Anna Maria Island Art League

Receptions at Anna Maria Island Art Galleries Showcase Local Artists...

ANNA MARIA ISLAND ART LEAGUE

Several art shows and sales are planned this weekend in addition to opening receptions for artists at local galleries.

This pastel to the right will be among works by Peggy Potter on view at the Anna Maria Island Art League on Friday.

Peggy Potter and Pastel Moments

A reception for "Peggy Potter: Pastel Moments" will be from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Friday at the Anna Maria Island Art League, 5312 Holmes Blvd., Holmes Beach. A longtime Island resident, Potter's pastels capture moments in time over the past 30 years.

This exhibit is a retrospective of landscapes, seascapes and portraiture.

The exhibit will be on display through Dec. 19; hours are from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday. For more information, call 778-2099 or visit islandartleague.org.

Helene Hirmes and Alice Benjamin
Dancing Crane Gallery 

These two combine their fine art and sculpture as featured artists for the month at Dancing Crane Gallery. An opening reception for an exhibit featuring their work will be from 6 to 9 p.m. Friday at the gallery, 1019 10th Ave. W., Bradenton.

According to Benjamin, she uses a variety of media -- acrylic, pastels, and watercolor -- with the model, landscape or still-life for a jumping-off point to express personal feelings.

"The versatility of clay allows me great freedom to experiment with a variety of interpretations," Hirmes said in a printed statement. "Because my pieces are 'table friendly' in size, I reach my viewers in their own environment."

Gallery hours are 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday through Saturday and 6 to 9:30 p.m. the first Friday of each month. For more information, call 744-1333 or visit dancing-crane.com.

Laura Keatts Avery's Jewelscapes

Viewers of Laura Keatts Avery's paintings see light refracting through glazes, giving an illusion of depth and movement. An opening reception for her new exhibit, "Jewelscapes", will be from 6 to 9:30 p.m. Friday at Still Life in G. Gallery, 1014 12th St. W., Bradenton.

Avery is the assistant director at Ringling College of Art and Design's Selby Gallery and graduated from the school in 1983 with a bachelor of fine arts degree in painting. The technique Avery uses involves the application of many thin layers of oil paint, called glazes, over metallic foils. She refers to her work as atmospheric abstracts.

The exhibit will be on display through Dec. 27; gallery hours are from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays. For more information, call Deborah McKeever at 932-1336 or visit villageofth earts.com.

Etchings and Paintings by
George Prout at Arts Council of Manatee County Gallery

Etchings and paintings by George Prout, 95, will be exhibited through Dec. 29 at the Arts Council of Manatee County Gallery. An opening reception will be from 6 to 9 p.m. Friday at the gallery, 926 12th St. W., Bradenton.

The artist recently made a safari to Africa and created a series of etchings of African wildlife. To create an etching, the artist cuts the design into a metal plate and then presses the inked plate onto paper.

Prout, of Bradenton, graduated from John Herron Art Institute and attended the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Art in Philadelphia. As an illustrator, he made about 600 calendar paintings for Brown and Bigelow. Gallery hours are from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Saturday. For more information, call Carl Keeler, gallery director, at 746-2223.

Village of the Arts Walk

The monthly Art Walk will be from 6 to 9 p.m. Friday and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday in the Village of the Arts in the area south of Ninth Avenue West and west of Ninth Street in Bradenton. For more information, call 747-0651.

Sue Lynn Cotton
Artists' Guild Gallery of Anna Maria Island

An opening reception for watercolor artist Sue Lynn Cotton will be from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Friday at the Artists' Guild Gallery of Anna Maria Island, 5414 Marina Drive, Bradenton Beach. Her work is featured this month at the gallery. For more information, call 778-6694.

Art and Jewelry For Sale at Joan Peters Gallery

An art sale will be from noon to 9 p.m. Friday and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at Joan Peters Gallery, 1210 11th Ave. W., Bradenton. The event will feature both art and jewelry. For more information, call 544-5344.

Holiday Gift and
Art Show at Lakewood Ranch Town Hall

The third annual Holiday Gift and Art Show will open with a reception from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday and continue with the show from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. show Saturday at Lakewood Ranch Town Hall, 8175 Lakewood Ranch Blvd., Bradenton.

Presented by The Creative Arts Association of Lakewood Ranch, "Presents of Art" features works by 26 artists. Visitors will find jewelry, pottery, fabric arts, wood turning and watercolors among the artwork. For more information, call Reda Reynolds, 747-2938, or Marie Gruber, 752-7146.

American Craft Show
Sarasota Bradenton International Convention Center

Nearly 200 artists will show their work at the American Craft Show. The event will be from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday at the Sarasota Bradenton International Convention Center, 8005 15th St. E., Sarasota.

Admission is $8 for a one-day pass and $14 for a two-day pass; children 12 and younger will be admitted free. For more information, call 355-9161.

Guide Dog Facility Open House

Open house planned at guide dog facility. The Southeastern Guide Dogs campus will be open this weekend for a holiday open house. The free event will be from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday at the 23-acre facility, 4210 77th St. E., Palmetto. Southeastern is one of 10 accredited schools in the United States and has provided trained guide dogs to visually impaired people at no charge to the recipient since 1982.

Santa Claus will be there from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. There also will be a bake sale of homemade items and grilled hot dogs and snacks provided by local Lions clubs. Guests can visit the puppy kennel, main kennel and gift shop. Those attending also will see the Freedom Walk, which mimics navigational hazards faced by people with visual impairment. For more information, call 729-5665 or visit guidedogs.org.

Music on Main Concert with Sheri and the Vision
Benefits Meals on Wheel, Friendship Dining, Food Bank and Adult Day Center

Meals on Wheels benefits from Music on Main concert Sheri and the Vision will perform classic oldies to contemporary rock during this month's Music on Main concert. The event will be from 6 to 9 p.m. Friday on Main Street at Lakewood Ranch.

Proceeds from the sale of beer, wine and hot chocolate will benefit Meals on Wheels PLUS of Manatee County's programs, including home-delivered meals, Friendship Dining, Food Bank of Manatee and the Adult Day Center. Organization officials say all of the programs are experiencing reduced donations and increased costs.

Admission is free. Overflow parking is available across the street at Lakewood Ranch Medical Center. For more information about the concert series, call 907-3750 or go to mainstreetatlakewoodranch.com. For more information about Meals on Wheels, call 747-4655 or visit mealsonwheelsplus.org.

Santa Claus and Snow are Stars at Christmas Event

The Manatee County Parks and Recreation Department is hosting "A Night Before Christmas" for the seventh year. The event, which will feature 10 tons of snow, will be from 4 to 7:30 p.m. Saturday at G.T. Bray Park, 5504 33rd Avenue Drive W., Bradenton.

The Manatee County Sheriff's Office's helicopter will carry Santa Claus into the park at 4 p.m. There also will be entertainment, face painting, hay rides, bounce houses, an inflatable obstacle course, cookie crafts, a quad power jump, coloring mural and carnival-style games.

The cost is $5 for wristbands that allow children to participate in activities. For more information, call Bridget Frattallone at 742-5974, Ext. 6036, or visit mymanatee.org.