ARTS AND CULTURAL Events ~ CCIRC Performances & Events
Vero Beach Museum of Art offers Ancient Egypt & the Napoleonic Era:
Masterworks from the Dahesh Museum of Art
On view January 27 – April 28. To celebrate the centennial of archaeologist Howard Carter’s discovery of the tomb of King Tutankhamen, the VBMA presents Ancient Egypt & the Napoleonic Era: Masterworks from the Dahesh Museum of Art. Western encounters with the Orient date back many centuries, but the Industrial Revolution developed dynamic new levels of engagement. New and better forms of transportation created a flood of travelers—writers, scholars and, most crucially, artists—all heading to the Orient. The result was an extraordinary range of artworks with a variety of themes and styles. The show explores artistic visions of the cultures and peoples from the time Napoleon entered Egypt, taking with him dozens of draftsmen and engineers to create renderings of this country’s rich cultural phenomena.
Sunrise Theatre presents Chris MacDonald’s Memories of Elvis on January 27
Comedy Corner with Johnny Mac on January 27. Visit http://www.sunrisetheatre.com
Classical Pianist Sergey Belyavsky presents Carnivals on January 27, 7pm at The Emerson Center . When classical pianist Sergey Belyavsky takes center stage at the Emerson Center’s Grand Piano, Saturday evening, January 27 at 7pm, the audience will thrill to his “world famous brilliance” and “unique interpretation” of the music he has selected to perform that evening. The concert is presented as a community cultural collaboration between Vero Beach’s Emerson Center and Temple Beth Shalom.
There will be no question in anyone’s mind why critics recognize Belyavsky as “one of the best pianists in the world today.” In addition to his unmatched talent, Sergey possess a young and charismatic technique, extraordinary technical abilities, mature musicality, and an incredibly high level of professionalism. His ability to share information about his song selection before his fingers even touch the keys keeps the audience in full understanding of the emotion he shares with them on a very personal level from song to song. The venue’s overhead camera, reflected on two large screens on stage, will allow the audience to watch his hands glide across the ivory keys no matter where they are seated.
Belyavsky has chosen the following musical repertoire for this Vero Beach concert:
- Robert Schumann “Carnival” op.9
- Aram Khachaturyan “Masquerade” suite (for piano solo)
- Franz Liszt Hungarian Rhapsody no.9 “Pest Carnival”
- Saint-Saens/Godowsky “The Swan” from the “The Carnival of the Animals”
- Strauss/Rosenthal “Carnaval de Vienne” (Humoresque on themes by Johann Strauss)
- Special Feature: George Gershwin’s “Rhapsody in Blue”
Art in Public Places Program sponsored by the Cultural Council of Indian River County venue Vero Beach Outlets Mall Guest Services on exhibit All Things Vero! Featured Artists Joaquin Zalazar, Nancy Duclos, Andy Burnam. On View January 27 – May 4. Location: 1824 94th Drive, Vero Beach (located beside Michael Kohrs).
The A.E. Backus Museum’s “Sunday in Key West” Luncheon & Auction
returns January 28 at the Pelican Yacht Club
The A.E. Backus Museum & Gallery again hosts the highly anticipated “Sunday in Key West” Luncheon & Auction event, Sunday, January 28, 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. at the Pelican Yacht Club, 1120 Seaway Drive, Fort Pierce. This annual and thrilling event brings the excitement and fun of a Winter’s Escape to the warm Key West Islands to the scenic shores of the Indian River Lagoon. This year Live Music will welcome guests to an afternoon of merriment with delicious island fare, chances to win Backus-themed treasures, tantalizing silent auction, capped with an exhilarating live auction all in support of the Backus Museum.
Reserved seats are $100 per person, but space is limited, so act now! Please call (772) 465-0630 or visit BackusMuseum.org to reserve seats before January 22.
Vero Beach Art Club offers Art in the Park on January 28, 10am – 4pm.
Art in the Park is a juried Fine Arts and Crafts Exhibition and Sale by Vero Beach Art Club Member Artists. Humiston Park, 3000 Ocean Drive in Vero Beach.
The Galleries at First Press offers Winter Art Reception and Show
Galleries at First Presbyterian Church of Vero Beach spotlight three artists
520 Royal Palm Boulevard in Vero Beach. Opening Reception January 28, 1- 3pm. On view through March 31. The work of three standout artists; Evelyna Helmer, Maciek von Ato and Bertelle Brooking will be displayed in galleries throughout the church campus for the duration of the show.
About the Artists:
Evelyna Helmer
The paintings of Chicago-born, Sydney-based artist Evelyna Helmer emphasize the power of nostalgia and the allure of mystery. Often intentionally elliptical, Helmer’s seemingly quiet objects are charged with an emotional and psychological valency. Helmer’s works are somewhat Hopper-esque in their cinematic suspension of moments in time. The familiar depictions evoke visions of comfort and, at times, an unnerving childhood whilst dismantling the barrier between reality and illusion. Evelyna Helmer presents objects commonly taken for granted as treasures she has unearthed from early memories, thus encouraging the viewer to engage in a sensitive interaction with visual consciousness and presentation. Evelyna Helmer’s artwork owes perceptible debts to Thiebaud, Morandi, and Celmins’ work.
Maciek von Ato
From a very early age, Maciek von Ato loved to draw and his creativity led him to seek a future in graphic design, a revered art form in Poland, where he was born. His dreams came true when he began studying at the Academy of Fine Arts in Warsaw, receiving a Master’s Degree in Graphic Design and Painting. He soon was showing his art throughout Western Europe and later moved to Australia, continuing to paint as he founded a well-known graphic design firm. A decade later, Maciek longed for a more vibrant lifestyle and arrived in the U.S., where, for 18 years, he established himself as a successful painter/sculptor/designer on the East Coast. Five years ago, he decided to move to a warmer climate and settled in Vero Beach where he is continuing his creative journey. Although versatile in all media, he prefers to paint in oil and gouache on canvas, paper, or wood. His work has been featured in galleries, museums and publications, and found in private collections throughout Europe, Australia, and the United States.
Bertelle Brooking
Using artistic expression since childhood to express and explore an inner self, photography became a second language. Bertelle lives in Micco, Florida. Raised in Pennsylvania, she was the artsy one of thirteen children. 1975 she began summering in Boothbay Harbor, Maine surrounded by gorgeous landscapes and inspiring artists. Moved year round to Portland’s Old Port and then Cape Elizabeth’s, Kettle Cove. Awarded a state scholarship in 1989 pursued her dreams and passions for art at the University of Southern Maine’s BFA program, graduating Summa cum Laude, including studying Art History and Anthropology in Greece. 1998 accepted into a top graduate photography school, Rochester Institute of Technology, moved, worked and exhibited at The George Eastman House, International Museum of Photography and Film. Bertelle moved to Florida and joined Sebastian River Art Club in 2019. She was recently juried into the VBMA Show: Treasure Coast Creates: Tribute to Local Artists.
The Community Church of Vero Beach Concert Series
January 28, 4pm
The 2023-2024 Concert Series at the Community Church of Vero Beach continues with the Stetson University Symphony Orchestra on Sunday, January 28 at 4pm. This student orchestra is recognized as one of the finest undergraduate college orchestras in the southeastern United States. Their travel includes domestic tours in Florida and Georgia, and foreign tours in Europe, most recently in Italy, including Rome, Lucca, and Venice. The orchestra’s program on January 28 will include the overture to Strauss’ opera Die Fledermaus and Schumann’s dramatic and exquisite 4th Symphony.
Tickets are available online at www.ccovb.org by calling 772-778-1070, and are also available at the door.
Quartet Plays Music of ‘European Masters’ First Presbyterian of Vero Beach
hosts Astralis Chamber Ensemble. January 28, 4pm.
First Presbyterian Church of Vero Beach, 520 Royal Palm Boulevard
Individual members of the group have received international recognition and are coming together from Texas, Atlanta and Florida to perform the European Masters concert for the community. The quartet of award-winning musicians includes Angela Massey (flute), Rachel Aguilar (violin) and spouse, Paul Aguilar (viola); and Laura Usiskin (cello).
The audience for European Masters can expect to hear a program of virtuosic works by composers Mozart, JS Bach, Handel and Kuhlau. In addition, the concert will include a staple of the quartet repertoire, Mendelssohn’s D Major Quartet
Riverside Theatre presents Jersey Boys performances through January 28.
VBMA 2024 International Lecture Series
January 29, 4:30pm | Indiana Jones in Space
Sarah Parcak, Space Archaeologist
Dr. Sarah Parcak, 2016 TED Prize winner, and her team at the University of Alabama–Birmingham are pioneers in the field of satellite archaeology—the use of satellite remote sensing to discover archaeological sites more quickly and efficiently. With these methods, Parcak’s team has uncovered seventeen pyramids as well as thousands of lost settlements and tombs around the world, many of which have revealed an increase in looting. She will discuss her work mapping unknown sites, its impact on historic and cultural preservation, and her Global Xplorer platform, a non-profit dedicated to using cutting edge technologies to protect and preserve our shared cultural heritage, for citizen-scientists interested in joining the hunt.
Inspired by her grandfather, an early pioneer of aerial photography, Sarah took an interest in remote sensing while studying Egyptology at Yale. She has worked on archaeological projects across the globe, and she has discovered more than three thousand missing settlements, over one-thousand tombs, and the lost city of Tanis. She also wrote the first textbook on the field of satellite archaeology, Satellite Remote Sensing for Archaeology, and she is the author of Archaeology from Space: How the Future Shapes Our Past.
Historic House Tours Laura (Riding) Jackson Foundation
January 30, 1 – 5pm. Mueller Campus of IRSC, 6155 College Lane in Vero Beach.
The Emerson Center on January 30, 7pm offers Stealing Sharks and Ravaging Rays with E-Series speaker Dr. Matt Ajemian
Dr. Matt Ajemian is set to take you on a journey into the underwater world, unraveling the mystery of how sharks and rays share common seafood cravings with humans. Explore innovative methods to study their dynamic interactions with our fisheries while ensuring their safe coexistence. It’s a thrilling dive into the marine realm you won’t want to miss!
Dr. Matt Ajemian, an Assistant Research Professor at FAU Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute, specializes in the ecology and conservation of fisheries and vulnerable species. His research spans marine and estuarine organisms, from shellfish to sharks, and encompasses various ecosystems. Dr. Ajemian combines theory and practical applications to address research questions. He earned his Ph.D. in Marine Science from the University of South Alabama in 2011 and has expertise in ichthyology, ecology, and fisheries science. Before joining Harbor Branch, he worked at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi.
VBMA Museum Stories: 0-23 Month Olds
January 31, 9:30 – 10:30am
VBMA Museum Stories for 2-4 Year Olds
January 31, 10:30 – 11:30am
CCIRC Cultural Connections at the Laura (Riding) Jackson Historical House on January 24, 4 – 6 PM at Laura (Riding) Jackson Historic House, Indian River State College / Mueller Campus, 6155 College Lane, Vero Beach, FL 32966. Tickets: $20 per person. Join us for refreshments, hors d’oeuvres, a poetry stroll, and short readings of creative writing as the Laura (Riding) Jackson Foundation welcomes visitors to tour the gardens and historic home & pole barn at the Indian River State College’s Mueller Campus.
Purchase Tickets:
LIVE! From Vero Beach offers Top of the World, A Carpenters Tribute on February 1, 7pm at The Emerson Center, Vero Beach
Wycliffe Gordon & Friends TC Jazz Society Concert
February 3, 11:30 – 3:30
Critically acclaimed trombonist/composer/performer/educator, Gordon has world wide recognition for his musical activities in the field of jazz.
Oak Harbor, 4755 S. Harbor Dr. in Vero Beach.
Indian River Symphonic Association presents Celebrating 100 Years of Rhapsody in Blue on February 4, 7:30pm.
Community Church of Vero Beach, 1901 23rd Street in Vero Beach
Acclaimed pianist Jeffrey Biegel joins the Brevard Symphony Orchestra for an unforgettable celebration of Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue, premiered 100 years ago. This concert also features arrangements of classic Gershwin melodies Embraceable You, I Got Rhythm, Someone to Watch Over Me, and Strike Up the Band, along with the Central Florida Premiere of Rhapsody in Red, White & Blue, a newly-composed work by acclaimed composer Peter Boyer that pays tribute to the iconic Gershwin sound.
Riverside Theatre presents Morning after Grace, performances run January 30 – February 18. Baby Boomers tackle love, sex, aging and medial marijuana munchies in this comedy.
Derek Gores Returns To Gallery 14 with More Than Meets the Eye: Collages by Derek Gores. On view February 1 – 23. Special Opening Reception February 1, 5-8pm sponsored by Anthony Romero of Dale Sorensen Real Estate and The Luxe Team. Additional Reception part of the First Friday Gallery Stroll on Friday February 2, 5-8pm. On February 16, 5:30-7:30pm, Gallery 14 will host ‘Derek Gores Ekphrastic Poetry Event and Reception’ held in collaboration with Gallery 14’s neighbor, the Laura Riding Jackson Foundation. Individual poets will interpret Derek’s art work and will read their poems aloud as they stand side by side with the collages.
Gores’ detailed collages capture an escapist tranquility. In his newest body of work for Gallery 14, Gores takes a deeper exploration into his dreamlike surrealism with an array of text based pieces! This new work will feature icons that complement the figurative pieces. Gores explores, gathers elements and inspirations, and combines them to form a sort of zen narrative. The story is on the canvas for us to piece together. Born in New York and a graduate of Rhode Island School of Design, the internationally acclaimed collage artist whose clients and collectors include Prada, The Kentucky Derby, National Football League, New England Journal of Medicine, Vienna Austria Tourism Board, Disney, Hotel Bel-Air Beverly Hills, Playboy, Lucasfilm and others. Gores has extensive experience in partnerships with blue chip brands, properties, and events full of immersive art and experiences.
Vero Beach Theatre Guild offers Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream February 2 – 4. The Shakespearian classic, Midsummer Night’s Dream, with all of the witty comedy, and fantastical creatures that made this play a favorite for theatre aficionados and high-school dramatists alike. This is your chance to enjoy a night of culture and make some memories at your local community theatre!
On February 3, 3-7pm, Stouthouse- Where Artists Create offers Poetic Abstracts – Mixed Media paintings by John Lunar Richey. 13700 Ruffner Lane in Sebastian.
Vero Beach Opera on February 3, 2024, 7 pm – Best of Broadway & Opera concert features Broadway music by Rodgers & Hammerstein, Sondheim, and Bernstein, and Opera favorites from Verdi, Bizet and Puccini. With soprano Chelsea Lehnea, tenor Joshua Wheeker, bass-baritone Andrew Allan Hiers, and mezzo-soprano Gabrielle Beteag. With Master of Ceremonies, Ian Campbell. And the Vero Beach Opera Chorus. VBHS Performing Arts Center.
Vero Beach Art Club offers 14th Annual Art Trail Fine Arts & Crafts Studio Tour on February 3 & 4. The Art Trail is an open house of numerous studios around Vero Beach to introduce art to the public in the setting in which it is created. This is a combination of a treasure hunt and a self-paced tour.
J.M. Stringer Gallery of Fine Art
3465 Ocean Drive, Vero Beach, FL 32963
The Artist’s Muse a Group Exhibition
On View through February 10.
Art in Public Places Program sponsored by the Cultural Council of Indian River County On Exhibit Indian River County Courthouse Solo Exhibit- Judy Burgarella Life and Still Life. On view through February 7.
Vero Beach Art Club Gallery & Marketplace
Big Bold & Beautiful
On view through February 9. Artwork is available for purchase at all exhibiting shows. 1903 14th Avenue, Vero Beach
Miniature Show
On view through February 24
Center for Spiritual Care, 1550 24th ST in Vero Beach
Center for Spiritual Care is the showcase for
5 Emerging Vero Beach Art Club Artists
On view February 26
Additional Artist Reception on February 2.
Center for Spiritual Care, 1550 24th ST in Vero Beach
Art at The Emerson presents “Different Strokes” Exhibition
On view through February 28. Gallery hours: Monday – Friday from 10am – 3pm.
For more information, please visit www.artattheemersoncenter.com
2023-2024 ELC Nature Inspired Art Series VIVA FOCA!
On view through February 28.
Environmental Learning Center 255 Live Oak Dr., Vero Beach
A.E. Backus Museum & Gallery offer Fast Forward: The Original Florida Highwaymen on the Way to Fame 1954-2004
On view through March 3, 2024
A.E. Backus Museum & Gallery, 500 N. Indian River Drive, Fort Pierce, FL 34950. When a nineteen-year-old Harold Newton became inspired to paint the Florida landscape in 1954, his vision, courage, and accomplishments encouraged his friends and neighbors to take up paintbrushes and follow a new path as professional artists. Over time, dozens of individuals joined the venture and unintentionally founded a movement. After more than fifty years in becoming an overnight success, the 26 landscape artists now known as The Original Highwaymen were inducted in 2004 into the Florida Artists Hall of Fame. This exhibition of rarely seen paintings, gathered from private collections, celebrates their first fifty years of fame and bold course forward to the hard-won triumph of statewide recognition.
Art in Public Places Program sponsored by the Cultural Council of Indian River County Intergenerational Recreation Center Exhibit Big, Bold & Abstract, On view through March 6. Featured Artists: Mary Carter, Tony Caruso, Allie Comer, Diana Farce, Patricia Forelle & Wendy Ryles.
Art in Public Places Program sponsored by the Cultural Council of Indian River County On Exhibit Indian River County Administrative Complex, Bldg A & B, First & Second Floors. Celebration – Artist Member Exhibit on view through April 11 with works by, Merana Cadorette, Mary Carter, Tony Caruso, Evelyn Haught, Barbara Krupp, Gwen McNenney, Mariya Yankovich & Joaquin Zalazar.
Art in Public Places Program sponsored by the Cultural Council of Indian River County in conjunction with Mandy and Ray Hooker invite you to viewing at Indian River Distillery, 3308 Aviation Blvd. in Vero Beach. Exhibit Theme: “Old Florida”. Featured Artists: Ella Chabot, Patricia Forelle, Richard Gilmor, Janet Grossarth, Evelyn Haught, John McAleer, Gwen McNenney & Mark Sans Souci. On view through April 18.
Cultural Council of Indian River County is pleased to announce a new venue for Art in Public Places Program – Vero Beach City Hall, 1053 20th Place, Gallery Exhibits in Hallway & Council Chambers. “All Around The Town” on view through April 24 with works by Gwen McNenney on exhibit in the Hallway. Works by Barbara Krupp on view in the Council Chamber.
McKee Botanical Garden newest exhibition:
A Tropical Flock of Avian Avatars by The Myth Makers Donna Dodson & Andy Moerlein
On view through April 28. Featuring ten monumental and environmentally friendly bird sculptures created from bamboo and other mixed media. Each unique Avian Avatar in the Tropical Flock is made specifically for McKee. These majestic birds will grace McKee’s tropical landscape though April 28. The sculptures are designed to attract, captivate, and inspire the imaginations of all who encounter them.
Artists Guild Gallery is a fine-art gallery featuring original art by local artist-owners. Diverse styles and mediums are represented, and the art is changed, and rotated on a monthly basis. Classes are offered in oil, watercolor, acrylics, pastels, and drawing. Located: 1974 14th Avenue, Vero Beach
Gallery hours: January thru April: Tuesday – Saturday 11am-4pm
A Look Ahead:
The Space Coast Symphony Orchestra presents February 4, 3pm
6200 20th St #600, Vero Beach, FL 32966
For your eyes only, your SCSO unveils a top-secret document discovered by our crack team of deep-cover spies: this electrifying concert will transport you into the shadowy underworld of espionage, international intrigue, romance and adventure through the irresistible soundtracks that help make spy cinema so popular all over the world. Special agent Aaron Collins leads the program that features the heavy hitters of the genre like James Bond and Mission: Impossible. Thrillers that fit the bill are also included—Munich and North by Northwest—as well as unforgettable comedies like The Incredibles, Catch Me if You Can and The Pink Panther. This spirited performance presented at the movie theater will make you feel like you’re in the know.
Andrew Cleaver, saxophone
- NEWTON HOWARD Red Sparrow Overture
- MANCINI Peter Gunn
- MANCINI The Pink Panther
- GIACCHINO The Incredibles
- SILVESTRI The Avengers
- SCHIFRIN Mission: Impossible
- WILLIAMS Escapades from Catch Me If You Can
- WILLIAMS Prayer for Peace from Munich
- BARRY James Bond Medley
- ARNOLD Casino Royale
- HERRMANN North by Northwest
Indian River Guardian 