ArtJones Leader Brenda McMahon Announces Grand Opening Of Gallery

GULFPORT, FL -- Renowned ceramicist Brenda McMahon announced today the grand opening of Brenda McMahon Gallery on May 3, taking place as part of the First Friday Art Walk in downtown Gulfport.

The gallery features nine area artists, including Brenda’s award-winning saggar-fired vessels and wall sculptures, hand-blown glass by Doug Merritt, fiber portraits by Dawn Waters, pastels by Nancy Poucher, jewelry, furniture and more.

“I have been selling my work at national juried art shows for more than two decades and I’m so excited to plant roots in my hometown of Gulfport,” said McMahon “This is a great way to highlight my custom ceramic work and celebrate the breadth of talent right in our own backyard.”

Brenda McMahon Gallery will be the first of its kind in Gulfport, bringing numerous mediums from local artists under one roof to create a unique experiential visit for guests. Visiting artists and jewelers will be featured on a rotating basis with their work available for purchase.

“This is evidence of the Gulfport arts community growing in exciting ways,” said Barbara Banno, president of the Gulfport Merchants Chamber. “I’m thrilled — and I know I can speak for the rest of the Gulfport Merchants Chamber board of directors in saying they are, too — to welcome our first curated gallery in years to Gulfport’s waterfront district.’

“Gulfport’s visual arts community is huge, and it is often represented by artists working in their private spaces, so it is seldom seen,” McMahon said. “The ArtJones annual studio tour reveals all the gems hidden away in these alley art spaces once a year and Brenda McMahon Gallery will highlight the visual arts all year round.”

McMahon's work has been featured at art shows around the country and she continues to teach workshops nationally and internationally. Her vessels and wall sculptures have been awarded prizes at dozens of shows and she creates unique and one-of-a-kind pieces on a commission basis.

James Briggs, owner of Creative Arts Firm Carroway + Rose, said of the opening, “We at Carroway + Rose are fortunate to call Brenda both a client and a friend. To have witnessed firsthand the amount of time, effort, skill and genuine love Brenda has put into the gallery is incredibly moving. We know she’ll have great success in creating a space for art lovers and novices alike to stop by, be refreshed by the work of her hands with raw clay and be able to witness the artist in her environment – creating her beautiful vessels and tile art while folks visit. It’s a sign of the true strength and openness of the arts community in Gulfport and the Tampa region to be able to accomplish what she’s doing with the gallery.”

“Brenda is taking a vital step in placing her faith in the Gulfport community and people visiting Gulfport that they’ll support the art and artists in her gallery, and we at the GMC know this is an encouraging sign for Gulfport’s economy and a step toward reclaiming our reputation as a mecca for art and artists in the Tampa Bay region,” added Banno.

The gallery is located at 2901 Beach Blvd. S., #104 in downtown Gulfport and can be found online and on social media outlets @BrendaMcMahonGallery.

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