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Welcome To Her Imagination
Courtesy of Progress Energy Art Gallery
Michelle Astuto Collins, seen here, with students from the children's summer art program will be showcasing her work at the First Friday exhbit on Dec. 7 at the Progress Energy Art Gallery.
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Published: December 4, 2007
New Port Richey, Fla. - New Port Richey, Fla. - For lack of a better term, Michelle Astuto Collins' work is all over the place, she says.
Her eclectic collection, titled "Welcome to My Imagination – Please Excuse the Mess" will be showcased at the Progress Energy Art Gallery, 6231 Grand Blvd, in downtown New Port Richey, this Friday, Dec. 7.
A First Friday artist's reception will be held from 6 to 9 p.m.
Collins, a local resident since age 14, regularly shows her artistic talents at the gallery and will unveil mostly new pieces for this exhibit.
"My works are very different from each other as a whole; sometimes sad, happy, colorful, drab, deep, humorous, spiritual, thought provoking," says Collins, who mostly works in acrylics.
The name of the exhibit stems from the fact that her work, even her working style, is very diverse, says Karren Doll Tolliver, the gallery's director.
She often explores other mediums like watercolor, digital painting, sculpture and "whatever else I feel like dabbling in at the moment," the artist explains.
Collins says she attributes her abstract approach to her upbringing and family often moving around a lot.
"The styles, tastes and musical interests were all over the map," she says of her siblings who are 20 years apart from the youngest to oldest child.
"I think the influences and the constant changes in my surroundings that I became accustomed to, carries through in my art."
Collins also devoted much of her time working as a staff member at the art gallery for several years now.
She created "A Woman's Work Is Never Done," a Worldwide Women Artists Organization exhibit last February, and most recently, designed and taught a series of children's art classes over the summer.
"Michelle is a force of nature," says Tolliver. "She is high energy and optimistic and that comes through in her work. Her paintings and sculptures really touch people, and we sell a lot of them, especially once the customers meet Michelle," she said.
Other artists exhibiting in the show are Suzanna Holland, Klaus Lang, Shannon Thek and Carey Yaskovic.
In addition, the First Friday opening coincides with the Greater New Port Richey Main Street's Shop 'n' Stroll and the gallery's holiday sale kick-off.
The gallery will also host a "Holiday Fling" that evening with many artists selling their work at booths along the storefronts.
Gallery hours are Wednesday through Saturday noon to 8 p.m. daily.
For more information on these events, contact the Progress Energy Art Gallery at 727-848-6500 or visit the Web site, www.nprgallery.com.
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