18 minute read
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EDWARD HOPPER AND GUY PÈNE DU BOIS: PAINTING THE REAL
An original Polk Museum of Art exhibition comprised of approximately sixty works focused on Hopper and Pène du Bois, two very thematically different but stylistically-overlapping artists who became lifelong friends from their time at the New York School of Art. They shared a deep interest in representing the evolving modern worlds around them. Times vary, runs until March 26. polkmuseumofart.org
POLK TOP 10
MARY GAUTHIER
Jan. 5, 7:30pm at Gram Parsons Derry Down with special guest Jaimee Harris. Showcasing her eleventh album, “Dark Enough to See the Stars,” which follows the profound “Rifles & Rosary Beads,” her 2018 collaborative work with wounded Iraq war veterans. It garnered a Grammy nomination for Best Folk Album, as well as a nomination for Album of the Year by the Americana Music Association. Purchase ticket in advance. gpderrydown.com
PIRATE RIVER QUEST OPENS
Jan. 12, 10am at LEGOLAND. On this all-new attraction, captaindriven boats navigate the natural passageways of Lake Eloise and the historic Cypress Gardens. The quest to uncover the lost treasure of Captain Redbeard on this familyfriendly boat ride unfolds brick by brick with a variety of exciting sequences that tell the tale of a rowdy LEGO pirate crew, a troop of mischievous monkeys and even a fearsome kraken. Reserve in advance. legoland.com/florida
FRIDAY NIGHT SHUFFLE
Jan. 13, 6-8pm at the Downtown Winter Haven Shuffleboard courts. On the 2nd Friday of every month, you can enjoy a few rounds of Shuffleboard under the lights. All necessary equipment is provided along with instruction, retro vibes and light refreshments for purchase. Shuffleboard is a fun sport for everyone- no athletic skills needed! Suggested for ages 10 and up. Tickets available at centralfloridatix.com
ECONOMIC FORECAST BREAKFAST
Jan. 19, 7am at the RP Funding Center. Allen & Company of Florida, LLC, and the Lakeland Chamber of Commerce present the Economic Forecast Breakfast 2023, for the 36th year. Nationally recognized Chief Economist Brian Wesbury of First Trust Advisors, L.P., returns as the guest speaker. As the antidote to unconventional wisdom, Wesbury will reveal his 2023 forecast in an exceptionally energetic manner. Purchaser tickets in advance. lakelandchamber.com
LRC RUNNING FESTIVAL
Jan. 21, 7am at George Jenkins High School. Join the Lakeland Runners Club in celebrating 50 years! Friends and family are invited to attend and learn more about the LRC, enjoy the camaraderie of the day, and cheer in the stands. There will be lots of running, music, food, and fun including the T-Rex Race with runners in their own costumes. Special merchandise will be on sale, too. lakelandrunnersclub.org
CAVALLERIA RUSTICANA
Jan. 21 at 7pm at the Branscomb Auditorium with Maestro Robert Moody, Sung in Italian with English subtitles. Mascagni’s masterpiece, “Cavalleria Rusticana” (“rustic chivalry”) takes place on Easter morning as Turiddu sings of his love for Lola. Turiddu was once engaged to Lola and has returned from military service to find that she has married another. Heartbroken, Turiddu seduces Santuzza which inspires jealousy in Lola. For tickets call 863-688-3743 or purchase online. flsouthern.edu/ffa
ENERGY, SUSTAINABILITY, RENEWABLES
Jan. 25, 12 - 1pm at Bok Tower Gardens. This presentation explains complicated terms associated with energy and addresses questions like why is energy important, how we measure it, and how much we use. Sustainability is discussed conceptually-but what does it really mean in practice? You will go over a real-life sustainability project and highlight its successes. Registration required. boktowergardens.org
PIANO SPARK CONCERTS
Jan. 27 at 7:30pm, Jan. 28 at 7:30pm, and Jan. 29 at 2:30pm at Southeastern University. The 2023 Piano Spark series features guest artists and members of SEU’s renown piano faculty. Each performance will take place in the Buena Vida West Auditorium on the beautiful campus of Southeastern University in Lakeland. Admission is free. Find details about each concert online. seu.edu/academics/music
THE BEATLES’ SHOW
Jan. 28, 2:30 & 7:30pm at the Ritz Theatre. Join Classic Rock Legacy Presents as they perform The Beatles’ “Rubber Soul” and “Revolver” albums live, in their entirety, cut by cut. One day only with a stellar cast of musicians to perform these classic albums with an encore of greatest hits! If you are a Beatles fan, this is the show for you! General admission, purchase tickets in advance. centralfloridatix.com
ORLANDO TOP 10
ASIAN LANTERN FESTIVAL : INTO THE WILD
Select nights through Jan. 15 at the Central Florida Zoo & Botanical Gardens. See over 30 different, hand-constructed illuminated lantern displays around the Zoo on a 3/4 mile path. Celebrate the art, beauty and wonder of traditional Asian lantern festivals. Guests of all ages will enjoy this event. Tickets must be purchased online, limited tickets available per night. Guests will get to enjoy local food for purchase, live music, and artisan crafts. centralfloridazoo.org
DISNEY AFTER HOURS
Select Wednesdays at Hollywood Studios from 9:30 pm to 12:30 am. This is a ticketed event after the park closes. Your ticket helps get you onto rides faster in Toy Story Land and Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge without the crowds! Popcorn, select ice cream treats and drinks included with the ticket price. Must purchase in advance, limited tickets available. disneyworld.disney.go.com
YOGA
Every Saturday from 10 - 11 am. A comfortably paced community yoga class that allows time for beginners to find their poses and advanced practitioners to find their edges. Open to all ages and skill levels. These hour-long classes are free and open to the public and held outdoors at Crescent Park in Laureate Park in Orlando, please dress appropriately and bring your own mat, towel and water. FB @learnlakenona
TINA
Jan. 10 - 15 at the Dr. Phillips Center. “The Tina Turner Musical” is the inspiring journey of a woman who broke barriers and became the Queen of Rock n’ Roll. One of the world’s best-selling artists of all time, Tina Turner has won 12 Grammy Awards with more concert tickets sold than any other solo performer in music history. Featuring her much loved songs, this musical is written by Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Katori Hall. drphillipscenter.org
THE ADDAMS FAMILY
Jan. 12, 7 pm at Popcorn Flicks in the Park at Central Park in Winter Park in partnership with Enzian Theater. The movie is free and open to the public. Bring a blanket, a picnic or snacks, and some family and friends to enjoy the movie. The movie was released in 1991, it is 99 minutes, rated PG-13, and directed by Barry Sonnenfeld starring Anjelica Huston. enzian.org
JURASSIC WORLD LIVE TOUR
Jan. 13- 16 at the Amway Center. Take a trip to Isla Nublar and see what happens when the Indominus Rex escapes and causes chaos. The adventure continues as you join forces with a team of scientists to unravel a corrupt plan and save Jeanie, a Troodon dinosaur, from a terrible fate. Experience some of Jurassic World’s most iconic dinosaurs along the way. amwaycenter.com
HULA BOWL
Jan. 14, 12pm. The Hula Bowl was established in 1946 as the Hula Bowl All-Star Football Classic game. The game moved to Florida at the UCF FBC Mortgage Stadium in 2022. This year, the game will include NCAA college football players from all divisions, along with players from Japan, Canada, Australia, and the UK. In addition, the game will always include Polynesian players with historic ties to the Islands. hulabowl.com
STICK FLY
Jan. 20 - Feb. 5 at Garden Theatre in Winter Garden. The affluent, African-American LeVay family is gathering at their Martha Vineyard home for the weekend, and brothers Kent and Flip have each brought their respective ladies home to meet the parents for the first time. The two newcomers, one a self-described WASP and the other a middle-class academic Black woman, butt heads over issues of race and privilege. gardentheatre.org
PARK AVE 5K
Jan. 21 at 7:30 am at Central Park in Winter Park. Get a healthy start to the New Year by participating in the 4th race of the Track Shack Running Series through beautiful Winter Park. Then indulge a little with grab and go treats from local favorites. Virtual option available. Kids can join the AdventHealth for Children Kids’ Run for free. Sign up for 5K in advance. trackshack.com/event/17
WICKED
Jan. 25 - Feb. 12 at the Dr. Phillips Center. “Wicked” looks at what happened in the Land of Oz long before Dorothy arrives. There’s another woman, born with emerald-green skin—smart, fiery, misunderstood and possessing an extraordinary talent. When she meets a bubbly blonde who is exceptionally popular, their initial rivalry turns into the unlikeliest of friendships, until the world decides to call one “good,” and the other one “Wicked.” drphillipscenter.org
TAMPA TOP 10
DINO RESCUE SAFARI TOUR
Throughout January at the Clearwater Marine Aquarium. Participants will enjoy a 30-minute guided walking tour where they can meet all of the “Dino Rescue” rehab patients and learn about their stories, and how you can help the conservation of animals just like the dinosaurs. You may even be able to assist the dino rehab team with caring for our Dino Rescue patients! Purchase tickets in advance. cmaquarium.org
FRIDAY NIGHT CLAY
Every Friday from 7 - 9 pm at the Morean Arts Center in St. Pete. In this hands-on experience, you will be guided by a clay artist with two hours of creative exploration and skill building. Pre-registration is required. All ages and experience levels welcome! To register by phone, please call 727-822-7872 or visit online at moreanartscenter.org/ friday-night-clay.
SING-ALONG “FROZEN”
Jan. 8, 3pm at the Tampa Theatre. Run through those vocal exercises, dress as your favorite princess, reindeer or snowman, leave your selfdoubt at home and “Let It Go” with a thousand of your closest friends at the sing-along to the movie, Frozen (2013) rated PG. Doors open at 2 pm, general admission, purchase tickets in advance. tampatheatre.org
THE RECEPTION
Jan. 10, 5 - 9pm at Armature Works. This is not your typical wedding expo. Vendors bring their vision to life with live demos, two staged wedding ceremonies, a “Reception” with live music, lite bites and desserts along with a variety of the best local vendors in Tampa. Ticket includes entry for you and one guest, a complimentary glass of champagne, and tote bag. Limited space, reserve in advance. armatureworks.com
HAMLET
Jan. 11 - Feb. 5 at the Straz Center. A ghost story, detective adventure, and revenge tale all at once, “Hamlet” is often regarded as the greatest play of all time. Sent by Hamlet’s father’s ghost to avenge his brutal death, Hamlet’s mission to expose the truth is a perilous journey of madness, murder, and lost love. Performed by Jobsite, an ensemble-based 501(c)(3) non-profit professional theater company that has served Tampa Bay since 1998. strazcenter.org
CLASSIC BEACH FUN RUN
Jan. 14, 5 pm at the Sirata Beach Resort & Conference Center in St. Pete. The Beach Fun Run is run entirely on sand. It starts and finishes on St. Pete Beach, directly behind the Sirata. It’s not timed, and not split into age groups, unless you choose the Marathon Challenge. After the race enjoy live music and a bonfire on the beach. Register in advance. stpetebeachclassic.com
RV SUPERSHOW
Jan. 18 - 22 at the Florida State Fairgrounds. Hear educational seminars, and see the latest innovative RV products and accessories. Two booth exhibit halls are full of accessories, campgrounds and resorts, tourism information, towing supplies and many other products. Plus you’ll find all types of RVs from small travel trailers to bus conversion luxury motorhomes. frvta.org
THE ST. PETE POWER & SAILBOAT SHOW
Jan. 19 - 22 at the Duke Energy Center for the Arts, Mahaffey Theater Yacht Basin, and Albert Whitted Park in St. Pete. This is the largest boat show on the Gulf Coast. Learn about the latest innovations in the industry. Find hundreds of powerboats and sailboats, including family cruisers, runabouts, fishing boats, sailing yachts, personal watercraft, and more. Purchase tickets online. murrayyachtsales.com/event/stpetersburg-boat-show
CHILDREN’S GASPARILLA PARADE
Jan. 21, from 4 - 6:30 pm. The Children’s Gasparilla Parade traditionally hosts krewes, marching bands, dance groups, school performance teams, and community organizations. The parade is free to attend, reserved seating available for purchase. Activities last all day and include a bicycle safety rodeo, two air shows, fireworks and the Preschoolers Stroll. More info at childrens.gasparillapiratefest.com.
TEDESCHI TRUCKS BAND
Jan. 21 - 25 at Ruth Eckerd Hall in Clearwater. GRAMMY® awardwinning 12-piece powerhouse Tedeschi Trucks Band is led by the husband/wife duo of guitarist Derek Trucks and singer/guitarist Susan Tedeschi. With their own potent original songwriting alongside an extensive list of influences, the all-star band owns a reputation for worldclass musical expression bolstered by each album and every performance. Times vary, purchase tickets in advance. rutheckerdhall.com
WORDS Tara Crutchfield PHOTOGRAPH Amy Sexson
Hart Art
The Hart Art story is one of international love, civil rights hard fought and won, shared creativity turned livelihood, and zany catchphrases come to life. Caroline and Laurie Hart, the artists behind Hart Art have carved out a niche of rustic wood paintings with inspirational themes. And it all started with a tiki bar.
Caroline hails from a small West Sussex village. She had a career in the radio industry, including the U.K.’s number-one commercial radio station, London’s Capital Radio. Creativity has been central to Caroline all her life. She loves to write and has trained as an artist, graphic designer, and photographer.
Bostonian Laurie toured New England as a professional hula dancer from the age of 15. She went on to spend 17 years working in the medical field.
The two met online in 2005. Caroline and Laurie sparked a connection over their appreciation of photography, theatre, and music. That spark would be kindled a month later when Caroline flew across the Atlantic to meet Laurie in person. “And that’s where we first met, at an airport in Boston,” Caroline said, smiling.
This meeting nourished their desire to be together. Both women had families to consider – Caroline has two sons, and Laurie has one. They worked out the logistics and flew back and forth internationally every two weeks for 18 months.
In 2004, Massachusetts became the first state to legalize same-sex marriage, and the Harts said ‘I do’ there two years later. The federal government, which oversees international airports, would drag its feet on marriage equality for another 11 years. The binational couple continued to fly between countries to maintain their families until turbulence shook them from the cloud nine of newlywed bliss.
“Every time Caroline came into the country, there was a problem,” Laurie said. Airport authorities would question Caroline as if she were a suspect in some dubious crime. They required her to jump through hoop after hoop as though their marriage wasn’t a valid reason for her trips to the United States. Six years into their marriage, Caroline was told she was spending too much time in the country and that it would be the last time she was allowed entry.
Faced with the options of staying in the U.S. illegally or drumming up support for the injustice attempting to defy their union – the Harts decided on the latter. Laurie was determined to get the word out. “We’re telling our story,” she said.
The Harts explained their plight to anyone who would listen, and their account was featured in everything from the Advocate to Huffington Post and Curve Magazine. They garnered the support of GLAAD, U.S. representatives, and celebrities like Sharon Stone and Debra Messing. The Harts chronicled their experience in the short film “Status Unknown,” shot at Boston Logan International Airport.
The national recognition landed them before the judiciary committee in Washington, D.C. On June 26, 2013, in a landmark case for the LGBTQ community, United States v. Windsor, Section 3 of DOMA (Defence of Marriage Act), was found unconstitutional. The ruling allowed Laurie to sponsor Caroline for her green card the following year. Love won again in 2015 when the U.S. Supreme Court ruled 5-4 in the case of Obergefell v. Hodges to strike down state bans on same-sex marriage. Marriage equality was further enshrined when the Respect for Marriage Act was signed into law on December 13, 2022, affirming federal recognition for same-sex marriages.
This year, the Harts will celebrate their 17th anniversary.
On their website, “theLexperience,” Caroline writes, “Love definitely gave me more to feel inspired about, and my creativity has flourished.” And flourished it has. The Harts co-owned a photography business for 15 years in Massachusetts before moving to Winter Haven in 2019, looking to escape the frigid New England winters. They bought their home that August and registered theLexperience LLC as a business the next month as a joint creative venture and outlet. “We knew how important it was to tell our story. Everyone has a story,” Laurie said.
They accrued advertisers for the site until the pandemic hit in 2020. “We thought, ‘Now what are we going to do?’” Laurie said.
The couple had honeymooned in Hawaii and celebrated their 10th anniversary on its crystalline beaches. Unable to travel with their 15th anniversary on the horizon, the Harts decided to bring Hawaii to them. “We thought we’d build our own Hawaiian oasis in our back [yard],” Caroline said. “We built this tiki bar, the two of us. It was crazy, and it was very funny because we’d never done anything like it before.”
Upon constructing their backyard paradise, Caroline and Laurie embellished it with a painting. “That was always my love, doing art. Every kind of thing you could imagine – detailed pen and ink to oil painting,” Caroline said. Their neighbors loved the image, which inspired the pair to embark on more woodbased painting projects. They sold them to neighbors and friends, who in turn requested commission pieces. Fueled by creativity and encouragement, they ventured to local markets to sell their artwork. Caroline remembers thinking, ‘We could really make something of this.’ She added, “We are incredibly grateful for all the local support for our artwork and even have regulars who frequent the markets searching us out.”
When creating a new piece, the pair conceive the initial idea together. “Being creative was something we’ve always had between us,” Laurie said. She prepares the wood to be painted, including the hand-carved bottom edge. Caroline sketches the image, and the two decide on a color palette. Laurie paints the background, and Caroline goes in for detail. Their rustic pieces depict their surroundings and subjects that inspire them – Circle B, the Sunken Gardens, Florida beaches, mermaids, birds, food, and more.
In 2022, the Harts met “Lord Honey” Chef Jason Smith through a mutual friend. The Kentucky native won season three of “Holiday Baking Championship,” “Holiday Baking Championship: Kids vs. Adults,” and “Next Food Network Star.” The celebrity chef is a judge on “Best Baker in America” and has made appearances on the “Rachael Ray Show,” “Pickler & Ben,” and
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Photo Provided “Home & Family.” During the pandemic, they’d watched him on the Food Network and giggled over his ‘Jasonisms’ like “Butter my butt and call me a biscuit!”
Laurie and Caroline created a painting based around one such ‘Jasonism’ – “Happier than a rooster in socks.” The Hart Art pair presented it to the Food Network darling. “He was absolutely blown away,” Caroline said.
Inspired, the couple made more pieces centered around these whacky Southern sayings. “Because we’re both really creative, when he says something funny, in our heads, we can see it and then make it,” Caroline said.
They talked about their idea to paint his sayings with Smith over lunch – and he loved it! The chef was “happier than two skunks kissing in a corn patch” to work with Hart Art.
“Well, lord honey children, Hart Art artwork is some of the most awesome artwork I’ve seen in years, from the way that they bring the paintings to life, and how they take a one phrase sentence and turn it into a real-life object is just amazing,” Chef Smith said. “With every brush stroke to the ending product, the stories just appear. [...] They just care and take such painstaking time to make all my dreams come true.”
From the first painting the Harts gifted Chef Smith, he said, “I knew right then it was higher powers that had brought us together. For that reason, I knew it was going to be a perfect fit. I had always dreamed of a Lord Honey art line, and it just was a sign it was time to do that, and I had found the right people to bring it to life.”
Hart Art now has a two-year contract for collaboration with Chef Jason Smith. They’ve created a Jasonism-inspired series of one-ofa-kind paintings in their signature style on wood. Each piece comes with a certificate of authenticity. They’ve also added distinctive limited-edition prints.
This month Hart Art will join Chef Jason for the Visit Lauderdale Food & Wine Festival, where he will be doing cooking demonstrations, and they will bring their artwork. Laurie and Caroline Hart have become family to the chef, “I just love them,” he said.
Though their roots spread far and wide from the U.K. to New England, the Harts love Winter Haven. Laurie said, “We know how important it is to get local support. […] The people of Winter Haven and all the surrounding [areas], they’ve been so supportive of us.” The two artists love to take pictures of patrons with their work and hear the stories behind why a piece might speak to someone.
They aim to show the same support for local businesses, especially women-owned, like Stacy’s Printing, where they get all their printing done. Hart Art is open to any local shops, galleries, or businesses that would like to display their artwork. To shop Hart Art, inquire about commissions, or learn more about Caroline and Laurie’s story, visit their website, thelexperience.com.
