completely, plan to join us for Chalk it Up! on February 25 on Canal Street. Chalk it Up! is The Hub's sidewalk chalk art competition. This is our sixth year. It takes place the same weekend as Art Fiesta. Be sure to stop and check out the amazing and creative designs along the sidewalks of Canal Street. There will be competitors in multiple categories, from kids to professionals. There are prizes and trophies, so the competition can be intense. If you are interested in being a sponsor, please contact me. We hope to see you there.

The Hub on Canal's Friday Night Fever fundraising was great fun. It was held on January 20 at the Brannon Center. Nearly all of the 280 attendees made the sartorial journey back to 1977--a mid-1970's Elvis even made an appearance. The music, lights and a big dance floor set the tone for an amazing night. Click on the link and view some photos of the fun.

February 4, 2023 - 10am-7pm

Art Connections - engage with our artists and watch them create.

All Hub events on 1st Saturday are free and open to the public!

Hub members receive a 10% discount on purchases in the Founders Gallery on 1st Saturday only.

• 11am-1pm - RythmWorks Band outside The Hub.
• 1-2pm - TALK ART!  Tales from the Lagoon with Shelley Lynch. (see below)
• 4-7pm - Opening reception - Founders Gallery - 20x20x20 Landscapes by Ken Bowser.
• 5-7pm - Jim Bryer in the lobby.

Saturday, February 4, 2023

• 10am-5pm - Beginning Jewelry Fabrication Workshop: Make Your Own Gemstone Ring with Jody Ochs

Sunday, February 5, 2023

• 10am-5pm - Beginning Jewelry Fabrication Workshop: Make Your Own Bangle or Cuff with Jody Ochs

Friday, February 10, 2023

• 6-8pm - Wine Down Painting with Heather Wolynic

Saturday, February 11, 2023

• 10am-1pm - Get to The Heart of Mixed Media with Lisa Carlson
• 10am-3pm - Advanced Paper Quilling, Roses with Joni David

Sunday, February 12, 2023

• 10am-5pm - Beginning Jewelry Fabrication Workshop: Make Your Own Pendant with Jody Ochs.

Monday, February 13

• 10am-1pm - Oil Painting with Morris - Morris Wiener

Our Hub on the Run Outreach program kicked off the week of the 16th. Our art instructor Lisa took over the art classroom at Edgewater Elementary. Lisa spent most of the week there, teaching all 500+ children in the school. This is a collaborative project with Volusia County Schools to introduce projects inspired by Hub artists. In this case, it was Hub artist Tad Fyock. A very large flock of birds were created by the kids. All costs were borne by The Hub and its supporters.

We'll visit Read Patillo in very early February and before we're done we'll have touched all students in 5 area elementary schools. That will be over 2000 students. Hub on the Run is our newest Outreach program and we're thrilled to have this opportunity.

As a not-for-profit, volunteers have always played a crucial role in the operation of The Hub. Part of our unique artist proposition is asking our artists to commit time to work in The Hub. Usually, that means artists demonstrating their art, creating an opportunity for our guests to see the artists in action. Every once in a while, though, artists commit their time to otherwise helping out in other ways. Several times in the last few weeks, our metal fabrication artist Samuel E. pitched in by painting gallery walls in need of a refresh.

Unlike most artists, Samuel E.'s art grew directly out of his career. Samuel E. worked for 32 years for General Electric at the company's research facility in Schenectady, NY. For his last 10 years at GE he worked in the Glass and Model shop, fabricating whatever the scientists needed for their research--lifesize but non-functional MRI machines, for instance. In time, Samuel E. began seeing art in the leftover scraps generated from his GE model work. An artistic career was born.

I hope you'll stop by The Hub to see Samuel E's unique metal sculptures.

The Hub on Canal welcomes applications from Central Florida artists for wall display or working studio space. The Hub is open 7 days a week with more than 40,000 visitors annually. In particular we are currently seeking applications from Sculptors, Contemporary Ceramists, Jewelry Designers, and Painters in a variety of mediums.

Music is an important part of our work to bring the arts to our community at a very affordable price. You can help us do that by sponsoring one of our Music Nights. Sponsorships are available for as little as $250. For more information, reach out to Richard England at [email protected].