Last year for the first time, the Coronado Arts Commission included an exhibition at the Coronado Flower Show to highlight the work of local artists. This year, the Commission has put out an official call to local artists to submit their work for display; applications are due March 24, 2016. Artists may also offer their work for sale during the Flower Show weekend (April 16-17, 2016), and the Commission is looking for local artists to do painting demonstrations during the Flower Show.
Tina Christiansen, a local artist, is in charge of the Florals by Locals exhibition at the 2016 Flower Show. “I am a retired architect and a working artist,” explains Tina, who has lived on the island since 1990. She is a watercolor and acrylics artist; in the past she owned Tina’s Art Gallery on Orange Avenue, which was a working art gallery with an artists’ studio. Her artwork is available for viewing and for sale on her website, and she also sells printed silk scarves here.
“I got involved in the Coronado Arts Commission because I want to connect the artists on the island. There are some incredible artists here, from classically-trained oil artists to traditional water colorists to collage to crazy sculpture guys — all kinds! I have been working with the Commission since its conception, and the Commission has done a great job.”
Last November, the Commission celebrated the opening of its first local gallery in the Coronado Community Center (C3 Gallery), and Tina was a demonstrating artist at the event. The mayor cut the ribbon, and artists and patrons mingled while viewing the art on display. Tina, meanwhile, began to work on a four-by-six foot canvas. “I didn’t even finish it before a woman came up to me and said, ‘I want to buy that!’ Even though it wasn’t finished, she paid me $1200 for it!'” Another artist made $1500 that night in sales, and other artists have continued to sell their work through the Commission’s local artists gallery.
With this encouraging news, Tina is looking forward to the Florals by Locals display at the Coronado Flower Show this year. Last year, the local artists working group that Tina is a part of displayed their paintings in three tents, but this year there will be four tents. “Last year was also just a static exhibit, but this year there are going to be people on site painting, and paintings will also be for sale. We are increasing our presence [at the Flower Show],” says Tina.
“Patrons will find some very high quality art at very reasonable prices because the sales are directly from the artists to the community,” says Tina. “At the Flower Show, you can pay via check and we’ll put a red dot on it. After that, the artist will deliver it or you can pick up after the show.” The art will range in price from $100 – $1200.
Tina is also excited about the new feature of demonstration painting, where there will be multiple artistic styles represented. “Philip Martin is going to be doing demonstration painting; he does classic oil painting because he trained as an oil painter in Europe. Meanwhile, when I do demonstration painting, I tend to do underwater scenes and surfing. I snorkel a lot, so I try to put people underwater with the sharks and fish.”
If you are an artist, how can you display your floral artwork at the Coronado Flower Show? “Artists need to live here, work here, or own property here,” says Tina. “We want to showcase locals. Their artwork needs to be 24×36 inches or less, and must have hangable wire. The art must be florals or a still life to compliment the flower theme.” She also adds, “There is a $30 application fee, but if artists want to volunteer for two hours — demonstration painting or drawing, or watching the booth — we will waive that fee.”
To apply, fill out the application here, or contact Kelly Purvis, Contract Arts Administrator for the City of Coronado, at 619.341.0137 (direct cell) or [email protected] if you have questions.
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