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ArtSouth and the Village of Palmetto Bay again are joining to present the work of a local artist at the Perrine Community Center. The opening night reception for the paintings of Nancy Reyna will take place on Saturday, July 16, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.
The artist is calling the showing, “Second Act.”
Reyna has lived in Palmetto Bay since 2003. She grew up in Caracas, Venezuela, and moved to Miami in 1982.
“I have a website, but I also show and sell my work at art festivals throughout Florida,” Reyna said. “Beatriz Hermann of Art South saw me at one of these in Miami and invited me to show at the Perrine Community House. I’ve participated in Beaux Arts, Pinecrest, St. Stephen’s Coconut Grove, South Miami in our area, and in Naples, Gainesville, Melbourne and Tallahassee. My next events will be shows in the fall, which are just now accepting applications.”
Reyna’s work consists of vibrant, colorful and realistic watercolor paintings of flowers and other aspects of nature. She is pleased to be included in the ongoing program by ArtSouth and likes the location.
“I’m very excited to have my artwork on display in my own community for people to enjoy and to share it with my neighbors,” Reyna said. “The venue is unique, historic, and a little rustic, which is perfect for my impressionistic Florida nature watercolors.”
She explained the reason for the title of this particular exhibition.
“My painting business is my ‘second act,’” Reyna said. “I grew up in Caracas, Venezuela, always drawing, surrounded by a lush tropical world. A college friend once observed that I was able to ‘see beauty in a pile of leaves on the street,’ and I realized early on that I needed to have beauty in my life. I started painting when life closed a door and opened a new one.
“Twenty-five years ago my husband passed away and I had to begin recreating my life. My friends encouraged me to take a watercolor class at Miami-Dade College, and I began growing in this direction. A few years later my teacher moved away, and I taught the class for the next 10 years.”
Retiring after twenty-five years of teaching at the primary and college levels, she now puts her energy into painting, which she loves.
“My ‘second act’ has involved growing in totally new directions in order to develop a business,” Reyna said. “I used to be an introverted person who avoided sharing much of herself. Today, I enjoy sharing my work and love talking with all the people who come to my booth at art festivals. My hope is to inspire others to notice nature and to experience the peace, beauty and joy that are always all around us. Painting is my way of appreciating and sharing the beauty I see and feel in the world.”
Perrine Community House is located at 900 Perrine Ave. in Palmetto Bay. Children are welcome. Light refreshments will be served.
