A new and highly graphic Carrie Disrud character is among the intriguing visuals spicing up the Key West Garden Club's new look for the millennium.
"I use my time at summer art shows to create new images, and I incorporated one I really like into the Garden Club's Plant Sale and Art Show poster," said Disrud, a local artist who owns Kalypso Art Gallery on Whitehead Street. "It was easy to put a potted plant in his hand."
Disrud donated the bold, brightly colored piece of art to the Garden Club's fundraising efforts, which marks an innovative step in the organization's move toward a new look for the 1999-2000 season.
"Lynne Bentley Kemp also donated one of her dramatic black and white photos for use on the cover of this year's Garden Club directory," said Barbara Bowers, the club's advertising and publicity chairwoman. "Carrie's graphically designed poster, and Lynne's high-contrast photo are big departures from the line art of West Martello Tower that was formerly used on our posters and ads."
The change in visuals is intended to heighten the Garden Club's overall visibility, as well as make an impact on the number of visitors to the Nov. 20 and 21 weekend art and plant sale. Disrud will be among the dozens of local artists at the show, where she will sign, number and sell 100 of the posters. The original acrylic painting will be raffled at the show, as well.
Plant vendors from South Florida's native plant displays, a Christmas shop, orchids from members' gardens, unusual bananas and other tropical flora will accent the art made for outdoor exhibition.
"Hand made pottery is a nice compliment to exotic frangipani's or rare palm trees you might want to place around your pool," said Lee Musselman, event chairwoman. "Of course, everything from hand woven baskets for ferns to man-made waterfalls for lily-ponds is among the arts and plants we're featuring."
Food and soft drinks round out the Garden Club's plant and art sale, and makes the event on Atlantic Boulevard, near the White Street Pier a picnic of sorts from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. both days. Call 294-3210.