Keith Padgett Art Exhibit Opening a Success
The Wakulla Welcome Center was quite the busy venue this past Friday evening, August 11, as a large number of art enthusiasts came out for the opening of Keith Padgett's "Around the Bend" art exhibit.
Patrons mixed and mingled while enjoying the beautiful works of artist Keith Padgett, a Perry, Florida native. (Keith Padgett and Bonnie Holub pictured at left.)
Keith was born and raised in Perry where he
still maintains a home and studio. For a few years he lived and worked
at Bayside Condominiums in Ochlockonee Bay. Like many kids growing up
in rural North Florida, he spent a lot of time in the out-of-doors
learning to hunt, fish and participating in a variety of water
activities.
During those early years, his innate talent compelled him to observe
his recreational surroundings through the eyes of a fine artist. His
detailed landscapes that captivate viewers today evolved from his
intimate fascination with the natural world of his youth. Keith
routinely returns to the backwoods of the Big Bend area to experience
the places that he paints.
Keith’s knowledge of the land of his paintings is based on his
family’s rich North Florida heritage. Talking about the setting for
one of his pieces, Keith smiles as he says, “The Steinhatchee River
flows through the once sleepy fishing village of the same name, rumored
to have a history of what some called pirates, rum-runners and various
other scaly-wags. I simply call them my relatives….”
A note about the exhibition name, “Around the Bend.” It is
appropriately named in a geographic sense; however, it wasn’t named
specifically for the area in which many of the scenes take place.
Keith named the exhibition to coincide with his philosophy that unless
you keep exploring and adventuring you may miss an opportunity to
experience something that turns from wild to wonderful just “around the
bend”…. in art and in life.
Keith works mainly in oils on canvas. He recently opened a second studio in Burlington, Iowa, overlooking the Mississippi. His exhibit will continue to run until September 10, 2006.
This article originally published on August 15, 2006.
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