A Memorable Year: Shoosty Bugs the Exhibition
lection of historical Florida landscape paintings, while the larger building hosts diverse galleries. Notable exhibits in- clude a giant fossilized ground sloth and a woolly mammoth recovered from the local area, a captivating history of the Coca-Cola bottle, a vibrant fiber art gal - lery, a Cuban exhibition, and an intriguing curiosity—the death mask of Napoleon. Every corner held a fascination for us. Earlier that day, I enjoyed a leisurely walk with Zach, who shared his favorite exhibits and his unwavering passion for his work. He also introduced me to the executive director. Right before meeting her, I saw a library with an expansive ta - ble and asked to run out to my car to bring in some of my posters from the gallery show that just closed. I laid them out, and everybody had a chance to experience my palette. Within a day, I was offered to do a large show at the museum.
From December 2022 to January 2023, I had the privilege of showcasing my col - lection, “Shoosty Bugs,” at the Mills Gallery in Orlando. Curated by Jennifer McInnes Coolidge and hosted by Bo- ris Garbe, the Gallerist, this exhibition marked the first time I presented “The Bugs” to the public. Eager to experiment with different formats, I aimed to leave a lasting impression. To emphasize the grandeur of my work, I created massive posters, each stretch- ing an impressive 12 feet. These posters served as a canvas to demonstrate the full potential of my art. Crafting signifi - cant and valuable pieces required deli- cate handling, and I also brought along a few finished artworks to showcase the possibilities. The event felt more like an artistic exposition than a gallery show. While the gallery might have preferred a wider range of items for sale, their gra - ciousness taught me valuable lessons. Boris has dedicated his life to the art world and provided insightful guidance. However, the true highlight of the show was my encounter with Zach Zacharias, Senior Curator for exhibitions at the Daytona Museum of Arts and Scienc- es (MOAS ). Zach extended a special in- vitation to visit the museum, granting me access to their insect collection. A few weeks later, accompanied by my daugh - ter, Carly, we spent a delightful afternoon sketching insects. Touring the museum revealed the scale of the space—a sprawling 100,000 square feet on a large land track. The museum comprises two main buildings: the smaller one houses an exquisite col-
ZACH AND HIS WIFE
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