Florida Artists Group

Artist Statement:

Since childhood, I have always loved to draw and paint. Through taking art lessons and art schooling with strong art programs, my parents always encouraged my work.  The wax resist painting process combined with, mixed media is the major part of my enjoyment in creating my art. Using the ancient processes of Batik, Rozome, or ESncaustic, I create my paintings on fabric, wood, or paper. I like using these methods because of the "happy accidents" that occur during the creation process. My love of color, history, and travel, are my sources of inspiration.
My “American Native” series utilizes patterns and colors of Florida's Seminole and Miccosukee Indians that has led me to create paintings derived from historical photographs as well as my own personal experiences.
My “Agua Series” features my personal experiences from an underwater viewpoint
One of my future goals is to use my recent Marco Island Historical Museum show featuring the Seminole Indians, as a springboard for a new body of work that will be featuring paintings derived from Julian Dimock photos housed at the American Museum of Natural History. I would then create a traveling exhibition to send to museums nationwide.

Muffy's Bio:

Muffy Clark Gill, (b.1955, in Ridgewood, N.J.), is an award-winning artist whose batik paintings have been widely exhibited throughout Florida. She has had twenty solo exhibitions of her work, exhibited in prestigious venues such as the:  
Marco Island Historical Museum
Wirtz Gallery, First National Bank of South Miami
Art Lab, Florida Gulf Coast University
Falciglia Gallery, International College
Conservancy of Southwest Florida

With a career spanning more than twenty years, Muffy Clark Gill's work has been included in 70 regional, state and national juried and invitational exhibitions and festivals throughout the state.   She has received a total of 48+ awards including Best in Show, Merit and Purchase Awards for her work by internationally renowned professionals in the contemporary art field such as Diane Cambier, Bonnie Clearwater, Elaine Gustafson, Donald Kuspit, Ned Rifkin, Faith Ringgold, and Daniel Stetson, and Michelle Tuegel. In 1997, Muffy Clark Gill received national recognition in having her work selected for the Top 100, National Arts for the Parks competition, a national traveling exhibition.

In 2001, Muffy Clark Gill was featured in the book "Batik for Artists and Quilters", by Eloise Piper, Hand Books Press. Art writers and critics have written extensively about Muffy Clark Gill in articles for publications such as Naples Daily News, Gulfshore Life Magazine, The Journal of Surface Design Association, Fort Myers News Press, Bonita Living Magazine, and WGCU Public Media "Expressions" Magazine.

Muffy Clark Gill received her BFA, Graphic Design, Boston University College of Fine Arts, Boston, MA in 1977 and furthered her independent studies at the DeCordova Museum School, Lincoln, MA. She maintains her residence and studio in Naples, Florida.

Education:

1982-1977            Independent Study, DeCordova Museum School, Lincoln, MA
1977                      BFA, Graphic Design, Boston University College of Fine Arts, Boston, MA

 

Exhibitions, Juried And Invitational:

 2013   Silk Painters International “Southern Nature”,LeMoyne Center for the Arts, Tallahassee
             BIG Arts Annual Fine Craft Juried Show. BIG Arts Phillips Gallery, Sanibel Island,
             Juror: Anica Sturdivant, Director, Art Gallery, Florida Gulf Coast University: second prize
             Female Voices, Tampa Bay Surface Design Guild, Clearwater,
             Juror: Michelle Tuegel, Adjunct Professor-Hillsborough Community College,
             Founding Executive Director of Florida Craftsmen: Second Prize     
2012     2012 Painting Annual, Rookery Bay Reserve National Estuarine Research Center,
             Naples; Juror: Dana Robes, Associate Professor of Art, Edison State College;
             Best of Show Award
             22nd Annual All Florida Juried Art Show, The Arts Council of Martin County, Stuart;
             Juror, Ada Balácer Professor of Art, University of Santo Domingo
            26th Annual All Florida Juried Exhibition, Alliance for the Arts,Ft. Myers;
            Juror: David Fithian, Exhibition Coordinator, Museum of Florida Art, Deland.
            A Community of Artists, 2nd Annual Invitational Exhibition, Florida Gulf Coast
            University Gallery, Ft. Myers.                
            A Touch of Red, Art Council of Southwest Florida  juried show, BIG Arts, Sanibel;
            Juror Charles Miano, Southern Atelier, Sarasota, Florida
            Eighth Biennial National Art Exhibition, Charlotte Visual Arts CenterPunta Gorda; Juror Dean                        Mitchell, AWS, NWS; Executive Director’s Award
            Photography Annual, Rookery Bay Environmental Learning Center, Naples; Juror Clyde
            Butcher, Florida Hall of Fame Artist        
2011   49th Founders, The von Liebig Art Center, Naples; Juror Diane Camber, Director Emeritus, Bass             Museum of Art. Miami.
            21st Annual All Florida Juried Art Show, The Arts Council of Martin County, Stuart; Juror Jill                         Cannady, Florida artist,
            2nd Annual Juried Exhibition , Florida Museum of Women Artists, Deland;
            Jurors: Cynthia Hollis, Executive Director, 621 Gallery, Tallahasse; Letty Miller,Curator of Education,             Polk Museum of Art, Lakeland; Wendy R. Wolf, Professional Museum Educator.
            A Community of Artists, Invitational, Florida Gulf Coast University Gallery, Ft. Myers,                 
            Camera USA, The von Liebig Art Center, Naples; Juror Harry Benson, Canon USA spokesperson and             nationally recognized professional photographer
           Photography Annual, Rookery Bay ELC, Naples; Juror Clyde Butcher
2010  National Art Encounter, The von Liebig Art Center, Naples; Juror Denise Gerson, Associate Director,             Lowe Art Museum, Miami
            Photography Annual, Rookery Bay Environmental Learning Center, Naples; Juror Clyde Butcher,             Florida Hall of Fame Artist
            7th Annual Biennial National Art Exhibition, Charlotte Visual Arts Center,Punta Gorda; Juror Peter             Trippi, Editor, Fine Art Connoisseur Magazine
2009   48th Founders, The Von Liebig Art Center, Naples; Juror Daniel Stetson, Director, Polk Museum             of Art, Lakeland
            Photography Annual, Rookery Bay ELC, Naples; Juror Clyde Butcher
2008   47th Founders, The Von Liebig Art Center, Naples; Juror Ned Rifkin, Former Associate Director,             Smithsonian Museum, Washington, D.C.
           Art in Flight, organized by the Alliance for the Arts and SWFL International Airport Authority.            Southwest Florida International Airport, Ft. Myers
           Photography Annual, Rookery Bay ELC, Naples; Juror Clyde Butcher
           Where The Wilds Things Are Florida, Florida Gulf Coast University Art Gallery, Ft. Myers; Juror Scott            Snyder, director, FGCU Art Gallery
           Third on Canvas Painting Invitational, Naples
           Sixth Annual Biennial National, Charlotte Visual Arts CenterPunta Gorda; Juror Joseph Fettingis,            artist, AWS
            United Arts Council Annual Photography Exhibiton, Juror Clyde Butcher
2007   2D-3D All Florida, Alliance for the Arts, Ft. Myers
           Art Encounter All Florida, The von Liebig Art Center, Naples; Juror Frank Holt, Director Mennello            Museum, Orlando
           Southwest Florida Craft Guild 22nd Exhibit of Excellence. BIG Arts Phillips Gallery, Sanibel Island;            Juror Scott Snyder, Director, Art Gallery, Florida Gulf Coast University
           WaterCraft. Florida Craftsmen Juried Exhibition, The Pier, St. Petersburg
           Reflections of Old South Florida, Bonnet House Museum & Gardens, Ft. Lauderdale             
           Works on Paper, Rookery Bay ELC, Naples; Juror Dr. Morgan Paine, Art Professor, Florida Gulf Coast            University, Fort Myers
           Two for the Show: Muffy Clark Gill and Che-ke-ka, Journeyman Gallery, Naples
           Photography Annual, Rookery Bay ELC; Juror Connie Bransilver
2006  45th Founders, The von Liebig Art Center, Naples; Juror Faith Ringgold
           CraftArt 2006, The Coliseum, St. Petersburg; Juror Jean McLaughlin, Director, Penland School of            Crafts, North Carolina
           14th All Florida, Arts Center St. Petersburg; Juror Donald Kuspit, Professor, Art History, State                       University of New York, Stony Brook 
            All Florida Juried 2D 3D, Alliance for the Arts, Ft. Myers, Juror Shelly Liles McBurney,      President            Gallery One, Nashville, TN 
           Florida Biennial III, DeLand Museum of Art, DeLand; Juror Robert Sindelir, Director Emeritus,
           Kendall Art Gallery, Miami-Dade Community College, Miami
            Southwest Florida Craft Guild 21st Exhibit of Excellence, BIG Arts, Sanibel Island
           Reflections of Old South Florida, Bonnet House Museum and Gardens, Ft. Lauderdale; Juror Melvin            Lippman, Executive Director, Fort LauderdaleMuseum of Art
           Friends of the Naples Museum of Art Artist Studio Tour, Naples
           SWFL Craft Guild Annual, Art Studio, Cape Coral
2005  Southwest Florida Craft Guild 20th Exhibit of Excellence, BIG Arts,            Sanibel Island
            Reflections of Old South Florida, Bonnet House Museum & Gardens, Ft. Lauderdale
            SWFL Craft Guild Annual, Art Studio, Cape Coral
           44th Founder, The von Liebig Art Center, Naples; Juror Robert Gelinas, former art professor,                       University of South Florida, Tampa
2004  Reflections of Old South Florida, Bonnet House Museum & Gardens, Ft. Lauderdale
            November Faculty Exhibit, BIG Arts, Sanibel Island
            SWFL Craft Guild 19th Exhibit of Excellence, BIG Arts, Juror Joan-Lemon Luster
            SWFL Craft Guild Annual, Art Studio, Cape Coral
2003  Florida Biennial, 2003 DeLand Museum of Art, DeLand; Juror Paul Wenzel
            Group Invitational, 2003, The von Liebig Art Center, Naples; Juror Barbara Hill, Director
            SWFL Craft Guild Exhibit of Excellence, BIG Arts, Sanibel Island
            SWFL Craft Guild Annual, Art Studio, Cape Coral; Juror Carolyn Gora,
2002  NAA Annual Founders, The von Liebig Art Center, Naples; Juror Elaine            
            Gustafson, Curator, Contemporary Art, Tampa Museum of Art, Tampa
            SWFL Craft Guild Exhibit of Excellence, Sanibel Island
            Art Encounter All Florida, The von Liebig Art Center, Naples,                        
            Juror, Bonnie Clearwater, Director, Museum of Contemporary Art, Miami
2001   42nd Founders Juried Exhibition, The von Liebig Art Center, Naples            
            Juror, Jennifer Hardin, Curator, Art Museum of St. Petersburg
2000  Art Encounter, The von Liebig Art Center, Naples; Juror Kevin Dean, Director,            
            Curator, Selby Gallery, Ringling School of Art, Sarasota
1998   Art Encounter, Naples Art Association; Juror Carole Barnes 
1997    Art Encounter, Naples Art Association
            Venice Art Association Biennial, Venice; Juror Nina Fritz
1996    Women’s Caucus for Art, Sarasota and Miami Chapters, “West Meets East”
             Juror Chris Hassold, Miami, Florida. 
1995   Winner’s Circle, Art Council of Southwest Florida, B.B. Mann Performing Arts            
            Hall, Juror Jay Williams, Gallery Curator, Edison College, Fort Myers
            Art League of Marco Island, Marco Island
1994   Art League of Marco Island, Marco Island
            SWFL Craft Guild Exhibit of Excellence Juror Peter Brown, Sanibel Island
1993   Art Encounter, Naples Art Association, Juror Gerald Brome

 

Awards - Florida Exhibitions and Festivals:

2012    Best of Show Award, 2012 Painting Annual, Rookery Bay Reserve National
            Estuarine Research Center, Naples
            Executive Director’s Award, Eighth Biennial National Art Exhibition, Charlotte Visual Arts                         CenterPunta Gorda
2010   Merit Award, Annual SWFL Craft Guild All Member Exhibition, Art League of Bonita
            Springs, Bonita Springs
2010   Merit Award, 25th Annual SWFL Craft Guild Exhibit of Excellence, Big Arts, Sanibel
2009   Congress Jewelers Award, SWFL Craft Guild Exhibit of Excellence, Big Arts, Sanibel 2008  
            Merit Award, Annual SWFL Craft Guild Exhibition,  Art Studio, Cape Coral
2007  Second Place, 22nd Annual SWFL Craft Guild Exhibition of Excellence, BIG Arts Gallery, Sanibel
2006  Award of Excellence, CraftArt 2006, St. Petersburg
            Honorable Mention 2D, Heathrow Festival of the Arts, Lake Mary
            Second Place 2D, Saturday and Sunday in the Park with Art, Miami
            Honorable Mention, 14th Annual All Florida Juried Show, The Arts Center, St. Petersburg
            Second Place, 21st Annual SWFL Craft Guild Exhibition of Excellence, BIG Arts Gallery, Sanibel 
            Second Place, Impressions of Old South Florida, Bonnet House Museum & Gardens, Fort Lauderdale 
            First Place, Annual SWFL Craft Guild Exhibition, Art Studio, Cape Coral  
             Award of Excellence-Mixed Media, Beaux Arts 55th Annual Festival of Art, Miami
2005  Patron Purchase, Polk Museum of Art Mayfaire-by-the-Lake, Lakeland
            Honorable Mention, Pigeon Key Art Festival, Marathon
            Award of Merit, 20th Annual SWFL Craft Guild Exhibition of Excellence, Sanibel
            Honorable Mention, Reflections of Old South Florida, Bonnet House Museum & Gardens,
            Fort Lauderdale
2004   Congress Jewelers Award, SWFL Craft Guild Exhibit of Excellence, Sanibel Island 
            First Prize SWFL Craft Guild Annual Show, Cape Coral  
2003    First Prize, Fiber, BIG Arts Art Fair 2003, Sanibel Island 
            First Prize, SWFL Craft Guild Exhibit of Excellence, Sanibel Island
             First Prize, SWFL Craft Guild Annual Show, Cape Coral 
            Award of Merit, Art League of Marco Island Fine Craft Show, Marco Island
2002   Award of Merit, Art League of Marco Island Fine Craft Show, Marco Island
2001   Second Prize/Creative Craft, Sanibel-Captiva Rotary Club Show, Sanibel  
            First Prize/Creative Craft, Pigeon Key Art Festival, Marathon 
            Merit Award, Art Encounter, The von Liebig Art Center, Naples
2000   Best in Show/First Place, SWFL Craft Guild Annual Exhibition, Sanibel 
            Merit Award, Art Encounter, The von Liebig Art Center, Naples
            Honorable Mention, SWFL Craft Guild Annual Open Exhibition, Naples
1999    Best in Show, Naples Artcrafters Annual Exhibition, Naples; 
             “Honorable Mention Craft Art ‘99” Art League of Marco Island, Marco Island 
            First Place, Naples Invitational   Art Fest, Naples;
            Honorable Mention SWFL Craft Guild Open Exhibition, Naples 
1998    Honorable Mention Naples Invitational Art Fest, Naples
1996     Special Judges Award NAA Members Juried Show, Naples,
            Congress Jewelers Award SWFL Craft Guild Exhibit of Excellence, Big Arts, Sanibel 1995            Major             Award, Art Council of SW Florida Winner’s Circle Show, Fort Myers           
1994   Special Recognition Award, Naples Artcrafters Annual Awards Show, Naples            
            Best In Show, Art, SWFL Craft Guild New Directions Show, Cape Coral            
1993   Best of Show, 11th Annual Juried Craft Show, Art League of Marco Island, Marco            
            Purchase Award, First Prize, Aqua media; Art Encounter,Naples Art Association, Naples
            Second Prize, Scenes of Naples, Bank of Naples, Naples 
1990    Purchase Award, Art Encounter, Naples Art Association, Naples 

 

National Recognition Award:

1997    Top 100, National Arts for the Parks Competition, a national traveling exhibition;
            Juror John  Serrey-Lester, Jackson Hole, Wyoming

Southwest Florida Solor Exhibitions:

2012  The 20th Century Seminole Experience: Paintings from the Florida Indian Tribes
            Series 2012-2005, Marco Island Historical Museum, Marco Island
2011   Native & Natural: Seminoles & Tropical Landscapes, Artworks by Muffy Clark Gill & Ronald Shelley,             Wirtz Gallery, First National Bank of South Miami, South Miami
2010   Dyeing Arts: Batiks and Silks Works by Muffy Clark Gill and Nuch Owen, ArtLab,            
            Florida Gulf Coast University, Ft Myers
2009   Marco Island Executive Airport, Marco Island
2009   Collier County Public Library West Wing Gallery, Naples
2009   North Collier Exhibition Hall, Naples
2008   FGCU Renaissance Academy, Naples Center, Naples
2005   Collier County Public Library West Wing Gallery, Naples
            International College, Falciglia Gallery, Naples
2002   Republic Bank, Naples
            The Conservancy of Southwest Florida, Naples
2001   City Hall, Naples
2000   Collier County Public Library West Wing Gallery, Naples
            Museum of the Everglades, Everglades City
1999   Collier County Public Library West Wing Gallery, Naples
            Museum of the Everglades, Everglades City
            Gallery on 5th, Naples
1997    Collier County Public Library West Wing Gallery, Naples
1993    Naples Beach Hotel and Golf Club, Naples
1992    Naples Beach Hotel and Golf Club, Naples

 

Featured Florida Artist:

1998-99             City Jazz Music Festival, Naples
1997                    Festival of Color, Street Painting Festival, Naples
1994                   Via Colori Street Painting Festival, Naples
1993                    Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden Ramble ‘93, Miami

 

Bibliography:

2012 “Southwest Florida Artist Muffy Clark Gill” Life in Naples,Feb. 2012. pp 88-89
2011  “Handcrafted for the Holidays”, Paine, Janice; Naples Daily News, December 8, pp C1-2.
           “Shadows, light on display at von Liebig”, Downey, Lindsay,
           Coastal Life Magazine, August 19,pp 34-35
           “Artists Among Us” Naples Florida Weekly, April 7-13,p C13
2010  “Community Focus” Naples Sun Times, Sept. 15-28, pp 8-9
2010  “My Work”, Heithaus, Harriet Howard; Naples Daily News, Feb. 24
2010   “Coloring Our World”, Madden, Kelly, Bonita Living, May/June 2010, p. 12
2009  “At Home”, Heithaus, Harriet Howard; Naples Daily News, April 18, pp1-3G 2009             
           “North Naples Exhibit Hall Features Local Batik Artist”, Collier Citizen, Feb. 11 2008                         “Gulfshore Insider” Gulfshore Life Magazine, Oct. p 21
2007 “Wax Americana Batik in the USA”, Hubbell, Leesa, Surface Design, The Journal of the Surface Design            Association, Fall issue, pp 18-21
2006 “Tortola Diary”, Gill, Muffy Clark, Coastal Elegance & Wealth Magazine, July, pp 44-49
2005  “Best Bets”, Naples Daily News Showcase, August 12, p 3
            Feature Article, Witmer, P.J.,  Ft. Myers News-Press, August 4   
            “SWFL Craft Guild”, Walker, Lee; Bonita Living Magazine, March pp 20-21
            “Batik Artist Muffy Clark Gill”, Fleming, Amy, WGCU Public Media “Expressions”  
           Magazine, February, pp 20-22
2004   “Nspired”, N magazine, December, p 176
            “Local Artist Breathes New Life into Ancient Art Form” Tefts, Regina Newton,           
            Naples Sun Times, August 25, pp 15-17
2003   “Batik-Rhymes with Unique”, Samuels, J. G., Times of the Islands, Nov-Dec, pp 20-21
            “The King of Fruit Tours, South Florida Festivals in July”, Page, Mollie, The            
            Naples Journal,July, pp 6-7
             “Featured Artist”, WGCU Public Television, “Expressions Magazine“, Program            
            Segment, produced April 4
2002   “A Very Trini Christmas”. Gill, Muffy Clark, Naples Daily News, Dec. 22, pp 1e and 7e
            “Muffy’s Rainbows: A Local Artist Keeps Batik Alive and Well”, Kingsley, Claire M. 
            Ntown. April 2002, p. 19
2001   “Best Bets”, Naples Daily News Showcase, Dec. 28, p.3
            “Batik For Artists and Quilters”, Piper, Eloise, Hand Books Press, pp.36, 104, 116, 141
            “Wish You Were Here”, Yates, Tiffany, Naples Daily News Ambience, December, p. 24
            “Best Bets”, Naples Daily News Showcase. May 18, p. 3
            “Gallery Listing”, N Magazine., February, p. 54
2000   “Best Bets”, Naples Daily News Showcase, December 22, p 3
            “Good for You” Naples Daily News, August 25, p.2
1999    N page, N magazine, December, p.12
            Cover Stories, Sanibel-Captiva Shopper’s Guide.  November 11-17, p 43
            Calendar of Events, Naples Daily News Showcase, September 3, p 23            
            Art Festival, Fort Myers News-Press, Bonita Edition, March 18
1998   “Art”, Naples Daily News Showcase, March 20, p 43
           “The Working Artist: An Artist’s Cost-efficient Solution to Marketing and Selling Reproductions of            her Work”, Antolik, Christine, Watercolor Magic Magazine, Spring, p18-21
1997   In Brief, Gulfshore Life Magazine. December, p.18
            “Art”, Naples Daily News Showcase, August 15, p.17
            Cover Art, Naples Guide Magazine, February 1997, pp.1-3.
            Southwest Florida’s Cultural Climate, Gulfshore Life Magazine, February, p 67
            “Festival Features Unusual Talent” Fort Myers News-Press Bonita Edition, February 14 
            Art, Naples Daily News Showcase. February 14, pp. 1, 23
1996   “The Patches of a Culture”, Naples Daily News Showcase, July 12, pp.14, 15
            “Artcrafters: Local Arts Organization Begins its 30th Season”, Naples Daily News            
            Showcase. Nov. 1, pp 17
1995    “The Artful Egg”, Franke Folstad, Kim, Naples Daily News, April 16, pp 1g and 3g 
            Gulfshore Life Magazine.  March, pp. 82-83
            Community Service. Scripps Howard News.  Jan/Feb issue, 1995. p12
1994   “Fifteenth Naples National Art Festival”, Naples Daily News, Feb. 17, p. 14f
1993    “Batik”, High, Carol Kearney, Naples Daily News Ambience, April, pp 6-7
1992    Cover Art, Naples Guide Magazine.  February, pp. 1,7
1989    “Garage Sales Yield Unique Finds”, Ginsberg, Maxine, Naples Daily News, Apr 15, p. 17E

 

Florida Public Collections:

Florida Gulf Coast University, Fort Myers, Florida Art in State Buildings Program
Golisano Childrens Museum of Naples, Naples, Florida
Volusia County Courthouse, Deland, Florida, Art in State Buildings Program
Fairchild Tropical Gardens, Miami
Collier County Museum, Naples
Museum of the Everglades, Everglades City
The Conservancy of Southwest Florida, Naples
Manatee Elementary School, Collier County

Florida Corporate Collections:

Whole Foods Market, Naples, Florida
Lely Development Corporation, Naples
Northern Trust Bank, Naples
Philharmonic Center for the Arts, Naples
Shelter for Abused Women and Children, Naples
Naples Daily News, Gators Galore, Fiberglass Alligator Benefit Project, Naples

Selected Private Collectors:

Mr. & Mrs Paul Burns
Mr. & Mrs. Anthony Barre
Barbara Cain
Thomas Campbell
Ed Chapell Photography
Paula & Joseph Cleland
Mr. & Mrs. William DwightAnn Eastman, PHD.
Mr. & Mrs. Alan Harris
Robert Herrmann & Associates
J. Robert Houghtaling
Mr. & Mrs. George Lange
Dawn Litchfield-Brown
Judy Lutz
Mr. & Mrs. Alfred Nelson
Mr. & Mrs. Mark Pettey
Mr. & Mrs. Alan Ryker
Barbara Scott
Margaret Segur
Mr. & Mrs. Raymond Stahl
Lisa Teufel
Michael Volpe
Catherine Ware