FGCU Art Student Mixes Old and New

Artists are usually thought of as eccentric and unusual, almost out of place in everyday life. However, the only apparently unusual thing about Kayla Moss is her bright yellow “Waffle House” lanyard, which contrasts sharply with the subdued palette of her outfit.

Moss, a Florida Gulf Coast University art student, enjoys making her works have an element of eccentricity, even if her wardrobe doesn’t exactly parallel that principle.

“I like using colors, Moss said, “especially where you wouldn’t really expect to see them.”

Her latest work, a portrait of a man, embodies this approach to color with its multitude of hues incorporated into what is considered a commonplace and mundane subject matter.

The work even takes advantage of an unusual method—palette knives. With palette knives, she uses bent knives to scoop and apply paint to the canvas. This method adds a great deal of texture to the painting, since it requires large amounts of paint with each use of the knife.

Though all of this sounds abstract and novel, Moss, an FGCU freshman, prefers her works to have an element of realism. She gravitates more towards landscapes and animals, as well as the occasional face.

Her parents, though not artistic themselves, appreciate Kayla’s work.

Moss stated, “They’ve framed a few pieces I’ve done, since they’re proud and kind of just want to brag.”

She has been involved with art since elementary school, and also dabbles in theater and music. While Moss is very active within her major, she has not really become involved with the art community outside of FGCU.

 “I kind of have to do my own thing when it comes to getting involved. I’m only a freshman,” Moss specified. 

Portrait of a male face by Kayla Moss made with palette knives.

 Photo Credit: Kayla Moss, 2014

 

 

VIP List

Hello everyone! Here is a list of notable people in the area's art community with some short bios.

Cathy Albergo

(239) 590-7374


calbergo@fgcu.edu

In 2007, Cathy Albergo started working at FGCU as Director of the Department of Theatre and Visual Art as well as the Bower School of Music. She was formerly Professor of Music and Department of Music Chair at UNC-Wilmington and Professor of Music and Chair of the Music Department at William Rainey Harper College. She specializes in piano pedagogy and group piano teaching and has contributed numerous articles to professional keyboard journals.  She is co-author of the Piano Repertoire Guide. With degrees from UNC, Chapel Hill; Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas; and UI, Urbana-Champaign, Professor Albergo is nationally recognized for her expertise on piano instruction and a frequent lecturer, adjudicator and workshop clinician.

Kathleen Van Bergen

Now starting her third season as CEO and President of Artis—Naples, Kathleen van Bergen was chosen by Gulfshore Life Magazine to be one of its 2012 Men & Women of the Year. In April 2013, she named internationally renowned conductor Andrey Boreyko as the Naples Philharmonic’s Music Director, his first American post; in 2012, she selected Frank Verpoorten to be Director and Chief Curator of the Baker Musuem. She began playing the violin at age 4. She holds a bachelor’s degree in violin performance from the Eastman School of Music and completed the Tuck Executive Program at the Tuck School of Business. Prior to joining Artis—Naples, She was artistic and executive director at the Schubert Club in St. Paul, Minnesota; vice president of artistic planning for the Philadelphia Orchestra, and vice president and director of artistic administration for the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra.

Andrew Owen

Associate Professor and Art Program Leader
Phone: (239) 590-7249

aowen@fgcu.edu

Claudia Goode

Gallery Curator at Arts for ACT, 2013

2265 First Street
Fort Myers, Florida 33901
Gallery: (239) 337-5050
Administrtion: (239) 939-2553

Frank Verpoorten

Director and Chief Curator of The Baker Museum at Artis—Naples, Frank Verpoorten has also curated at the Museum of Modern Art (New York, NY), Snug Harbor Cultural Center and the Newhouse Center for Contemporary Art, and the Dahesh Museum of Art. Verpoorten’s most recent position was as the Cultural Attaché for the Representation of the Government of Flanders (Belgium). As Cultural Attaché, Verpoorten oversaw cultural programming for the Belgian government, including exhibitions, performance arts initiatives, lectures and film programs. Verpoorten attended the Vrije Universiteit in Brussels, Belgium and received dual masters degrees in art history and cultural studies. Before moving to the United States, Verpoorten held research positions with the Museum for Musical Instruments and the Royal Museum for Fine Arts in Brussels. Verpoorten is fluent in Dutch and French and speaks advanced German and Spanish. He currently resides in Naples with his wife Rachel, who is an artist, and their two young sons.

TEST

My name is Carlos Lopez. I am a journalism student at Florida Gulf Coast University. This blog will be covering the Southwest Florida arts scene. I think this is a pertinent topic, because southwest Florida has an active, diverse arts scene that serves as a core part of its identity.