There are vases with teeth, paintings of Pensacola landmarks, even jewelry made with sand from Pensacola Beach, all mingling in the colorful and wonderfully cramped Blue Morning Gallery on Palafoxt, a local art collective that has been bringing inspired beauty to our town since 1997.
Formed in the waning years of the 20th century by 20 local artists, Blue Morning Gallery began in a leased historic home on Adams Street near Seville Square, before moving to 120 Palafox—where Parlor Doughnuts is now located—in the early 2000s, then moving to a larger location at 21 Palafox Place around 2010.
Operating as an art cooperative, the gallery’s 60 members pay dues, give back a portion of their sales to the gallery, and volunteer to work at the gallery each month. Member selection is juried, often depending on the need for artists working in various media.
Blue Morning Gallery’s artists include painters, jewelers, photographers, sculptors, potters, glass and wood artisans and more.
“There’s so much variety and we have something for everyone,” said Beth Sharp, an oil painter who handles the collective’s marketing and publicity. “And we run the gallery and there’s always an artist or two there working. So, you can meet the artist while seeing the art.”
On a recent January day, Blue Morning Gallery members Holly Vaughn, a jeweler, and Kathy Stewart, painter, were working the gallery, assisting a trickle of visitors making their way down Palafox amid the ongoing construction. (Blue Morning Gallery can validate parking in the lot directly behind.) Visitors are greeted by a dizzying kaleidoscope of dazzling color and design throughout the 3,600 square foot gallery, with spectacular jewelry behind display cases, paintings and photographs on the walls, and sculptures and glasswork on display shelves throughout the gallery.
Some folks come in looking for something funky, maybe a painting or reproduction of a visiting alien from another planet visiting Pensacola Beach, or a piece of jewelry containing bits from area beaches.
Vaughn shows some of her crafted jewelry, including pieces that include sand, sea glass, shells, pebbles and driftwood, allowing tourists to bring a piece of Pensacola home with them and locals a visual statement of hometown pride.
“We incorporate a lot of our local environment both in our jewelry but also in our two-dimensional work and our pottery,” said Vaughn, who has a background in graphic design and who has been a gallery member since 2012. “And now, we have 12 jewelers, which is perfect for Valentine’s Day.”
She said there is an advantage in artists working together to showcase and sell their art.
“It’s a great way to showcase your art, because otherwise you’re on your own,” Vaughn said. “Some artists go to art festivals, but I don’t do a lot because I don’t like to travel for them.”
Stewart, who was wearing one of the necklaces designed by Vaughn featuring natural pyrite in slate, agreed.
“It’s nice to be part of a group,” she said. “And our gallery gives people the opportunity to own original artwork, which is quite an opportunity for customers and the artists. Your jewelry is fabulous and so is all the other art and it’s all priced super reasonable.”
Yes, Blue Morning Gallery is for local artists, run by local artists. But don’t just think because you can draw stick figures like we doodled as kids that you can display in the gallery. Membership is juried by members and often dependent on what type of art needs more representation in the gallery. Currently, there is a waiting list, Vaughn said.
Artists such as Vaughn said the gallery gives them a chance to indulge their artistic passions.
“Personally, it gives me a creative outlet,” she said. “Most of the people here, though not all of them, are not here to make money. It’s just following the need to create and chasing what’s possible. What happens if I do this next? Whether you’re painting or doing mixed media or a glass person, you’re always looking to what’s next, or what will happen if I do this? It’s that creative need.”
On the first Friday of each month, artists are showcased and celebrated at the gallery with a reception. The next artist reception is at 5:30 p.m. on Feb. 6. and will feature live music. Featured gallery artists will be jeweler Marcia Shedeck and jeweler and multi-media artist Christine Rojas.
For more information on Blue Morning Gallery, go to bluemorninggallery.com.
This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Blue Morning Gallery brings beauty, color to Palafox
Reporting by Troy Moon, Pensacola News Journal / Pensacola News Journal
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