We're opening our next main gallery exhibition, "A Mile in Their Shoes," featuring the art of Tallahassee artist, Kollet Probst, with a free, meet-the-artist reception on July 26, from 6–8pm.

"A Mile in Their Shoes" is a collection that celebrates famous artists and their iconic works. Kollet’s paintings feature portraits of 17 famous artists done in Kollet’s signature pop art style, paired with stylized reproductions of some of their most famous works. Artists featured include Andy Warhol, Leonardo Da Vinci, Edvard Munch, Jackson Pollock, and Pablo Picasso. It’s a unique set of work that focuses not only on great works of art, but the artists who created them.

We will be creating fun, educational activities that visitors can complete to learn more about the artists. Visitors will also be able to create their own interpretations of famous artworks and hang them on our wall.

We hope that everyone leaves the gallery having learned something new about the featured artists’ lives and their art.

A Mile in Their Shoes will be showing in the main gallery from July 27–August 24.

FUN FACT- Snapchat, Instagram, and Facebook photo filters work on these paintings. We encourage visitors who have these apps to try it out and post their creations. Be sure to tag the Center and Kollet, so they can see the results!

MORE ABOUT KOLLET
For the past four years, Kollet has dedicated herself to her painting, and is now doing so as a full-time artist. Her tireless work is paying off, as she has painted dozens of murals across Tallahassee and the Panhandle.

Her work often features famous icons who inspire her as she dedicates herself to her work. It was only recently, though, that she’s reconnected with her passion for art. For most of her life, Kollet has struggled with addiction, but four years ago, she was determined to get clean for her children. After a stint in rehab, she knew she needed something to distract her mind and calm her shaking hands, so she turned to her old love of art.

When Kollet was younger she always knew she wanted to be an artist. Now it’s her second chance and she’s pouring everything into it. Having an addictive brain helps her when it comes to art. The fulfillment of finishing a piece drives her and pushes her to create an array of original pieces. But this line of artwork is special to her.

CALL TO ARTISTS: Our annual F/Stop Photography Competition is coming up soon! We have six categories this year PLUS a youth category for all of the young photographers out there.

Adult categories: Landscape, Architecture, People, Nature, Abstract/Altered, and Traditional.

We look forward to seeing what photographers young and old have been up to! The deadlines are August 22–24.

On August 16, from 6–8pm, Bay Arts Alliance and Relief Skate Supply will host an opening and awards reception for their “Royal Flipping Skateboard Deck Art Challenge” at the Center for the Arts. Awards will be announced at 7pm.

The entrants of all ages could enter the competition to create their own skateboard design by purchasing a blank skateboard, using their own skateboard, or submitting their art digitally to be projected on a blank skateboard in the exhibition. 

The challenge quickly caught on, and was excitedly shared across social media. Soon after the Center announced the challenge, all 40 of the boards they had available were purchased. 

Relief Skate Supply, Panama City’s local skate store, is once again providing the first place awards to the adult and youth divisions, and will be helping to choose the winners.

The opening and awards reception is free and open to the public. Everyone is encouraged to come get a sneak peek at the exhibition, find out who the winners are first, and meet some of the artists. Light refreshments will be provided. 

The exhibition will show in the Higby Gallery from August 17–September 14.

Please join us at 5:30p.m. on Aug.3, 2019 for the opening night of a photo show at The Light Room in downtown Panama City.

This photo show is about the community that The News Herald covers daily and the hurricane stories we all share. We’re taking this opportunity to reflect on the last nine months and display photos in a way that’s never been seen before. We want to celebrate your resilience, your courage and your love for your community.

Photos on display will feature work from News Herald photographers Patti Blake and Joshua Boucher.

Metal prints of the night sky will show sparkling stars over areas impacted by Hurricane Michael. Framed prints featuring storytelling moments will also be on display.
A limited number of framed prints and metal night sky photos will be available for purchase. A portion of the proceeds will go to a hurricane relief charity.
Admission will be free. The exhibit continues through September 28.

An exciting niche that comes alive with experimentation and photographic “rule breaking!” Practice the techniques and camera settings that make great night shots. Try hand-held, long exposures, and painting with light in a variety of local spots. Tripod and camera required.

As a follow up to our Intermediate class, continue to experiment with challenging subjects to expand your skill set. We’ll do an interior/exterior architectural shoot, a portrait shoot with emphasis on lighting and posing, a long exposure landscape shoot, and set up and practice off-camera flash. In the final meeting, bring your most important photos and get feedback and direction from an in-depth critique.

*You do not have to take the Intermediate class before taking the Advanced class, but you will want to be comfortable shooting in manual mode and familiar with flash. Please get in touch if you have questions about which class is the best fit!

Join us at the opening night of our annual "F/Stop Photography Competition" exhibition.

Get a sneak peak at the exhibition, meet the artists, enjoy light refreshments, and be the first to learn who won the awards!

The award announcements will start at 7pm.

We will also be celebrating the opening of the solo exhibition from last year's winner, Don Griffiths, that night!

The event is completely free. Wear what you want, bring who you want, and come hang out with us!

Enter F/Stop this year by August 24. Learn more on our website: https://www.pccenterforthearts.com/artist-opportunities

The 31st annual F/Stop Photography Competition and Exhibition will launch Center for the Arts on August 30 with an opening and awards reception from 6–8pm. Awards will be announced at 7pm.

This year, F/Stop has six categories for adults: Landscape, Nature, Architecture, People, Altered/Abstract, and Traditional. Younger photographers can also join in the fun, by submitting their work (featuring any subject matter) to the youth category.

The competition used to separate photographs that had been altered in any way, but today everyone uses filters and Photoshop to tweak their images, so it’s no longer possible to have a category for all edited photographs. Instead, this year’s “Altered” category is reserved for photographs that owe more to photo editing software than reality.

The F/Stop Photography Competition is open to photographers from across Northwest Florida, and typically brings in over 100 submissions. Photographers can enter up to three photographs this year, and must bring their entries to the Center for the Arts between August 22–24.

Potential entrants can find more information on the Center for the Arts website: https://www.pccenterforthearts.com/artist-opportunities

The opening reception for a solo show featuring last year’s F/Stop winner, Don Griffiths, will be held on the same night (August 30). The reception is free and open to the public. Everyone is encouraged to come see the exhibition, find out who the winners are first, and meet some of the artists. Light refreshments will be provided.  

Don Griffiths’ exhibition will close on September 21, 2019. F/Stop will close on September 28, 2019.

A hands-on introduction to the fundamentals of digital photography. This three part class will give you a jump start on the most important features of your camera. We’ll concentrate on the exposure triangle (aperture, shutter speed, ISO) but also discuss achieving sharp focus, great color, and creative composition. Also great as a “refresher” class if you are rusty!

Camera required. *Best for DSLRs, mirrorless or any camera with “Manual” mode but all cameras welcome!

Topics covered include:

1) Library Module (Organization & Import)

2) Develop Module 1 (Basic Panel, Sharpening, and Noise Reduction)

3) Develop Module 2 (Adjustments, Crop Tool, Spot Removal, Redeye Removal, Graduated and Radial Filters, and the Adjustment Brush. Discuss use of Previous and Sync)

4) Collections (Organizing your Photos, Collections, Collection Sets, Sharing)

5) Lightroom Mobile & CC (Using LR Mobile and CC on phone and tablets, Editing photos in Mobile, Shared Collections, Facebook, Instagram, email)

6) Practice working with your images.

What to bring: Laptop with Lightroom (Steve will use Lightroom Classic CC but older “stand alone” versions are fine.)

The learning environment is fun and stress-free while offering diversity, insight, and wisdom.

Fee:  $92

We’ll cover:

~Manual operation, including ISO, aperture, and shutter speed for basic and creative exposure control.

~Using the light meter accurately.

~ Accurate auto and manual focusing.

~ When to use your flash and when not to.

~ Expand your photography vocabulary. You’ll learn what all these mean: histogram, exposure compensation, shutter and aperture priority, white balance, Jpeg, RAW and TIFF.

~ How to store and back up your files.

~ How to show off the artist inside of you.

Start from scratch and become familiar with your camera’s most important features, and how they translate into the photograph. This course covers ISO, aperture & shutter speed, metering for light, focus, focal length and more. Lessons include hands-on and outdoor practice (weather permitting). The goal is to trust your choices more than Auto mode! Camera required. *Best for DSLRs, mirrorless or any camera with “Manual” mode but all cameras welcome!

Creating an incredible Allman Brothers Band tribute show that includes fan-favorite songs in their original format, former members of that band, David Goldflies and Johnny Neel have joined forces to launch A Brothers Revival. Hear the iconic sounds of one of the most influential bands of the '70s, combining rock, country, R&B and blues performed by a six-piece band backed by the orchestral sounds of the Panama City POPS.

The event is free, Saturday, October 5, 6:00pm at the Founders Pavilion at SweetBay, 1980 Discovery Loop, Panama City, FL  32405

Prepare your haunted stories, poems, spoken word, or book excerpts for our October Writer's Gallery!

Come to the Center for the Arts for Bay County's favorite open-mic night for writers from 6pm-7:30pm on the second Thursday of every other month. Doors open at 5:30pm.

Come to share your work or listen to the creative writers of Bay County share theirs! Everyone is welcome to speak or listen!

MORE ABOUT OCTOBER'S THEME
Your work can be about any kind of haunting. It can be about being haunted by love/old friendships or a more traditional ghost story. Whatever haunted means to you, whatever is haunting you, we want to hear about it.

And if you want to get in for free, you have to wear a halloween costume. Otherwise, you have to pay $5 at the door.

TOPICS:

August 8: School
October 10: Haunted
December 12: Winter
February 13: Love
April 9: Spring

Come to the main entrance dressed in in theme-appropriate attire to get in for free:

August 8: School-pride clothing
October 10: Halloween costume
December 12: Ugly (or pretty) Holiday sweater or shirt
February 13: Red or pink clothing or hearts
April 9: Flowers/Floral

OTHERWISE, you have to pay $5 at the door.

As always, it will be a perfect night for kicking back, getting inspired, and having fun listening to the works of some really creative people in our community.

We suggest the audience be 18+ years in age, but if you'd like to bring your child, we do caution that it is an open mic night, and while we have restrictions against hate speech and overly explicit language, we cannot control what it read, so a parental advisory is in place.

HOW TO SIGN UP AS A SPEAKER
Writers, poets, and spoken word artists are all welcome to sign up for an 8-minute open mic slot by calling in (850-640-3670), emailing (info@pccenterforthearts.com), or coming in-person to the Center for the Arts.

Our motto is "Write Hard. Speak Easy." So don't sweat it! Do your hard work when you're writing and take it easy in front of the mic. It's not meant to be scary. It's supposed to be fun!

HISTORY ON THE "WRITER'S GALLERY"
The Writer’s Gallery was started by Lee Baker, of Northstar Church, as a poetry night at Rocky Shore Coffee Co. in 2010, but when Nick Mays began volunteering for the church, Lee asked Nick to take it over. It was renamed the Writer’s Gallery and became the longest-running, consecutive open mic night for writers in Bay County. In the almost three years that the Writer’s Gallery ran, it moved around, first to the Purple Grape and then to Amavida, but when Nick moved to Pensacola, the project lost its leader, and eventually stopped running.

Local publishing group, The Syndicate, has been talking about relaunching the Writer's Gallery for a while now, so when the Center for the Arts was planning to expand its programming, it seemed like the perfect fit. Once Nick gave his blessing, we were excited to bring the open-mic night back! Hopefully you all are, too!

Historic Downtown Panama City is the canvas for the sixth annual international projection art festival, Public Eye Soar. From November 8 and 9, the streets of Panama City come alive with light, sound and art. Featuring live performances, hands-on activities, short films, art and photography from across the globe, Public Eye Soar is a unique opportunity to see art on a whole new scale.  Northwest Florida’s largest outdoor art exhibit spotlights the work of more than 150 artists from across the country as well as from places such as South Africa, New Zealand, the Netherlands, Belgium, and India. Interactive and hands-on activities include a larger-than-life pinball game,  shadow puppets, and perennial favorite – sand art. Enjoy live art demonstrations and musical performances. This event is free for the whole family, handicap accessible, pet friendly and surrounded by ample parking and fantastic restaurants and bars.  Because the festival is held at night on the streets of PC - flashlights and folding chairs are recommended.  The Public Eye Soar mission is to share art of all forms in unexpected places to delight, surprise, educate and inspire our community.

Prepare your winter-themed stories, poems, spoken word, or book excerpts for our December Writer's Gallery!

Come to the Center for the Arts for Bay County's favorite open-mic night for writers from 6pm-7:30pm on the second Thursday of every other month. Doors open at 5:30pm.

Come to share your work or listen to the creative writers of Bay County share theirs! Everyone is welcome to speak or listen!

MORE ABOUT DECEMBER'S THEME
Use winter as your theme as you craft your short stories, poems, spoken word, or pick your book excerpts. Absolutely anything winter-themed is allowed—from the winter of life to the actual season of winter.

And if you want to get in for free, you have to wear an ugly (or even a pretty) holiday sweater/shirt! Otherwise, you have to pay $5 at the door.

TOPICS:

August 8: School
October 10: Haunted
December 12: Winter
February 13: Love
April 9: Spring

Come to the main entrance dressed in in theme-appropriate attire to get in for free:

August 8: School-pride clothing
October 10: Halloween costume
December 12: Ugly (or pretty) Holiday sweater or shirt
February 13: Red or pink clothing or hearts
April 9: Flowers/Floral

OTHERWISE, you have to pay $5 at the door.

As always, it will be a perfect night for kicking back, getting inspired, and having fun listening to the works of some really creative people in our community.

We suggest the audience be 18+ years in age, but if you'd like to bring your child, we do caution that it is an open mic night, and while we have restrictions against hate speech and overly explicit language, we cannot control what it read, so a parental advisory is in place.

HOW TO SIGN UP AS A SPEAKER
Writers, poets, and spoken word artists are all welcome to sign up for an 8-minute open mic slot by calling in (850-640-3670), emailing (info@pccenterforthearts.com), or coming in-person to the Center for the Arts.

Our motto is "Write Hard. Speak Easy." So don't sweat it! Do your hard work when you're writing and take it easy in front of the mic. It's not meant to be scary. It's supposed to be fun!

HISTORY ON THE "WRITER'S GALLERY"
The Writer’s Gallery was started by Lee Baker, of Northstar Church, as a poetry night at Rocky Shore Coffee Co. in 2010, but when Nick Mays began volunteering for the church, Lee asked Nick to take it over. It was renamed the Writer’s Gallery and became the longest-running, consecutive open mic night for writers in Bay County. In the almost three years that the Writer’s Gallery ran, it moved around, first to the Purple Grape and then to Amavida, but when Nick moved to Pensacola, the project lost its leader, and eventually stopped running.

Local publishing group, The Syndicate, has been talking about relaunching the Writer's Gallery for a while now, so when the Center for the Arts was planning to expand its programming, it seemed like the perfect fit. Once Nick gave his blessing, we were excited to bring the open-mic night back! Hopefully you all are, too!

Prepare your love-themed stories, poems, spoken word, or book excerpts for our February Writer's Gallery!

Come to the Center for the Arts for Bay County's favorite open-mic night for writers from 6pm-7:30pm on the second Thursday of every other month. Doors open at 5:30pm.

Come to share your work or listen to the creative writers of Bay County share theirs! Everyone is welcome to speak or listen!

MORE ABOUT FEBRUARY'S THEME
Use love as your theme as you craft your short stories, poems, spoken word, or pick your book excerpts. Absolutely anything love-themed is allowed.

And if you want to get in for free, you have to wear red, pink, or hearts! Otherwise, you have to pay $5 at the door.

TOPICS:

August 8: School
October 10: Haunted
December 12: Winter
February 13: Love
April 9: Spring

Come to the main entrance dressed in in theme-appropriate attire to get in for free:

August 8: School-pride clothing
October 10: Halloween costume
December 12: Ugly (or pretty) Holiday sweater or shirt
February 13: Red or pink clothing or hearts
April 9: Flowers/Floral

OTHERWISE, you have to pay $5 at the door.

As always, it will be a perfect night for kicking back, getting inspired, and having fun listening to the works of some really creative people in our community.

We suggest the audience be 18+ years in age, but if you'd like to bring your child, we do caution that it is an open mic night, and while we have restrictions against hate speech and overly explicit language, we cannot control what it read, so a parental advisory is in place.

HOW TO SIGN UP AS A SPEAKER
Writers, poets, and spoken word artists are all welcome to sign up for an 8-minute open mic slot by calling in (850-640-3670), emailing (info@pccenterforthearts.com), or coming in-person to the Center for the Arts.

Our motto is "Write Hard. Speak Easy." So don't sweat it! Do your hard work when you're writing and take it easy in front of the mic. It's not meant to be scary. It's supposed to be fun!

HISTORY ON THE "WRITER'S GALLERY"
The Writer’s Gallery was started by Lee Baker, of Northstar Church, as a poetry night at Rocky Shore Coffee Co. in 2010, but when Nick Mays began volunteering for the church, Lee asked Nick to take it over. It was renamed the Writer’s Gallery and became the longest-running, consecutive open mic night for writers in Bay County. In the almost three years that the Writer’s Gallery ran, it moved around, first to the Purple Grape and then to Amavida, but when Nick moved to Pensacola, the project lost its leader, and eventually stopped running.

Local publishing group, The Syndicate, has been talking about relaunching the Writer's Gallery for a while now, so when the Center for the Arts was planning to expand its programming, it seemed like the perfect fit. Once Nick gave his blessing, we were excited to bring the open-mic night back! Hopefully you all are, too!