Open House- June 11, 2023

Thank you to everyone who came to celebrate the soft opening of Chelsea Art Center! I am so pleased with your response and eagerness to return to Chelsea for classes and events. Thank you for supporting this venture.

During the three-hour event, ten of our instructors setup demos to engage conversations about their art: Mel Broaderick (Paper Crafts), Anda Chance (Colored Pencil), Alison Clement (Lettering and Scrapbooking). Michelle Curry (10-week courses), Joyce Cusick (Plein Air), Susan Fink (Pastels and Drawing), Joni Hoffman (Zentangle), Sean Mullins (Landscape Oil Painting in the style of the Florida Highwaymen and Kevin Hill), Margie Picard (Silk Scarf Painting), and Dan Wilcox (Paint Like “Bob Ross” wet-on-wet oil painting. What a talented group of artists, enthusiastic to share with students their passion for creating.

Thank you all for enlivening Chelsea Art Center with your presence,, your smiles, and comments. Thanks, too, for the beautiful plants and arrangements that will continue to add grace and beauty to the Art Center’s reception area. Today was an auspicious beginning of a new adventure.

Below are photos taken by Alison Clement to help preserve memories of Chelsea’s first official event.

To watch a short video click on the gorgeous arrangement sent by my bonus-daughter, Christine, and her husband, Don.

Before and After……

———–July 2022 —————- June 2023———-



A Lovely Note from Ocala Art Group President, Lee Asta

Well, another “good time was had by ALL!”  “Where were we this time, you ask?” We headed over to the new Art Center in town: Chelsea Art Center!!!

This is the lively and lovely, large, stimulating, bright and light art center opened by our very own Barbara Fife!!! Some Members stopped in on Sunday, June 11th to tour the new facilities and found it to be as amazing as we heard it was! This was a really delightful afternoon —meeting old friends and making new ones…amazingly—MOST WERE ARTISTS JUST LIKE US!!!!

Conversations were ongoing with Artists doing DEMOS and discussing the Workshops they were going to be doing and   the art they were demonstrating. Business cards were exchanged, hands were shaken and introductions were exchanged. 

President Lee Asta presented Barbara with a lovely Peace Lily plant from her friends at OAG, as an expression of our Best Wishes for a very successful endeavor. Lee expressed our wishes for a WONDERFUL future with this GRAND ART CENTER and said we all looked forward to having Chelsea be our “HOME AWAY FROM HOME”!!!!

IF YOU WERE NOT ABLE TO ATTEND THIS “soft opening”, WATCH FOR BARBARA’S ANNOUNCEMENT FOR CHELSEA’S RIBBON CUTTING IN THE COMING FUTURE!!!

Also, try to come to our July ART-Venture on July 12th which Susan Fink is planning. Check the details on our website and how to let Susan know you are joining us. It will be a fun event! (As usual!!!)

WATCH FOR FUTURE WORKSHOPS AND OTHER INTERESTING THINGS WE HOPE TO SET UP THERE FOR OUR MEMBERS…young and old!!!!

AND AGAIN…….LOTS OF LUCK FOR THIS WONDERFUL ADVENTURE!!!!

With much love and admiration—Lee Asta and your OAG Friends

Thank you, dear friends, for the beautiful plants and arrangements that add so much to the ambiance for a welcoming, comfortable setting at the Art Center.

1 comment

  1. Barbara, the space looks so warm and welcoming–quite a transition and quite an accomplishment!

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