Art & History Museums - Maitland Presents Art31: Thirty-One Days of Experimentation & Collaboration, An Event Unlike Anything Else in Florida

The Art & History Museums - Maitland (A&H) invites you to take part in thirty-one days of engagement at the A&H, unlike anything else in Florida. Art31: Thirty-One Days of Experimentation & Collaboration, takes place throughout the month of March 2014. Art31 focuses on the legacy of the Research Studio's emphasis on experimentation and collaboration.

Art31 highlights include wrapping the Maitland Art Center, an Art Car creation with Andrew Spear, workshops led by Nancy Cervenka and Elysia Mann, films, Jake Fernandez performance art, Culture Pop! in participation with Enzian Theater and Florida Film Festival, Artists' Critique & Conversation with famEd Gallerists Mindy Solomon and Mark Dean, exhibitions and artists' talks, an interactive family sculpture project, and the culminating event, Participation Dinner Affair. All programs take place at the A&H's Maitland Art Center, 231 W. Packwood Avenue, Maitland. Some events are ticketed.

The artists taking part in Art31 are respected worldwide for their compelling approach, and will be producing exciting, original projects. Guests interact with these artists to create unique & dynamic works of art; and experience a vast array of artistic expression.

This event is made possible by a $40,000 Cultural Tourism Grant from Orange County Arts & Cultural Affairs.

"Art31 is a month-long dose of experimental and collaborative art," says Andrea Bailey Cox, A&H Executive Director/CEO. "Just when you think you may have had enough, you will want to come back for more. We challenge you to engage for all 31 days."

Art31 opens with Artists' Colony Day on March 1, with an open house that includes open studios and a historic opportunity to tour with Peter Banca, who grew up in the artist's colony and was a close friend of Maitland Art Center Founder André Smith. Take part in a collaborative Wrapping of the Maitland Art Center, in which everyone is invited to help wrap Maitland Art Center in fabric, simultaneously covering and exposing its historic architecture.

One of the most vibrant works planned for Art31 is the A&H Art Car, led by popular Central Florida artist Andrew Spear. Part artwork, part promotion, and completely fun, the Art Car will travel throughout Florida to promote Art31 with educational components. On March 2, Spear will begin to paint the exterior of the car while guests take on their own artistic projects to outfit the car's interior. The car's creation will continue throughout the first week of March. On March 9, the "Big Reveal" of the Art Car takes place with an Art Car Party featuring a conversation led by Spear. The Art Car will be used by the A&H to bring outreach programs to the Central Florida Community.

Artist Elysia Mann, who is in residence at the A&H from February 3 through March 17, hosts a printmaking workshop on March 2 titled Here we go again: Repetition and the Alternative Print. Mann is the third Artist-In-Residence at the A&H since the new program began in the spring of 2013.

On March 14, the A&H campus is filled with art, music, and creativity as we celebrate the opening of two new exhibitions: "Film Stories" featuring the art of Nancy Cervenka; and "Moving Pictures," featuring the art of Joyce Ely-Walker, with a reception from 5:30 to 8 PM. Cervenka, who manipulates celluloid into beautiful, twisting objects, joins A&H Curator Rebeca Sexton-Larson for a question and answer at the beginning of the reception, so guests can learn more about her and her art and career. The evening continues with an enhanced Culture Pop!, titled "Roll, Repeat," featuring a steamroller print project in partnership with Mama's Sauce design and print shop. Activities and events this evening are presented in partnership with Enzian Theater and Florida Film Festival.

Get ready for an afternoon of sculpture and fun at Family Days at the Museum on March 15, as the A&H's Artists-In-Action present an Interactive Garden Sculpture Party, where families can create sculptural works alongside our esteemed artists and learn a few tricks of the trade.

At Artists' Critique & Conversation on March 25, participating artists will have the unique opportunity to have their works reviewed by celebratEd Gallerists Mindy Solomon and Mark Dean, whose Miami galleries are internationally renowned. Both have vast experience in contemporary art. These respected guest panelists will provide thoughtful and constructive feedback to participants.

Prominent artist Jake Fernandez presents a performance piece from March 23 - 30. Titled "La Finca de Parchman: Seven Days and Sixteen Hours at Parchman Farm," this piece explores isolation, and what happens to the creative process when the artist is isolated from all personal interaction. Fernandez will work in a secluded studio space on the A&H campus. The studio has no windows; only bathroom facilities and a cot for sleeping. Fernandez will be provided with rag drawing paper, water, dried food, a blanket and pillow. This alternative space will include a closed-circuit camera, so the process can be observed via the A&H's website. On March 30, Fernandez will emerge from his isolated space, and present a question and answer session about his time in isolation.

Many additional Art31 happenings and programs occur throughout March. Highlights include:
March 1: Artists' Colony Day:
2 - 6 PM: Open Studios and hands-on activities
2 - 6 PM: MAC WRAP: Help wrap the historic Maitland Art Center
6 PM: Founder's tour with Peter Banca
7 PM: Dinner with Peter Banca

March 2:
11 A.M. - 4 PM: A&H Art Car Day: Help artist Andrew Spear create the Art Car
12 - 4 PM: Workshop with Artist-In-Residence THREE: Elysia Mann: Here we go again: Repetition and the Alternative Print

March 4, 10 A.M. and 2 PM: *Screening of Art21: Place

March 7, 5:30 PM: Ladies Art Lounge: Film Sculptures with sculptor and filmmaker Nancy Cervenka

March 8, 2 - 6 PM: Workshop with Artist-In-Action Trent Tomengo: Color Theory and Color Mixing

March 9, 4 PM: A&H Art Car Party featuring the big reveal of the A&H Art Car, with music, food, and a talk on creativity by Andrew Spear

March 10 -14: A&H Art Car Outreach at local schools and community centers with A&H Artist-In-Action Chris Ware

March 11, 10 AM and 2 PM: *Screening of Art21: "Identity"

March 14:
5:30 - 8 PM: Opening Reception for "Film Stories: Nancy Cervenka" and "Moving Pictures," In partnership with Enzian Theater and Florida Film Festival
5:30 PM: Ten Questions with Nancy Cervenka
7 - 11 PM: Culture Pop!: Roll, Repeat - in partnership with Mama's Sauce, Enzian Theater and Florida Film Festival

March 15:
1 PM: Family Days at the Museum: Interactive Garden Sculpture Party with A&H Artists-In Action
2 PM: Screening of Herb & Dorothy Film

March 18, 10 AM and 2 PM: *Screening of Art21: "Memory"

March 22:
2 PM: Screening of Herb & Dorothy 50 x 50 Film

March 23, 2 PM: Jake Fernandez "La Finca de Parchman" performance piece includes a lecture and Q&A session

March 23 - 30: "La Finca de Parchman" - Check out live video stream at http://www.ArtandHistory.org

March 25:
10 AM and 2 PM: *Screening of Art21: "Compassion"
6 PM: Artists' Critique & Conversation featuring famEd Gallerists Mindy Soloman and Mark Dean as guest panelists

March 29: Participation Dinner Affair:
One of Central Florida's most intriguing and popular fundraising events, the A&H's Participation is an innovative sensory experience; one where artists turn tables into art installations and guests dine with the selected artist. Guests learn from the artist and create their own works of art in an evening of elegant dining, performances, and art, all in the beautiful setting of the A&H's Maitland Art Center campus.

March 30, 2 PM: "La Finca de Parchman" finale with Q&A session

• This event is part of Art21's Access 100 Artists, a celebration of contemporary art and Art in the Twenty-First Century Season One through Six, sponsored by Art21. Visit art21.org for more information.

Join us for a whole month of intriguing programs and exciting events at the A&H's Art31: Thirty-One Days of Experimentation & Collaboration. For the complete line up of events, programs, and happenings, and to stay engaged all month long, visit http://www.Art31.org, or phone 407-539-2181.

About the Art & History Museums - Maitland:
The Art & History Museums - Maitland (A&H) is a premier Central Florida cultural institution and community gathering place, combining the best of both art and history. Its unique architecture, beautiful gardens, quality exhibits and programming, and two sites listed on the National Register of Historic Places make it a must visit cultural destination. Our museums offer unparalleled opportunities for enrichment and inspiration. Programming includes art classes and workshops, hands-on history programs, interactive exhibits, professional artists working in their studios, and much more. Our two campuses include a 1937 artists' colony with Aztec and Mayan architectural influences, a Victorian house museum, a working antique tool museum, an interactive telephone museum, and a local history museum. There is something for everyone and each experience is well worth the trip.

Visit us online at http://www.ArtandHistory.org.