Gallery's 'Sexpot' show opens Feb. 1
By Jessica Tuggle
jtuggle@hometownnewsol.com
VERO BEACH -- February décor is often pink and red hearts, roses, Teddy bears and romantic candles, but one art gallery in Vero Beach will bring a whole new element to traditional February decorations.
The Flametree Clay Art Gallery will present "Sexpot," a clay art show featuring suggestive and erotic art, on Feb. 1 coinciding with the monthly First Friday Downtown Gallery Stroll event in downtown Vero Beach.
Fourteen different galleries in downtown Vero Beach will open their doors from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. for a special, once-a-month evening opening, allowing the public to enjoy the restaurant and art district in a special way.
At Flametree, there will be two sections of art exhibits, the general clay art gallery and the gallery featuring "Sexpot," said Maria Sparsis, resident artist at Flametree.
Admittance to the galleries are free, but only consenting adult viewers, 21 or older, will be allowed into the sex-themed art exhibit, organizers said.
The artwork on display for "Sexpot" will come from about 20 different local and regional potters. The pieces will all be different, some sensual, exotic, others risqué and others still will be silly, Ms. Sparsis said.
"Not everyone's work will be serious, some of it will just be fun. There will be a huge range from thoughtful to downright silly," she said.
Her own pieces will reflect a slightly different take on the theme.
"I have been interested in the baggage that we carry around, the things that stop us from being the best us we can be," said Ms. Sparsis.
"I am equating that to bondage, so a lot of my pieces will reflect that," she said.
As far as Ms. Sparsis is aware, this is the first time an art gallery in the downtown area has presented such a suggestive and potentially scandalous theme.
The response from area potters was extremely positive and a lot more than what the gallery owners expected, Ms. Sparsis said.
"It's different and it's fun. Many people we spoke to said they already had stuff like this, they just didn't have a venue to show it," she said.
Flametree will keep the exhibit open through Feb. 28.
Flametree Clay Art Gallery is located at 2041 14th Ave., Vero Beach.
For more information about the Flametree Clay Art Gallery, visit www.flametreeclay.com.
For more information about the First Friday Gallery Stroll, visit www.mainstreetverobeach.org.