Hot Summer Show II @ Clayton Galleries

Clayton Gallery, Front-to-back view.

Clayton Galleries has two "Hot Summer Shows" each summer. It's the only way to showcase the large number of artists they represent, including DAVID ADIX, PETER BROWN, JEANNE CAMERON, ROBIN CODY, DOLORES COE, LYNN DAVISON, VIRGINIA DERRYBERRY, BENJAMIN DIMMITT, BILLIE HIGHTOWER, CASSANDRA JAMES, CARL KNICKERBOCKER, JEFFREY KRONSNOBLE, ELIZABETH NEWMAN KUIPER, BRUCE MARSH, PETER KUENTZEL, KAREN KUYKENDALL, LYNN MANOS, KATE NORRIS, GEORGE PAPPAS, STACY ROSENDE, JOHN REIMER, CRAIG RUBADOUX, CLAUDIA RYAN, ROBERTA SCHOFIELD, SUZA TALBOT, CHERYL TALL, JOYCE ELY-WALKER, LINDA WESNER, and KATHY WRIGHT.  Many of them are boomer USF grads and professors, but others aren't. 
 Cathleen Clayton, a USF graduate, opened the gallery twenty-three years ago, which quickly established itself as a premier fine-artspace in South Tampa and remains so to this day.

There's way too many artists and works to review here, so below are a few highlights.

Roberta Schofield, "Triumvirate"

On the left is Roberta Schofield's "Triumvirate".  A manipulated photographic print. Schofield has left some of the artifacts created by enlarging a smallish digital file to this size. Things like the jaggies are clearly visible. She's questioning the signifiers of what a digital photograph should look like. This series is a departure from the unpopulated architectural spaces she used to do.






Carl Knickerbocker, "Indoctrination".  Raw, pungent colors and a playful style underscore a serious concept.

Billie Hightower, "Southern Sunrise"

On the left is Billie Hightower's "Southern Sunrise". He grew up in Texas and now is on the east coast of Florida. This work has a William Turner-esque aura about it. [Link], with lots of atmospherics and very subtle colors.

Elizabeth Newman Kuiper

On the left is Elizabeth Newman Kuiper's "maxfieldparrishsunset.net". It's a 44x59" print made from an iphone file. She has done a series of Maxfield Parrish-inspired works with her iPhone.

Donne Bittner, "Sunset to Remember"

On the right is "Sunset to Remember", by Donne Bittner. It's a twilight landscape done in oil pastel. One sees a lot of this type of thing around, but this one is exceptional.  The colors go well beyond beautiful. There's something spiritual and close to nature about it. Donne has a studio in Winter Park.

Craig Rubadoux, "First Fowl Crow"

It seems like everywhere I go these days, I'm seeing chicken paintings. Why chickens should emerge as recurring themes from the artists' subconscious remains a mystery. This one on the left by Craig Roubadoux is one of the best and most expressive I've seen.











Congratulations to Clayton Galleries and their stable of artists for a memorable show.

Clayton Galleries is at 4105 S. Mac Dill Ave, in South Tampa. Hours: Tuesday - Friday: 10am to 5pm
Saturday: 11am to 4pm. [Link]