UUCS Lexow Wing Gallery
“Things I Have Seen, Remembered”
Paintings by George Babich
and
“Wheel Life"
Ceramics by Joan Libby Hawk
On exhibit through December 14th
George Babich
“Placing a thought or a memory on a piece of paper that evokes a response from a viewer is amazing. How can paint and paper awaken feelings and emotions in others? Showing my work with this in mind is the show’s purpose.”
“I never planned on becoming a watercolor artist, but as a child I would constantly draw and color on every piece of blank paper I could find. I now appreciate the versatility and difficulty of the watercolor medium... Using soft washes and variation in bold colors and different brushstrokes helps me to convey a mood that feels right to me. The movement of paint and water on the paper create beautiful washes that almost seem real. Not a photograph but an emotional expression of the work.”
“Edgar Degas said, ‘Art is not what you see but what you make others see.’ When someone stops to look at my painting, I often wonder what it was that made them stop to look. When I am able to create a mood or an emotion in the viewer, I feel I have accomplished my goal. And when someone stops and smiles at my painting it is the best compliment.”
“I never planned on becoming a watercolor artist, but as a child I would constantly draw and color on every piece of blank paper I could find. I now appreciate the versatility and difficulty of the watercolor medium... Using soft washes and variation in bold colors and different brushstrokes helps me to convey a mood that feels right to me. The movement of paint and water on the paper create beautiful washes that almost seem real. Not a photograph but an emotional expression of the work.”
“Edgar Degas said, ‘Art is not what you see but what you make others see.’ When someone stops to look at my painting, I often wonder what it was that made them stop to look. When I am able to create a mood or an emotion in the viewer, I feel I have accomplished my goal. And when someone stops and smiles at my painting it is the best compliment.”
Joan Libby Hawk
Joan Libby Hawk is a multidisciplinary artist based in Sarasota, FL. She uses many materials to investigate visual questions and express her incisive point of view through clay vessels, sculpture, paintings on shaped canvas and paper crafted into three dimensions.
The collection in this exhibit is comprised of wheel-thrown high-fire porcelain pieces and burnished clay completed by applying horsehair and feathers to the still burning hot piece creating unique and contemplative surfaces. These burnished works, when refined and dry, receive multiple coats of a suspended, sometimes colored, liquid clay called terra sigillata and are buffed by hand after each layer – an ancient technique.
From liberal arts graduate of Mount Holyoke College to anti-Vietnam War and human rights activist, to artist/student living in Oxford, England, to New York City graduate studies, to a notable career in nonprofits and the United Nations working for women’s rights, Joan retains her unwavering commitment to art and social justice. In 2016 Joan stepped down from consulting and UN work to fully concentrate on art. Thinking if not now, when? she took a risk in 2017 and opened her studio in Sarasota, FL, jumpstarting a full-time art practice put on hold decades earlier.
The collection in this exhibit is comprised of wheel-thrown high-fire porcelain pieces and burnished clay completed by applying horsehair and feathers to the still burning hot piece creating unique and contemplative surfaces. These burnished works, when refined and dry, receive multiple coats of a suspended, sometimes colored, liquid clay called terra sigillata and are buffed by hand after each layer – an ancient technique.
From liberal arts graduate of Mount Holyoke College to anti-Vietnam War and human rights activist, to artist/student living in Oxford, England, to New York City graduate studies, to a notable career in nonprofits and the United Nations working for women’s rights, Joan retains her unwavering commitment to art and social justice. In 2016 Joan stepped down from consulting and UN work to fully concentrate on art. Thinking if not now, when? she took a risk in 2017 and opened her studio in Sarasota, FL, jumpstarting a full-time art practice put on hold decades earlier.
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All purchases are made between the artist and the buyer. The church office is not involved at all. Simply get in touch with the artist using the contact information shown along with their artwork. The artists then donate a percentage of every sale back to our UU community.
Gallery Hours:
Sunday 10 AM to 1 PM
Tuesday through Friday 10 AM to 1 PM
Gallery is free to all
Gallery Hours:
Sunday 10 AM to 1 PM
Tuesday through Friday 10 AM to 1 PM
Gallery is free to all
Learn More About the
UUCS Arts Council
Chair, Linda Cordisco - lkcordisco@gmail.com
Our church and its members have a rich history of support and involvement in the arts. The mission of the Arts Council is to provide Members and Friends of the Church avenues for artistic expression and appreciation. The Lexow Wing of the Church was designed as a gallery to help fulfill this mission. We are proud of the artistic endeavors of our members and others in the community who exhibit their work in the Gallery.
Membership in the UUCS Arts Council is open to all Church Members and Friends with an interest in the arts and a desire to share that interest with others. We meet the first Saturday of every month at 1:00 pm in the Lexow Gallery. Come share cultural information, help research artists, set up and promote exhibits, help preserve the aesthetic heritage of the Church, and have some fun in the process.
Above all, enjoy the wonderful art exhibits in the Lexow Wing Gallery brought to us through the efforts of the Arts Council!
Current Arts Council members include: Joan Boyce, Mary Brand, Carol Buck, Laura Campbell, Sally Coler, Kathy Cook, Gail Coppock, Linda Cordisco (Chair), Judy Croce, Bet Cummings, Cathy Cyrus, Susan Davy, Donald Diddams, Marvin Fields, Laura Glady, Peg Green, Judi Hennard, Marjorie Henry, Monica Jardot, Sue Kennedy, Pamela LaRocque, Arlene Leven, Kathleen Konicek-Moran, Holly Wynne O'Brien, Rick Randall, Enid Romanek, Cyndy Rosso, Rhoda Taylor, Penny Soldatos, and Betsy Wilford. See some of us in the picture below.
Membership in the UUCS Arts Council is open to all Church Members and Friends with an interest in the arts and a desire to share that interest with others. We meet the first Saturday of every month at 1:00 pm in the Lexow Gallery. Come share cultural information, help research artists, set up and promote exhibits, help preserve the aesthetic heritage of the Church, and have some fun in the process.
Above all, enjoy the wonderful art exhibits in the Lexow Wing Gallery brought to us through the efforts of the Arts Council!
Current Arts Council members include: Joan Boyce, Mary Brand, Carol Buck, Laura Campbell, Sally Coler, Kathy Cook, Gail Coppock, Linda Cordisco (Chair), Judy Croce, Bet Cummings, Cathy Cyrus, Susan Davy, Donald Diddams, Marvin Fields, Laura Glady, Peg Green, Judi Hennard, Marjorie Henry, Monica Jardot, Sue Kennedy, Pamela LaRocque, Arlene Leven, Kathleen Konicek-Moran, Holly Wynne O'Brien, Rick Randall, Enid Romanek, Cyndy Rosso, Rhoda Taylor, Penny Soldatos, and Betsy Wilford. See some of us in the picture below.
Click on the artwork below to view members' online displays of art:
Carol Buck
Catherine Cyrus
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Donald Diddams
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Peg Green
Kathleen Konicek-Moran
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Bet Cummings
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Recent Exhibits
Witness! -- Fabric Art by Peg Green
and Small Mosaics by Sally Coler
On Exhibit in the Lexow Gallery through November 16th.
Witness!
“We are called to witness and to give testimony of what we see in the world so that it may not be ignored, made secret, covered up, diminished, lost, or forgotten. We are called to witness each other in our vulnerability, to find the inner core of humanity that animates each of us. We cry out to be seen, we yearn for our own beautiful inner light to be noticed, acknowledged, embraced with compassion and love. Personally, I am called to look deeply and to speak boldly, expressing my vision in the language I know best—the imaginative language of art.” -- Peg Green, 2023
“We are called to witness and to give testimony of what we see in the world so that it may not be ignored, made secret, covered up, diminished, lost, or forgotten. We are called to witness each other in our vulnerability, to find the inner core of humanity that animates each of us. We cry out to be seen, we yearn for our own beautiful inner light to be noticed, acknowledged, embraced with compassion and love. Personally, I am called to look deeply and to speak boldly, expressing my vision in the language I know best—the imaginative language of art.” -- Peg Green, 2023
Small Mosaics by Sally Coler
also on display through November 16th
also on display through November 16th
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Sally Coler has been making small mosaic pieces for decades, including mosaic tiles for bathroom and kitchen backsplashes. She also designs and creates mosaic tabletops, pots, garden ornaments and wall hangings. Since moving to Florida, she has been specializing in sea scenes, mixing stained glass, shells, and mermaids. Be sure to see her work while in the gallery.
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"Our Stories are in Our Scars"
by Brenda K. Robinson
On Exhibit through October 12th
Please join us in welcoming artist Brenda Robinson and her work to our Lexow Gallery. The exhibit will be up through October 12th.
Brenda writes this about her exhibit: "What if our scars are all we have ever had. My exhibition is how our scars define us. We are who we say we are. What are you? We all carry visible or invisible scars; the invisible ones are the hardest to hide. How we wear them is everything. Do they taunt us or remind us how resilient and strong we are, and that we can do hard, excruciating things and still evolve. We show our scars so that others will know that they can heal. Stand right where you are, even in the scars’ cracks, and let your light shine."
Brenda writes this about her exhibit: "What if our scars are all we have ever had. My exhibition is how our scars define us. We are who we say we are. What are you? We all carry visible or invisible scars; the invisible ones are the hardest to hide. How we wear them is everything. Do they taunt us or remind us how resilient and strong we are, and that we can do hard, excruciating things and still evolve. We show our scars so that others will know that they can heal. Stand right where you are, even in the scars’ cracks, and let your light shine."
To learn more and see more of Brenda's work. Click or tap here.
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I am a story-telling mixed media figurative intuitive artist. Painting is my response to the messy middle of our color-filled world. I begin by making my mark on the canvas with blessings, prayers and intentions. I listen for the voice of the paint... I tell the stories that bind us, the beauty of our universality and connectedness, not the mask we wear. I paint the stories that make our hearts sing in the spaces between. My subject matter depicts human themes of resilience, strength and perseverance. I attempt to capture the energy of our humanity, where we connect our spirits through art. I am deeply drawn to the power of color textures and shape. Spirit shapes the narrative of the painting. I am always on the lookout for the presence of awe and wonder.
“Differences are not intended to separate, to alienate. We are different precisely in order to realize our need of one another.” —Desmond Tutu |
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"Focus on Abortion: Americans Share their Stories"
Exhibit extended through September 14th
Don’t miss this traveling photographic exhibit based upon the book of the same title by Roslyn Banish. Through photos and narrative, we hear the stories of nineteen people who have either had an abortion, are partners of women who have had an abortion, and/or health professionals who provide abortion care. Their stories provide a poignant picture of abortion in our country.
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Exhibit extended! - On exhibit through August 18th
Mexican painter Frida Kahlo, the subject of these paintings, is considered by many to be an icon for her feminist beliefs, her authenticity, her political activism, her defying of gender stereotypes, and her courage and strength to not be limited by life’s challenges. Artist Beck Lane has chosen to honor and celebrate this incredible woman by painting her own portraits of Frida Kahlo based upon photographs, documented histories, and written articles about the famous artist.
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The UUCS Arts Council is honored to host this exhibition of work by the artist Beck Lane. Her work celebrates the life of the artist Frida Khalo. The mixed-media portraits of Khalo merge creative vision with innovative technique. One fan of Beck Lane's work refers to it as "the love child of a Soviet graffiti artist and Vincent van Gogh." Her work has been collected and shown both nationally and internationally. 
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Beck Lane’s mixed media work pulsates with powerful, vibrant energy, fluid color and rare style. She is described by fans, collectors, gallerists, fellow artists, and online followers as a “painter’s painter.” A native of Cape Cod, Massachusetts, Beck’s work has been collected and shown in pop-up galleries, solo shows, galleries, and private collections both nationally and internationally. On her YouTube Channel, Catalyst & Co., Beck records herself painting live, while offering encouragement to fellow artists, and sharing her experiences as an artist and her painting process and techniques. We are honored and fortunate to host Beck Lane in our Lexow Gallery. Don’t miss it.
Art with Pride Exhibit
On exhibit through June 16
Gary LaParl
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Art with Pride is a celebration of LGBTQ+ emerging and professional artists from Sarasota and the surrounding area. This inclusive show celebrates both the diversity within the LGBTQ+ community as well as the diversity of mediums each artist chose to showcase their work. The exhibit will be up through June 16th, with an evening reception on Friday, June 9th from 5 – 7 pm.
During these troubling times here in Florida and elsewhere in the country, let us take a moment to celebrate and embrace these local artists. 
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Laura Glady
“Inspiration”
An Exhibit of Art by Members of our Congregation
Sixteen members of our congregation have contributed their art to this new exhibit. Please stop in the Lexow Gallery to see how they see our world, what inspires them, and what they have shared with us all. This exhibit gives us an opportunity to connect with each other through art. The Arts Council thanks each of the participating artists for their contribution. The exhibit will be up through May 11th. Don't miss it!
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“Her Shoes in the Alley”
by UUCS Member Donald Diddams
and small sculptures by Sheryl Sakinovsky
The UUCS Arts Council is pleased to host this exhibit of photo-based digital prints by Donald Diddams, and small sculptures by visiting artist Sheryl Sakinovsky. Sheryl is a multi-award-winning sculptor and portrait artist, whose passions are realistic figurative work and portraiture. Don is a photographer and digital artist who transforms his photographs -- sometimes subtly and other times dramatically -- using digital brushes and other imaging tools. The exhibit will be in the Lexow Gallery through April 11th.
Don says, “My intention with these prints is to show not only what I saw, but also some of what I felt -- including questions about our values, our beliefs, and our future during this time of rapid change. The image above -- 'Her Shoes in the Alley' -- is an example of this. I saw and photographed a well-used white sandal with bright shiny sequins laying on its side in a secluded spot along a downtown alley. I wondered if it had been thrown away and if so, where was it's match? Or was there another very different story about why it was there? That's how it is with many things we see. There are questions and mysteries and alternative meanings. And stories we can tell."
Please come and see what feelings and thoughts this exhibit raises for you.
Please come and see what feelings and thoughts this exhibit raises for you.
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On Exhibit through March 16th
The Arts Council is pleased to host this beautiful and unique exhibit of "Small Works" by Gail Coppock, a member of our congregation. Please join us for the opening reception after the Sunday services on February 19th, and take time while the exhibit is up to look closely at these works.
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Gail says about her work:
"To start with nothing and make something that is meaningful to me is a deeply satisfying experience - an experience that is readily accessible and that touches something inside me that I don't have fully conscious access to, but where nonetheless I feel completely at home. And for this I am grateful."
"When I’m making something, the details are very important, whether it’s making a mosaic with hundreds of tiny pieces that I have pre-formed in the kiln, or making sure that I am painting the right number of lobes on a flower stigma, or threading 1mm slices of horn on an earring wire. It’s my way of expressing my personal philosophy that the wonders of the universe can be experienced just as profoundly in the little things as in the grand conceptions."
Don't miss this beautiful exhibit!
"To start with nothing and make something that is meaningful to me is a deeply satisfying experience - an experience that is readily accessible and that touches something inside me that I don't have fully conscious access to, but where nonetheless I feel completely at home. And for this I am grateful."
"When I’m making something, the details are very important, whether it’s making a mosaic with hundreds of tiny pieces that I have pre-formed in the kiln, or making sure that I am painting the right number of lobes on a flower stigma, or threading 1mm slices of horn on an earring wire. It’s my way of expressing my personal philosophy that the wonders of the universe can be experienced just as profoundly in the little things as in the grand conceptions."
Don't miss this beautiful exhibit!
