The Forgotten Coast Cultural Coalition was awarded a grant from the Florida Humanities Council to present “Art as a Window on Local Florida Heritage” on Friday, May 15, from 2-4 pm EST at the Historic Cotton Warehouse, on the corner of Avenue E and Water Street, in Apalachicola. 

A panel discussion, revolving around the painting “The Oyster Shuckers” by Mitch Kolbe, will explore the historical and contemporary connection between the artist and the milieu in which he paints, how his work protects the unique relationship between environment and working traditions, such as the Apalachicola oyster industry, and how such work refines our perceptions of the world in which we live.  The general public is welcomed to this free event, which is part of the 2009 Florida’s Forgotten Coast Plein Air Invitational, The Great Paint-out to be held May 7-17, 2009 from Carrabelle to Mexico Beach (www.pleinairfl.com). 

Invited to participate on the panel are:
• Art Historian, Mallory O’Connor
• Author, Voices of the Apalachicola, Faith Eidse
• Florida Plein Air Artist, Mitch Kolbe

The Florida Humanities Council is an independent, non-profit organization and is the state affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities.  Each year, the FHC funds hundreds of public programs throughout the state that explore Florida’s history, folklore, environment, literature, music, and art.  The Forgotten Coast Cultural Coalition was among numerous community organizations throughout the state to receive a grant that funds humanities programs.

For more information about “Art as a Window on Local Florida Heritage” contact Leslie Fedota at 850/227-1759.  For more information about FHC grants, contact Susan Lockwood, Grants Director at 727/873-2011 or email .  For more information about the 2009 Great Plein Air Paint-out, visit www.pleinairfl.com.