Hurricane Brings Inspiration to Local Artist
NAVARRE - Local artist Lonnie Rich is this month's featured artist during "Dovetails Gallery Night" Friday, July 11, from 6-8 p.m. Patrons will be able to enjoy his work throughout the months of July and August.
In 2005 Rich became a full-time artist retiring after 25 years of service in secondary and post-secondary art education. Residing in the Holley-Navarre area, he set up an art studio on the first floor of his East Bay home. However, the art studio was destroyed by Hurricane Ivan.
With the loss of all his traditional art supplies, tools, and equipment, Rich was forced to revaluate his traditional creative options. He began to search the shoreline of East Bay and the local river banks in Santa Rosa County for both materials and creative inspiration. He began to collect various heart pine knots, cedar driftwood, and various stones that have been twisted, beaten, and tumbled through years of exposure to the elements.
As a trained and skilled artist and teach, Rich now listens to each piece of wood and stone to discover its narrative and its creative potential as an artwork. The history and the evolution of each piece of wood and stone are unique.
Gallery Night is open to the public. Patrons are invited to meet the artist, enjoy the exhibition along with a free wine tasting and live music. More information about Gallery Night and the artist can be found online at www.DovetailsArtAndFrame.com.