arts & entertainment

The exceptional drawings of Steve Bradbury, a remarkably sensitive chronicler of Florida river and landscapes whose classical Asian influence is unmistakable, will be shown at the Center for Spiritual Care Jan. 6-27. The exhibition opens with an artist’s reception for viewers Friday, Jan. 6, from 5 to 7 p.m. The Center is located at 1550 24th St. at the corner of 16th Ave. and 24th St. From Jan. 7, it will be available for viewing by appointment. Individual tours can be arranged by calling 772-567-1233.

Bradbury’s work has drawn praise particularly in Asia where he exhibited widely in Taiwan. After training at the Cooper Union in New York, he left for Taipei where he studied calligraphy and Chinese painting with several masters of the classical form. At the same time, he taught literature at one of Taiwan’s major universities, helping raise international awareness of contemporary Taiwanese poetry through his translations. Bradbury won the prestigious PEN Award for Poetry in Translation in 2021. His winning work was Taiwanese writer Amang’s book, Raised by Wolves: Poems and Conversations.  It was especially cited for its innovative inclusion of conversations between the poet and Bradbury about the process of translation. Bradbury’s drawings illustrated the volume.

Vero’s Laura Riding Jackson Foundation will have local poets study Bradbury & #39;s plein air drawings at the Center during January to create poems about their meaning. Director Carol Ludwig says the cooperative effort is one of several intercultural projects taking place under the auspices of the  Foundation, the Community Church of Vero Beach, and the Center.