Fresh Squeezed 6 : Emerging Artists in Florida
Another spring here in the Sunshine State, and we’re pleased to present a bumper crop of new emerging artists for Fresh Squeezed 6. This region in which we live, work and play continues to be a breeding ground for exciting new talent.
For those who are new to the Fresh Squeezed model: this exhibition is open to any artist over the age of
18 living in Florida. Our only definition of an emerging artist is one who has never had a solo show in this state (BFA/MFA exhibitions don’t count). We received nearly 150 entries, with only 6 slots to fill. The jurying process is always exciting and our staff looks forward to it every year. The process is not without its trials, though; it’s hard to say “no, for now” to so many excellent artists due to space constraints.
The artists who make up this year’s exhibition present artwork that is bright, unique and innovative. Eugene Ofori Agyei, Lauren Mann and Sheherazade Thenard create work based on notions of identity, emphasizing our individual differences while acknowledging our shared humanity. Morgan Janssen and Sam McCoy simultaneously celebrate and skewer the Florida landscape and what it means to live in “paradise.” Macy
Higgins created an immersive experience for our visitors using vintage objects inherited from her family members. You’ll notice that color plays a starring role in the work: witness Thenard’s jewel-toned skin treatment, Agyei’s joyfully patterned fabric, Higgins’ afghans and “iced” confections, Mann’s meticulous colored pencil motifs, Janssen’s faux tropical greenery and McCoy’s fiery Florida skies. This is contemporary Florida artwork in all its unapologetic boldness.
Heartfelt thanks to our friends and sponsors whose support allows us to travel throughout the state to
visit each artist, provide shipping for their artwork and the exhibition brochure that we (and their mothers) like to keep for posterity in this increasingly digital world. These include founding sponsors the Gobioff
Foundation and Lisa and Perry Everett, as well as The Bank of Tampa and First Citrus Bank. Thank you to the education and exhibitions staff of the Morean who help us whittle down the application list, and to Beth Reynolds for her stellar artist photographs and videos. Thank you also to Betsy Orbe Lester and Tom Kaltenbaugh who make our galleries sing with beauty. Last but certainly not least, thank you to the six artists who were fearless enough to make this work and to allow us to share it with our community.
Amanda Cooper
Chief Curator
2022 Fresh Squeezed Artists
Thank you to our generous exhibition sponsors!
