Uplifting women through art

Palm Coast Observer
Neighbors

Women are the inspiration for many things in history, and for two months, they have been the theme of the art at Rachel Thompson-Schiff’s gallery, I am Art, in The Hammock, during the show, “SHE.”
“It’s women wanting to help each other, elevate each other and create in a new way they never have before,” the gallery owner said.

The January show featured paintings by Flagler County Artist of the Year Jan Geyer, Diana Gilson, RoAnn Elias and Thompson-Schiff.

The February show, which opens Feb. 8, will feature the work of these women, but also focus more on the students in Kate Miller’s figure drawing class. The show will also include a piece by abstract impressionist J.J. Graham. The work of two professional jewelry artists, Jan Edin and Glenda Greenberg, are also on display at the gallery.

“For the students it’s extremely exciting,” said Miller, who also teaches art at the University of North Florida. “Most of them haven’t shown before and it’s a big opportunity. You gain confidence and it makes you feel really good. It’s really wonderful what Rachel is doing, to let them show along with professional work.”

The show is not the only thing that is focused on women, but the drawing classes are also female-focused with local women from the art community acting as models.

“What’s happening is some of these women who are modeling have never modeled before, so they feel flattered and elevated,” Thompson-Schiff said. “So it’s kind of uplifting both for the women who are modeling and for the artists.”

Memoir writing workshop
International best-selling author, Susan Slater, will host a memoir writing workshop, “How to Tell All and Still Stay in the Family Will,” 1-2 p.m. Feb. 28. Her new release, “Hair of the Dog,” will release this summer. The course fee is $60 and a box lunch is included.

IF YOU GO
When: New exhibit opening 4-7 p.m. Feb. 8
Where: I am Art, 5915 N. Oceanshore Blvd., Palm Coast