Press Releases

The "Origins" of George Gadson and Thom O'Connor Exhibit Opening at the Lake Wales Arts Center.

LAKE WALES, FL (December 1, 2005) -- Origins will open in the Michael Crews Gallery on Thursday, December 15, with a reception for the artists from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. Complimentary refreshments will be served while guests meet and view the works of George Gadson. The exhibition will run through January 29, 2006.

George Gadson has been commissioned to create works of art for many high profile events including two Super Bowls. He has created bronze sculptures for JM Family Enterprises, the Jim Moran Foundation, a 12-foot bronze monument for the African American Research Library and Cultural Center in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, the Dan Marino Foundation, Florida Memorial University's Lou Rawls Performing Art Center, The cities of Tamarac and Pompano Beach Florida.

The Duke University graduate and self-taught artist, also understands the role art plays in providing quality of life and vitality to a community. Based on numerous studies that show art as a key element to breathing new life into the "soul" of a community and its residents, Gadson seeks to bring back to life the forgotten history found in many communities and capture civic memories through creative design works. He is credited with organizing and facilitating various community based surveys, focus groups, community visioning and strategic planning. Today, he is one of Florida 's most versatile and celebrated African American renaissance artists. He works independently and collaboratively with design teams of engineers, architects and construction firms to create site specific work.

Gadson's artist's statement is quite revealing: "As an artist, I am as interested in the process of creating work as much as I am in the final work created. It is through the process that I touch, feel, explore, and discover, the insight, enchantments, and spiritual empowerment that the experience of creating allows me. My works express different aspects and values of life, with an underlying spiritual message that seeks to reconnect the human spirit with its Creator. This often times is expressed in abstract or figurative sculpture, most of which is prompted by inspirations from my surroundings, people and their environment, founded elements of nature, and even shadows in a dimly lit room. I want my viewers to feel or experience in part what I do, 'a moment in time', without ever having been there."

The Lake Wales Arts Center is located in the beautiful historic building at 1099 State Road 60 East and is open every day; 9 to 4, Monday through Friday, 10 to 4 on Saturday, and 1 to 4 on Sunday.

For further information, call (863) 676-8426 or visit http://www.lakewalesartscenter.org.

About George Gadson
George Gadson is an African American artist, and Florida native who has gained world-wide recognition for his realistic portraits and sculptures of individuals and figures that have historical significance. Gadson specializes in scupltures, paintings, photography, public art and special recognition awards.