What is an art town?

Looking at Art:

A recent visit to Provincetown, MA, presented many surprises. According to the art guide you can pick up in any gallery there, Provincetown has 36 art galleries as well as a small museum. This hamlet is known as both an art town and an artist colony. After my visit, I began to wonder how it got its reputation as an art center. The story of Provincetown is presented in a brief history on the web. After researching the state for art centers my husband and I moved to Sarasota, FL, which is known as the cultural center of western Florida. The Ringling Museum, Ringling College of Art, the opera company, theater companies and other performing art venues have earned the city its reputation. The Friday night gallery walk has been an impressive event with musicians in the street and opera singers performing in two of the galleries. There are art centers with galleries in Sarasota and the surrounding towns, but it is tough going for the commercial galleries which seem to come and go or shrink in size. Both of these magical cities has its own story and personality. With its surprising population growth and plans to expand the art venues in Sarasota, I hope the opportunities for galleries continue to grow. Do you live in or near an art town?

Work in the Studio:

The quality and diversity of the work on view in Provincetown is amazing. Although most of the work is painting, there were also some unusual sculptures to see. As an artist, I found myself looking at the art in reference to my own work. Seeing what others are creating is always a source of inspiration. I returned home ready to get to work in my studio.

Nude With Blue Hair, Watercolor, 9” x 12”