LONG BEACH (GG) — Why travel the world and the seven seas? Instead, visit The Gail Keenan Art Center in Long Beach, Miss., and discover the Sweet Dreams Are Made Of This showcase featuring artists Carmen Lugo, Jenny Day, and Ann Madden. The showcase will be on display until February 28th, 2025.
The Coast Episcopal School debuted the showcase on Friday, January 17th, 2025, from 5 to 7 pm. It was a gallery showcase like no other, with cheerful discourse filling the room–the music did not stand a chance– and bustling crowds grinning with their hands filled with wine, charcuterie, and eyes satisfied with a plethora of playful yet dignified artwork.
Speaking to an artist directly was a near-impossible feat, and red dots, signifying an item being sold, multiplied like chicken pox. The event was well thought out and executed.
The effort was evident to attendees: “The food is good, definitely not from Sam’s. I go to a lot of events, and I know storebought,” said viewer Patti Rhian.
While filling the stomach, one can also feast their eyes on the ceramic work of the Santa Fe artist Jenny Day. A mere third of her 40-foot handcrafted whimsical feast is spread in the gallery’s center, alongside her paintings showcasing the persistence of nature in the face of human destruction.
Local artists Ann Madden and Carmen Luga present beautiful mixed-media compositions.
“The eyes, I always meet one. The cutouts, I would have never thought of it. My eyes remain occupied,” expressed Rhian while reviewing one of Madden’s intricate exacto-knifed pieces. Sentimental fragments of Madden’s life can be found throughout her pieces, and she strives to create “something kids would enjoy looking at,” utilizing everyday items in innovative ways.
Moreover, Carmen Luga is inspired by the discarded, taking things that would typically be thrown away and turning them into something beautiful. With the layering of her abstract brush strokes and appealing color schemes, she brings something forgotten anew.
“[The art,] it’s dream-like, bringing you back to childhood play, with unexpected elements put together. It makes you curious, wanting to dive in, and prompts you to use your imagination. I like that because I become a part of the art,” explained viewer Holly Garvin.
The three artists’ products worked together fantastically to execute the showcase’s theme, “Sweet Dreams are Made of This.” Each work was pieced together, using elements from the real world and imagination to create a dream-like whole that captivated the audience.
This attendee only wished the Eurythmics would have been playing.