ORANGE PARK – For nearly five decades, the Art Guild of Orange Park has enjoyed sharing its talent with the public. The group has exhibited its work in various galleries in the Northeast Florida Area, including Club Continental, the Clay County Courthouse, Mossman Hall and Orange Park Town Hall.

The group’s newest exhibition, “Celebrations,” is displayed at Clay County’s most elegant venue.

“The galleries of the Thrasher-Horne display our art beautifully, and we always look forward to exhibiting there,” said Art Guild Exhibitions Chair Kathy Plante. “This year is quite special for the Art Guild of Orange Park. It’s our 50th anniversary, so the theme, ‘Celebrations!’ is quite appropriate.

“Walking around the exhibit, it’s fascinating looking at the different interpretations of celebration,” Art Guild President Phyllis Renninger said.

Celebration is a 58-piece social event, such as a birthday, a religious observation, or an anniversary. Or it could be “celebrating colors” or they are celebrating family,” she said.

“Celebrations” will run through June 29 at the Thrasher-Horne Center for the Arts. The gallery is to the public and open Monday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Please contact the Thrasher-Horne Center for the Arts to schedule your group gallery tour.

Artists were honored at the Gallery’s Opening Reception. Winners included: Toni Charneco Best In Show Award with “50 yrs! The Time of Our Lives.” In Assemblage, Kathy Plante won with “Big Ivan Gets A Tattoo,”  while William  A. Gura finished second with “NOLA Street Musician” and Mick Ross finished third with “Wheels of Time.”

Honorable mention winners were: “Let Us Eat Cake” by Leslie Knizicki and “Beautiful Hisbisuc: Celebrating Your One Day” by Alison McCarley.

Not only does the exhibition allow artists to submit their work for validation and recognition by well-known artists and jurors, but it also provides an opportunity for artists of all levels of experience to present their work to be viewed by the community.

“I don’t think people realize how much talent there is right here in Clay County,” Renninger said.

“We have 117 members right now. We have a fourteen-year-old who is phenomenal. We have seniors who just wanted to take up painting. We have everything from professional artists who commission thousands for their work to artists who just come to learn as well as an art lover.”

Besides the opportunity to exhibit work in the community, the Art Guild of Orange Park presents several one-day workshops taught by well-known local artists. “Every first Tuesday of the month, we bring in a featured artist to facilitate a demo and workshop at our meetings,” Renninger said. “We have everything from photography, 3D, oil, watercolors, pastels, pen and ink.”