GALLERY AROUND THE CORNER: Parkland Art Gallery

Local artists represented: Currently the gallery represents about 35 artists. About 20 of those artists are local. “Certainly our most colorful artist sculptor is David ‘Scarbie’ Mitchell,” said gallery owner Kevin Hunter Greeland. “Many may recognize the work of painters Brian Miller, Elaine Charney and Jill Krasner, as well as ceramic artists David Heustess and Carla O’Brien, of Carla’s Clay, to name a few.”

The gallery’s hottest new artists: Claudia Quintero, from Texas, and local artist Sandra Frick. “Claudia creates brilliantly delicious surreal oil paintings on antique plates,” said Greeland. “Sandra is new to my gallery but not the art world — she constructs the most extraordinary structures/dwellings out of clay and other natural materials.”

The gallery’s most established artist: Brian Miller, of Duet Art Studios, in Sarasota. “He is wildly collected and works in a number of different genres,” said Greeland. “Brian, along with (his) artistic partner Ed Pasternak, created the imaginative Clothesline series, which is very popular.”

What the gallery looks for in an artist: “I look for an artist who has a little edge about them,” said Greeland. “I would also say an artist whose work has an authentic voice and the work has a sense of ‘craft’ to it. I like an artist who pays attention to detail and has strong craftsmanship, plus a sense of humor goes a long way as well.”

Modern misconceptions: “Well, I think it’s one that’s actually age-old — the perceived rift between what constitutes fine art versus craft, and can they be the same thing,” said Greeland. “I say, ‘Come in and see for yourself.’ Certainly the artists/artisans have the same passion for their work. Regardless, collectors know what they like and they still collect, and that’s what’s important.”

The kind of art found in his home: “The artwork in my home needs to have a little edge to it, and when the work displays good craftsmanship it’s what makes that artwork seem sexy; that delicate balance between edginess and attention to detail is what gives contemporary craft its sex appeal,” said Greeland.

What makes the job fulfilling? “Art collectors can be masters of their own domain — collectors are the emperors of the ephemera, barons of the beautiful, monarchs of the memorable, assembling deeply personal anthologies through objects,” said Greeland. “I get to be part of that.”

Current show: The gallery will showcase its summer collections of acrylic paintings by Miller, watercolors by Charney, mixed-media by Krasner and both acrylics and oils by Pamela Ross. Featured sculptors include Mitchell and Frick and glass creations by Josh Ryun. Jewelry by artists Doris Linton and Ruth Mazin are also being showcased, as well as the work of ceramic artists O’Brien, Heustess, Lynnie Siegal and Christine Stein.

Information

Owner: Kevin Hunter Greeland
Location: 506 S. Pineapple Ave., Sarasota
Year established: 2008
Phone: 366-1649
Hours: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday and Saturday. There are events from 6 to 9 p.m. the first Friday of every month.

Contact Stephanie Hannum at [email protected].