“A Portrait of Grace” at the Arts & Heritage Center

Posted on by The Wandering Art Historian

By now I am sure that all my blog followers know that I am a huge fan of the Healthy West Orange Arts & Heritage Center at the Town of Oakland, FL. One of the many reasons why I appreciate the Arts & Heritage Center so much is that they routinely host art exhibitions that not only showcase the talents of local artists, but that also connect with the rich and diverse history of the Central Florida region and the town of Oakland in particular. One might think that nothing unique, special or out of the ordinary could happen in a small town like Oakland, but this art exhibition proves just the opposite!

The current art exhibition is exceptionally unique in that it is inspired in part by Grace Mather-Smith, an incredible woman whose antics and over-the-top lifestyle (by 1910’s standards, of course!) changed the quiet and quaint town of Oakland, FL forever.

“A Portrait of Grace” is a women’s art and history exhibition that features work created by women artists and artwork that celebrates women. The topics and subject matter are varied, as are the creative techniques, styles, and mediums. This art exhibition reverberates with the unbridled passion and love for life that Grace Mather-Smith, the so-called “grand dame of Oakland,” epitomized over a century ago.

A special highlight of this exhibition is the vast historical information on Grace Mather-Smith. Multiple didactics detail her adventures and a copy of her memoir, simply titled My Darlings, is on hand for visitors to peruse.

As always, it is absolutely FREE to visit the Arts & Heritage Center to view the exhibition. I am especially pleased to share that I have a painting of my own included in this wonderful show! When you visit, be sure to keep an eye out for my intuitive abstract painting “PORTAL.”

“PORTAL,” acrylic on canvas, 18″ x 24″

For more information on the Arts & Heritage Center at the Town of Oakland, FL, please visit…

https://www.oaklandfl.gov/899/Healthy-West-Orange-Arts-and-Heritage-Ce

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I am writer and artist with a degree in art history who loves to talk to people about art. I have spent the last seven years building up The Wandering Art Historian “brand” as a way to connect with people who want to learn more about art. I give lectures and presentations and teach classes and host book club discussions with a creative or artistic connection. I also write about local artists, events, museums, and exhibitions to promote the arts in Central Florida. In 2021, I had a creative crisis. I struggled with authenticity in the art making process. I decided to make myself vulnerable and find out what a real, genuine Adrienne H. Lee artwork would look like. The process was challenging and emotional and revelatory. I learned that if necessity is the mother of invention, then authenticity is the mother of reinvention. I reinvented myself and learned an entirely new medium. The resulting artwork surprised me, and it will surprise you, too. Some people wish for a fairytale ending. For me, the fairy tale is only the beginning.