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Palmetto Bay resident and artist Jorge Ballará has lived in the village for the past seven years, but his first time exhibiting in the area was during a special art event called “Beyond the Woods” at Pinecrest Gardens on Saturday, June 11.
Ballará chose his three-panel triptych, Tropical Reflections, to be part of the show because it fit the theme of the event.
His painting is a reflection of palm fronds, seen in rippling water. He did the sections individually one at a time on a standard easel. All of the landscapes he has painted focus on the tropical features of south Florida. This was his first triptych, measuring 48 inches by 72 inches.
“I wanted to make a large piece, with not a lot of space to work in,” Ballará said. “It also helped with storage of the panels.”
Ballará is a graduate of Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, NY and worked for major advertising companies in New York and Chicago as an art director for many years. His work appeared in TV and print advertising. His creative ideas earned industry awards.
“As great as a career in advertising was for me, my current work is on a more personal and reflective platform,” Ballará said.
Also having an impact on his work is the natural beauty of South Florida.
“The flora of this area is so extraordinary and inspirational,” Ballará said. “Many of us pass by some of the most gorgeous flowers and trees in the world. Millions dream about spending time with such natural beauty but most of us have it in abundance.
“In New York and Chicago, where I spent so much of my life, six months was spent with bare-leafed trees and frozen-over yards. On really horrible weather days, I had hopes of a life in a more favorable environment. Even though there’s a beauty to it as well, I never painted a snowy scene because it simply never inspired me in that way.”
Ballará’s art has been included in group shows at Coral Gables Museum, Miami Beach Jewish Museum, Mano Fine Art Project Space in the Bird Road Art District. His one-man show was at Roberto Russell Gallery in Islamorada last year.
“It was a great show,” Ballará said. “We are working on another show in the same place, in January.
In addition, he has contributed his work to the Miami Badges of Courage Foundation which provides support for women suffering from breast cancer.
The group exhibition at Pinecrest Gardens, located at 11000 Red Road, Pinecrest, is sponsored by Compositum Musicae Novae and is on display throughout the month of June.
More of his work can be seen at www.ballaraart.com.
