Norm Gitzen, Betty Wilson and Tracy Rosof-Petersen Display Their Art
Wellington artist Norman Gitzen was one of three featured artists at the July 17 opening of Clay-Glass-Metal-Stone Cooperative Gallery in downtown Lake Worth. The other artists were Betty Wilson and Tracy Rosof-Petersen.
Gitzen is a passionate environmentalist who cannot separate his love of nature and its survival
from the incredible works of art he creates. He is a blacksmith, woodcarver, stonemason and sculptor in clay. Gitzen’s skills intertwine in his work with the need to save the little piece of the planet we share here in Florida, one species at a time. A well-recognized figure throughout the county with his long flowing hair and enormous mythical mermaid hitching rides on its own trailer behind his van, Gitzen brings a sense of earnestness and devotion to every piece he creates.
The gallery is filled with Gitzen’s intricately carved mantle pieces, his remarkably alluring lamps, a combination of metal crafts, glass, walking sticks and whatever other materials you might request of him, and his hearts of wood, metal and stone. Hanging on the wall is a walking catfish modeled after the catfish that walk right out of Gitzen’s ponds at home. This one, a doorknocker, could be recreated as a free standing sculpture or wall hanging. His “Vanishing” series decries the rapid loss of fish, mammals and reptiles throughout the planet. Gitzen co-exists with millions of bees that regularly inhabit his home, and the thought of grass, and its cost to the water tables in the area will evoke a long and thoughtful discussion on returning our properties and priorities to their natural states. As part of Gitzen’s exhibit, a video will be playing that details his passions and his workspace.
“My mission is to stimulate environment and nature conservation by building awareness,” Gitzen said. “I do this with a series of sculptures designed to call attention to each of our personal and collective responsibilities to halt and reverse the demise of species and destruction of our environment. Through their display via Art in Public Places and other public installations, these sculptures will generate interest in and lay the foundation for continued education and action specific to earth’s preservation.”
A wine tasting, courtesy of artist and wine broker Barbara Eden, takes place at every opening.
Clay-Glass-Metal-Stone Cooperative Gallery is sponsored by the Flamingo Clay Studio, a non-profit arts organization whose mission is to provide affordable studio and gallery space for three-dimensional artists. The gallery is located at 605 Lake Avenue in downtown Lake Worth. Hours are 1 to 9 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday. Gallery openings are held the first and third Fridays of each month. For more information, call (561) 588-8344 or visit the gallery’s web site at www.clayglassmetalstone.com.
(This press release was submitted by one of our readers and originally appeared in the Town-Crier newspaper in July, 2009).