Sea Grape Gallery will be featuring two of their artists, Beverly Yankwitt, mixed media artist, and Marlene Jones, horsehair pottery artist, from Feb. 6 to March 5.
Beverly Yankwitt, originally from West Virginia, moved to Charlotte County in 1985. Having a degree in medical technology, she worked in that field for over 30 years and eventually left that field and obtained a license to become a financial advisor. Upon retirement, Beverly began pursuing her true love of art. She works in oils and mixed media but especially enjoys working in abstract art. As Bev explains, “I love experimental abstract art because I believe it is the most unique, original expression an artist can render.” In addition to producing her artwork, Beverly enjoys teaching abstract art during a weekly class at the local Cultural Center. Beverly’s art has been accepted in many juried shows where she has won numerous awards. She is a signature member of the International Society of Experimental Artists.
Marlene Jones lived in Italy for several years where she studied the works of great masters of ceramic art. Upon moving back to the United States, she focused on a career in marketing and public relations. However, she always knew that upon retirement she would return to her personal passion of producing pottery. Her real love focuses on creating unusual horsehair pottery. As Marlene says, “there is nothing more rewarding than taking a ball of clay and forming it into something beautiful that memorializes the life of a horse.” As she explains horsehair pottery was created by Plains Indians to honor the spirit and style of their horses. Knowing this history, Marlene truly enjoys creating a unique piece of pottery using hair from a customer’s personal horse’s tail or mane to memorialize the individual’s favorite horse.
Many of Beverly’s bold and colorful paintings and Marlene’s beautiful and unique horsehair pottery are prominently on display at the Sea Grape Gallery. In addition, more of their art and the artworks of all Sea Grape artists can be viewed at www.seagrapegallery.com.
Sea Grape Gallery is located at 113 W. Marion Ave., Punta Gorda, and can be reached at 941-575-1718. In addition to its regular hours, the gallery is always open until 8 p.m. during downtown Punta Gorda’s “Third Thursday Wine Walk.”
