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Your Passport To Adventure! |
ART GALLERY NAMED AFTER DAVID McCANN
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| By Dave McCann |
Mobile International Festival is naming an important component of the festival to David McCann Art Gallery. This is to honor David for all his contributions and works in the festival for the past many years when he was the Assistant Manager of the City of Mobile Office of Special Events (now Neighborhood & Community Services) and later as a volunteer after he retired from the city.
The art gallery was his brainchild after he and Estela Dorn have discussed involving the local art community in the festival. It was a perfect match for him as an artist and the festival as an art venue. It is interesting to note the growth of the art gallery from the humble beginnings when the first exhibits were borrowed from personal collections of art from around the world from members. The exhibits included paintings by children around the world that were borrowed from the College of Education University of South Alabama through Dr. Turner Rogers to pre-Columbian jewelry pieces from Colombia in South America to a costume from the Philippines’ Mardi Gras called Ati-Atihan to an armor outfit from Spain. The following year, the quilts from the Azalea Quilters were exhibited. It was quite eclectic but fun for the children to see.
When the festival returned to Mobile Civic Center, the art gallery was assigned half of a room. It was located in a corner in the Mobile Convention Center. This allowed Dave to expand the exhibits by borrowing the works of art from local artists. Suddenly, the art gallery’s format changed. He raised the standards of the MIF gallery to one that makes visitors experience visiting a real art gallery.
Last year, he asked to relinquish the responsibilities as official “curator” of MIF Gallery. He wanted to concentrate more in his art and do more exhibitions. He endorsed John Smith, who assisted him before in the art gallery. John willingly accepted the role. This year, Casey Downing, a well-known sculptor, is joining forces with John in continuing the standards Dave has started to get more local and international artists to exhibit. Exhibitions this year include a display of seven paintings from a Filipino artist, Tito Roy, in Manila. His series is on “Tribal Women” from the Philippines. Tito has exhibited in major art galleries in Manila. He has also exhibited in New York and Guatemala.
MIF board is very happy to
honor their fellow board member. Dave was a big help to MIF. He cared
for the festival. He enjoyed talking and exposing the students to art.
The 2007 festival was the last year that Dave had volunteered in the art
gallery. This year’s brochure introduces the David McCann Art Gallery
in Mobile International Festival.