[1]My Visit To Artist Jack Dowd’s Gallery
By Ed Bertha
Ed and Jack Photograph By Jill Dowd
Last Call Photograph By Giovanni Lunardi
Gallery Photography By Ed Bertha
Saturday, February 6th, 2010 at 11:45am a key rotated in the lock at 20 Lemon Avenue in Sarasota, Florida. Within minutes lights were on and music was playing. Jack and Jill Dowd had brought “Last Call” to life for me. Only seeing “Last Call” in pictures I had no realization for the depth of this production. The time, effort and artistic skill involved in creating “Last Call” deepened my appreciation for Jack Dowd’s work. After taking in “Last Call” I then made the rounds; viewing the bar participants biographies and other works of art created by Jack Dowd.
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“Last Call” is a cultural tribute to the vibrancy and social vitality of metropolitan American nightlife. Thirteen life sized sculptures interact with a 22 foot mahogany bar in this traditional New York bar scene. The bar is common ground for men and women of diverse occupations and ethnic backgrounds. The bar’s customers, created in resin, and meticulously painted, become theater like characters. The exhibit also contains pastel paintings with a biography of each character.
It’s too bad the Sarasota Season of Sculpture Gallery is closed more than it is open. It’s a sign of the times and unfortunately disappointing. “Last Call’s” next stop will be Oklahoma. From there who knows where “Last Call” will go. This might be the last call for “Last Call” in Sarasota.
With that understanding I asked Jack if we could host a private event at the gallery. Without hesitation he agreed. There are a few logistical issues to resolve but look for a REAL Magazine event at the 20 Lemon Avenue gallery before “Last Call” is gone.
Enjoy the photographs. Thanks Jack! Thanks Jill!
Visit the Jack Dowd website at www.jackdowd.com [3]
P.S. Look for an upcoming feature story on Jack Dowd and his artistic creations in a future issue of REAL Magazine.
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Copyright © 2010 REAL Magazine
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