Spotlight on 37th Annual All Florida juror Grace Gdaniec
The Alliance for the Arts’ eagerly-anticipated 37th Annual All Florida Juried Exhibit opens with a 5:00-7:00 p.m. reception for the artists on Friday, March 3. From the 700-plus submissions that the Alliance received this year, juror Grace Gdaniec selected 66 pieces for inclusion in the show.
“It was an honor to jury the 37th Annual All Florida Exhibition at Art Alliance,” Gdaniec says in her Juror’s Statement. 
“The large number of entries this year is a testament to the reputation of the Exhibition, and the number of contemporary artists from around the state that are actively creating in Florida’s vivid and vast artistic landscape.”
Gdaniec is a south Florida based artist, curator, and arts programmer. Grace has been curating contemporary art exhibitions, developing arts educational programming, and supporting artist studios since 2015.
“With over 700 entries, the review process was thorough, with each piece considered thoughtfully as it was narrowed down to just 66,” Gdaniec explains. “I was struck by the diversity in imagery, 
medium, and style that was submitted. The final selection includes fresh executions of classic motifs such as still life, portraiture, and landscape. There are also works using materials in unique ways, such as painting on fabric or embroidering photography.”
Gdaniec noted the importance of including a diverse selection of mediums in the show, which happened quite organically in the selection process from the volume of pieces from which to choose.
“I
believe the final selection is a snapshot of the significant work Florida artists are doing around the state in contemporary art.”
Ms. Gdaniec also took pains during the evaluation and selection process to include a diversity of themes and artist statements.
“The work in the exhibition includes themes of political statements, observations on society, intimate moments, reflections on family relationships, nature, and beauty to name a few. I believe the variety of themes and use of media is a testament to the diversity of people and cultures who call Florida their home. I enjoy the nuances of the energy of Florida in the art.
Grace is currently manager of Arts Warehouse in Delray Beach, a project of the Delray Beach CRA. According to her CRA-posted profile, “her day-to-day responsibilities include meeting with teaching artists to develop workshops, reaching 
out to artists for exhibition planning, checking in with the resident studio artists, collecting rent payments, creating graphic design for the website and promotional collateral, managing the social media presence, installing and de-installing gallery exhibitions, managing facility rentals and program schedules, greeting visitors throughout the day, and setting up and hosting special events.”
Be that as it may, Grace relates that the best part of her job is curating exhibitions because she finds it inspiring to be involved in other’s artistic processes. So culling this year’s All Florida 
artworks from such a large mass of digital submissions is a challenge she enthusiastically embraced. But she can’t wait to see how the actual artworks will look in the gallery in juxtaposition with each other.
“I am really looking forward to viewing the selected works in the gallery space together and interacting with each other,” Gdaniec continues. “I believe viewers will appreciate the diversity of the selections and will see work that they have not seen before, creating new audiences for the artists represented. This was a wonderful opportunity to know further the talent of Florida artists. Congratulations to 
everyone who participated this year.”
The opening reception is 5:00-7:00 p.m. on Friday, March 3 in the Alliance main gallery at 10091 McGregor Boulevard, Fort Myers.
March 1, 2023.
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About the Author
Tom Hall is both an amateur artist and aspiring novelist who writes art quest thrillers. He is in the final stages of completing his debut novel titled "Art Detective," a story that fictionalizes the discovery of the fabled billion-dollar Impressionist collection of Parisian art dealer Josse Bernheim-Jeune, thought by many to have perished during World War II when the collection's hiding place, Castle de Rastignac in southern France, was destroyed by the Wehrmacht in reprisal for attacks made by members of the Resistance operating in the area. A former tax attorney, Tom holds a bachelor's degree as well as both a juris doctorate and masters of laws in taxation from the University of Florida. Tom lives in Estero, Florida with his fiancee, Connie, and their four cats.