BY JOHN WILTON
Having participated in the ever-popular “Off the Beaten Path” annual Studio Tours presented by the Fall Festival of the Arts, Judi Bradford and Adele Gerbracht wondered if there might be a way to expand on the success of those tours. Upon moving to DeLand, the two artists, who had known each other in Key West, fully embraced the Athens of Florida theme intended by DeLand’s founders. They were delighted to find a rich arts community here.
“The Art Studio tours demonstrated how many artists there are right here,” said Gerbracht.
“And the museums are extraordinary,” Bradford added, ticking off the two locations of the Museum of Art – DeLand, the African American Museum of the Arts and the Hand Art Museum at Stetson University.
However, the two soon recognized a lack of venues for local artists to present their work here at home. They shared their ideas with ACED DeLand, and a partnership was hatched, with Solomon Greene joining in by offering his new realty office on Woodland Boulevard for a venue.
The result of this collaboration is the launch of Gypsy Gallery Pop Up Art Experience, dedicated to promoting artists in DeLand and neighboring communities.
For the first Gypsy experience, a visual arts exhibit will pop up Friday and Saturday, Dec. 8 and 9, at Greene Realty’s new office, 102 S. Woodland Blvd. in Downtown DeLand. Ten artists are participating in the December event, displaying paintings, pottery, small cement works, jewelry and fiber.
The event takes place 4-8 p.m. Dec. 8 and 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Dec. 9. Admission is free, and all works are for sale. Come, meet the artists and view art from truly local artists.
