July’s Art Salon – Art For Art’s Sake

July’s VAS Art Salon presented “Art for Art’s Sake” with the Fort Lauderdale Opera Society  at the Water Mill Flowers & Events Design Center. This Parisian-style Art Salon within a floral/industrial-size setting served as the kickoff event and sneak preview for the new Opera Society  season fundraiser that will include an exhibition of “Art for Art’s Sake” at ArtServe in September 2012 and a closing-of the-season Gala to be held at the Leiser Opera Center on March 8 and 9, 2013.

“Art for art’s Sake” featured 18 diverse and gifted artists, who were on hand to discuss their techniques, styles, and inspiration. Chef of Distinction (Judith Able), offered a sampling of her culinary artistry with an exotic and delicious array of appetizers and desserts.  To help complete the contemporary/industrial/bohemian ambience, Theory De Jean (synthesizer) and David Young (flute) created an ethereal, yet energizing, atmosphere for experiencing the art and enjoying the conversation with old and new friends… all within the chic Soho warehouse-style of the impressive Water Mill Flowers Design Center. We all would like to express our gratitude to Water Mill Flowers & Events’ owners Tom Dowd and Cesar Rivera, who worked with their design team to create a magical setting filled with sumptuous and dramatic floral displays and silver and crystal candelabra.

Barbara Lefka, of the Fort Lauderdale Opera Society, conceptualized “Art for Art’s Sake”  as a way to showcase artists in our community.  This signature project is planned for March 8th and 9th at the Josephine E. Leiser Center and will be an annual event that will feature more than two dozen artists and promote the sell of their work.  A portion of the proceeds will be donated to the Opera Society, a support group of Florida Grand Opera.

We take this opportunity to thank and congratulate the VAS artists and guest artists from the Opera Society who participated in the July Art. From the Opera Society: Judith Langley (hand bag), Melanie Camp (oils), Barbara Copanos (acrylics), Barbara Lefka (oils) Marilyn Johanson (water color), Crystal Bacchus (water color), L.A. Cline (pastels, oils, acrylics), Elaine Ziffer (jewelry), Mark Lombardo (oils), and Tania Oosthuizen (oils). From the Venetian Arts Society: Linda Phass (furniture and mural artist), Jerry Craig (mixed media), Gisele Haselbarth (acrylics), Vaughan Tucker (oils), Angela Esper-Pena (oils), Sonia Lewis (oils & objets d’arts), Heide von Scliefffen (jewelry) and David Muir (photography).

To complete the “Salon” experience, we were honored by VAS member, Lars Hegelund of Fredrick’s Fine Art and, who discussed “The Paris Art Salon of Gertrude Stein.” These Salons attracted the leading poets, musicians, artists, politicians and celebrities of the era for an evening of stimulating conversation, provocative music and art, inspirational interaction and, of course, great food and wine…in essence, a grand old time!!!

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