Panama City, Fla., is well known for its beach on the Gulf Coast – its sun, sand, surf, big fun and big-time partying. But PC has some fun art experiences to go along with all that celebration of beach and brine. An internationally known artist whose work conveys the elements and essence of the coastal environment has a gallery here. There's an appealing gallery in the city's historic district and a community art space in another waterfront historic district along St. Andrews Bay. Plus the city's primary art venue, the Panama City Center for the Arts.
Panama City's art venues aren't, you'll be happy to discover, the kind of pretentious places some art galleries and museums can be. In keeping with the casual vibe of the city itself PC's art spots are relaxed, and it's a great city for encouraging you to try your own hand at producing some artistry. Both the Panama City Center for the Arts and Floriopolis, a popular community arts studio, are as much about getting visitors, whether local or otherwise, to take a workshop or class as they are to encourage them to appreciate art passively – not only to look at art but to do art. And to have fun with it.
"We're a tiny spot on the edge of the water just bursting with artists," said Kim Griffin White, director of the Panama City Center for the Arts. "Many are undiscovered locally but in many cases known nationally and even internationally. But visitors are so surprised at the widespread art community here. And a spark of artistic energy has ignited a burst of excitement at the Panama City Center for the Arts specifically, too."
Floriopolis has all manner of artsy things going on pretty regularly, all designed to make making art fun. There are $10 Studio Days when you can come into the studio and just work with most any art materials on hand, get assistance from artists scheduled to be there for that purpose, and stay as long as you like. There are informal mini art lessons called Art on the Spot that are designed to be about 10 minutes of instruction to get the artist in you inspired and working on a little artistic project. It might be devoted to making paper airplanes, to zentangle structured-pattern drawing, to painting a Pokemon pokeball or most anything else these creative Floriopolisans can come up with.
My personal Floriopolis favorite is the adults-only Drink & Draw + Color held the evening of the fourth Saturday of each month. Basically you can BYOB, along with some sketch books and coloring implements of some kind – colored pencils, crayons, paint, whatever – and see what you come up with while sipping away at your favorite beverage. It's free but donations are most welcome.
Floriopolis is a community arts operation in the historic St. Andrews section of Panama City. It serves as an art gallery, studio, gift shop, classroom and public art courtyard all in one and is dedicated not only to showcasing local artists but also to involving local non-artists in various ways. The new "art metropolis" has an art production space that offers visitors the chance to engage in various kinds of artistry themselves.
Floriopolis, 1125 Beck Ave., Panama City, Fla., 850-249-9295, www.facebook.com/floriopolis/
Panama City Center for the Arts
The Panama City Center for the Arts typically has multiple free art exhibits by quite talented local artists. It also offers a wide range of art courses throughout the year including traditional painting with acrylics, pastels and watercolor; as well as still life drawing, linoleum woodblock print making, mixed media, natural art class, ceramics with clay-mask making and pottery wheel techniques, sewing, photography, digital design, leather-working workshops, improvisational music workshops, creative writing classes, songwriting classes, and more.
Panama City Center for the Arts, 19 East 4th St., Panama City, Fla., 850-640-3670, www.centerfortheartspc.com
Amelia G. Tapper Center for the Arts at Gulf Coast State College
Gulf Coast State College's Amelia Center Gallery, located in the college's Amelia Tapper Center, Room 112, is open during the fall and spring semesters, and closes during the summer. All shows are free and open to the public, and the gallery hosts a number of artist talks, demonstrations and hands-on workshops throughout the year.
Amelia G. Tapper Center for the Arts at Gulf Coast State College, 5230 W. U.S. 98, Panama City, Fla., 850-769-1551 ext. 4874, www.gulfcoast.edu/community/arts-culture/amelia-center-gallery/index.html
Main Street Gallery of Art is Panama City's newest fine art gallery and is located in the heart of the city's historic downtown. It exhibits the work of area and regional award-winning artists in a wide range of mediums including oil, watercolor and acrylic paintings; collagraphy, lithography and inkjet prints; photographic art, pottery, sculpture and hand-made jewelry.
Main Street Gallery of Art, 537 Harrison Ave., Panama City, Fla., 850-215-4154, www.mainstreetgallerypc.com
Paul Brent is one of the best known coastal artists in the nation. His watercolors and oils capture the colorful elements of beach life that includes everything from pink flamencos and various brightly colored aquatic animals, to vivid beach umbrellas and flip flops, to aquamarine waters and bright blue skies. Some of his latest works incorporate antique prints, stamps, textures, calligraphy and found objects, again many with images of the animal and plant life of his coastal surroundings. The Paul Brent Gallery offers not only fine art but other gift items and home décor.
Paul Brent Gallery, 413 W. 5th St., Panama City, Fla., 800-835-2787 Ext. 16, www.paulbrent.com
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