Opening reception is Thursday, December 9, 6-8 pm - just in time for holiday shopping!

Art Center Sarasota’s 2021 exhibition season continues with four exhibits, December 9-January 15. “Bassmi Ibrahim: A Meditative Experience” features paintings invoking the etheric realm in graceful, abstract expressions that reveal the fluid dynamism of life. The “Untitled Cup Shop” offers up a vibrant selection of handcrafted ceramic cups, mugs, goblets, and other drinkware created by local artisans. “George Pappas: Selected Works” features a selection of mixed-media, abstract paintings by the late—and beloved—artist and educator. “Modes of Abstraction” is a juried exhibition of abstract work in all media. The juror is artist, art educator, graphic designer, and illustrator Julie Kanapaux. The opening reception for all four exhibits is Thursday, December 9, 6-8 p.m. Art Center Sarasota, 707 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota. For information, visit www.artsarasota.org or call 941-365-2032.

Bassmi Ibrahim (1941-2019) was born in Cairo. By 14, his talent was recognized by an art teacher, who for the next seven years instructed him privately both in traditional techniques and in “how to feel and think as an artist.” In 1965, Ibrahim realized a need to paint from his inner self. He soon moved to New York City, where he immersed himself in the world of abstract art and met one of his important mentors and artistic influences—Mark Rothko. Ibrahim moved to Clearwater in the mid-70s and became involved in the study of metaphysics. The spiritual depth that he explored eventually became a touchstone for his work. The abstract paintings in “A Meditative Experience” express, according to Ibrahim’s notes, the “fluid dynamism of all life. The viewers are invited to enter into a different area of their awareness, where the intellectual mind is silenced, and the simplicity of the inner self is opened to lead them into the paintings.” Ibrahim’s work is in several corporate and private collections and has been widely exhibited in the United States and abroad. Art Center Sarasota will be offering meditation sessions in Bassmi Ibrahim’s gallery during the exhibition; visit ACS’s website for event information forthcoming.

Looking for one-of-a-kind gifts for the holidays? Look no further than the “Untitled Cup Shop,” a vibrant selection of handcrafted ceramic cups, mugs, goblets and other drinkware items created by local artisans. “There’s no better gift to give for the holidays than something handmade locally,” says Andrew Long, a ceramic artist and ACS’s exhibition coordinator. “Even better, each sale supports local artists and Art Center Sarasota.” He notes that when an item is sold, it goes home with the person who purchased it that day.

An educator and artist for more than 40 years, George Pappas (1929-2021) was chair of the Department of Art at the University of South Florida and taught at Northern Iowa University and Penn State University. His paintings have been exhibited in more than 150 juried exhibitions, including at the Corcoran Biennial, Boston Museum of Fine Arts, and the Philadelphia Museum of Art. His work has been collected by The National Gallery of Art, John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art, deCordova Museum of Art, and Tampa Museum of Art, among others.

Pappas’ creations merge techniques and concepts from abstract and surrealist methodologies. His paintings are heavily layered—both in terms of paint application and meaning. Ancient Greek iconography appears in several of his works, along with repeated symbols, lines, grids, and motifs. “Most of my work developed in response to personal interests and experiences,” Pappas noted. “My Greek heritage, Greek mythology, archeology, literature, social issues, and art history have become the roots that feed the form and content of my work. My paintings are usually developed around a particular theme or concept, which evolves into a series of related works that may hold my interest for several years.” This commemorative exhibition will feature a selection of Pappas’ large-scale works from different periods of his life. “We’re honored to show work from George’s vast collection,” says Kinsey Robb, ACS’s executive director. “This exhibition just scratches the surface of a voluminous collection of paintings by the artist. Each selection was made as if we were unearthing a series from a different time in George’s career as a painter, with the hopes of giving visitors a glimpse into the multidimensional mind of this beloved Sarasota artist.”

“Modes of Abstraction” is an exhibit of abstract works in all media juried by Julie Kanapaux, an artist, educator, and founder of Kan Kan Studios. Kanapaux earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Painting with a minor in photography at Ringling College of Art and Design. She has created several public artworks, including a multistory mural entitled “Momentum” for the Alfred R. Goldstein Library at Ringling College, and “Beachcomber’s Sequence,” in Pompano Beach. Kanapaux is a faculty member at Ringling College and is also a member of the artist collective SARTQ.