Opening July 12, Oolite Arts’ latest exhibition, “It was Always About You…,” is an intimate look at artists who have been a part of the nonprofit’s four decades on Miami Beach, the relationships they created amongst them and the impact on their work and careers.
Curated by Dennis Scholl and Laura Guerrero, the exhibition features close to four dozen Miami-based artists, including William Osorio, Carlos Betancourt, Cara Despain, Frances Trombly, Germaine Barnes, Ahol Sniffs Glue and many others. (A full list is below.) Drawing inspiration from the “salon-style hang,” the expressive prints, fabric works, film and paintings have been arranged close together and in conversation with one another.
Setting the tone for the show, on a pedestal in the center of the gallery is a vessel by the late potter Ellie Scheiderman. An artist and visionary, Schneiderman founded Oolite Arts nearly four decades ago as an artist-support organization that “helps artists help themselves,” as she liked to say.
“Each of the works in the exhibition gives you a feeling of intimacy. We wanted people to feel the artists’ relationship to Oolite and the broader artist community,” said Dennis Scholl, Oolite Arts’ president and CEO, who will be retiring this year to pursue his own artistic practice. “For me, this is a good-bye show. As I step down this year, I wanted to celebrate the incredible talent and community Oolite Arts has nurtured over the years.”
Scholl co-curated the show with Oolite’s new Programs Coordinator Laura Guerrero, who is just getting to know the organization and the artists who have impacted it over the years.
“In meeting with the artists, you discover there are a lot of friendships formed at Oolite that have lasted through the years, or are being reactivated through the exhibit,” Guerrero said.
An opening reception will take place from 6 to 8 p.m. July 12th at Oolite Arts, 924 Lincoln Road. The same day, Oolite Arts opens applications for its 2024 Studio Art Residency Program.
The exhibiting artists are: Germane Barnes, Carlos Betancourt, Thomas Bils, Amanda Bradley, Kelly Breez, Jen Clay, lou anne colodny, Pablo Contrisciani, Rose Marie Cromwell, Cara Despain, Rafael Domenech, Diana Eusebio, Matthew Forehand, Gonzalo Fuenmayor, Jayme Gershen, Luis Gispert, Ahol Sniffs Glue, James Herring, Regina Jestrow, Mark Koven, Michael Loveland, T. Eliott Mansa, Laura Marsh, Juan Luis Matos, Beatriz Monteavaro, Reginald O’Neal, Ernesto Oroza, William Osorio, Gavin Perry, Christina Pettersson, Vickie Pierre, Marielle Plaisir, Chire Regans, Ema Ri, John Sanchez, Carolina Sardi, Ellie Schneiderman, Barron Sherer, Alette Simmons-Jiménez, T.E.S., Roscoè B. Thické III, Kristen Thiele, Robert Thiele, Frances Trombly, Michael Vasquez, Tom Virgin and Agustina Woodgate.
For more information, visit oolitearts.org. Follow @oolitearts on social media.