Kim Pilla

Tequesta resident Kim Pilla, who has taught in Palm Beach and Martin counties for 14 years, is currently an art educator at HOPE Centennial Elementary School. She works in various art media, but has an obsession for photography that started in a little makeshift darkroom as a 7th grader at Jupiter Middle School.

The subject she chose for this exhibit, the 7th-century Gothic Whitby Abbey, is located on the northeast coast of North Yorkshire on the North Sea.

'Whitby Abbey 1,' by Kim Pilla. 20 by 20 inches, photography, $225.

As she walked around it, she was moved by the energy she felt there. She had cameras with her, but she especially loved the effects she produced with an iPhone app. Black and white photography is her first love, and she hoped to capture the details and light of the abbey at sunset.

Brian Kovachik

Brian Kovachik of Juno Beach uses the words “usefulness, interaction, sharing, involvement and history” when he speaks about his work, which is made on the potter’s wheel in various stoneware clay bodies exposed to wood firing processes.

“The emergence of earth tones in colored glazes and slips address visually a relationship between the vessels and the origin of the material,” he said. “There is an immense connection with the past, present and future that I find very gratifying.”

Wood-fired ceramic sake set by Brian Kovachik, $150.

From ancient eastern methods of wood firing to modern day wood firing, this process connects a community of potters with the past, he said. Though formed and manipulated to serve a purpose, he strives to create artistic pieces that create connection and also give their users pleasure. “My works are intended to be used in common everyday rituals such as eating meals, socializing, and aesthetic enjoyment.  I receive gratification from taking form, function, and comfort into consideration as I create works that will connect the user and myself for many years.”

Bonnie Bruner

Bonnie D. Bruner of Palm Springs said her interest in photographic art began with her mentor, Jerry Uelsmann. “It was his experimental style of photography that encouraged me to take the image a step further.

“My artistic challenge is to capture what I see with my camera and transform that photo into my own original work of art. I am always thinking composition, color and shape, as I observe the world through my lens.”

'New Orleans Door' by Bonnie Bruner, photograph, 27 by 21 inches, $350.

Gallery Hours are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Thursday.  For information, call  (561) 207-5015. The Art Gallery at Eissey Campus is at Palm Beach State College, 3160 PGA Boulevard, Palm Beach Gardens. The Art Gallery is located in the BB building.

The Artists Association of Jupiter and Unique Glass Art hosts a monthly open house, “A Blast of Color,”  to raise awareness and funds for not-for-profit organizations. The May event, featuring artists Raymonde Talleyrand, who paints in acrylics on canvas, and digital photographer Lynne Bernay-Roman, will be on Wednesday, May 8, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m,  at A Unique Art Gallery. Proceeds from the sale of art work created by the artists of the AAOJ, will benefit the Haitian Organization for Health Services, a not for profit organization. The exhibit will be on display during May.

Talleyrand

Talleyrand said she believed that she was born an artist because of her interest in designs and color from an early age. “My hope is to be a messenger of beauty to the viewer. This is my motivation. I value beauty in nature, photographs and people. I like interesting shades of light and shadows, expressing them on canvas gives me joy.”

The work featured here  is mixed media with acrylic paint, collage and markers. “I wanted to represent the beautiful colors of the marine flora,” she said. The tissue paper  that she used made her expression of colors almost two dimensional, while the markers worked well to define the treasures. “It was a lot of fun expressing my idea,” she said.

Talleyrand was born in Haiti and now lives in West Palm Beach.

'Sea Treasures' by Raymond Talleyrand, 20 by 24 inches, $450.

Bernay-Roman

“While my roots are in oil painting, I am a contemporary artist,” West Palm Beach resident Bernay-Roman said.

“Along the way, I added photography, became a psychotherapist, evolved into a photo-therapist. “Now, I am deep into my recent discovery, digital painting; a discovery that has allowed me to combine many of the different mediums that I love.

“The present plight of the bee saddens my heart,” she said, about the piece shown here. “I wanted to express the richness and importance of their presence on earth and their very important purpose, so that it may evoke awareness and action on our parts to make sure they thrive.”

'Plight of the Bee' by Lynn Bernay-Roman. Unframed, the size is 12 by 18 inches, and the cost, framed, is $350.

A Unique Art Gallery is located at 226 Center Street Suite 8, Jupiter. For information, call 561-529-2748 or email the gallery at auniqueartgallery@comcast.net.

The Haitian Organization for Health Services is a nonprofit benevolent corporation and 501c (3), which was founded in 1993 by health care workers who were concerned about the deterioration of the healthcare system in Haiti. Its mission is to provide comprehensive services that will promote and preserve the health of the people in Haiti.

The Artists Association of Jupiter is a collaboration of artists who work together to promote the awareness of art and education to the community and surrounding counties. Its venue, A Unique Art Gallery, opened its doors in June of 2010. Learn more about the organization, its artists and programs on the Association’s website, www.artistsassociationofjupiter.com

Unique Glass Art has been serving Florida’s Palm Beach and Martin Counties since 1986 specializing in custom glass etching and carvings for residential, commercial and yachts. For information, visit www.uniqueglassart.com

Originally from South Korea, he began painting at an early age, learning to work with watercolors and create pencil drawings at a local art institute. He majored in fine art, graduating from Hansung University with a top award.

"Love Confessions," Oil, 22 by 28 inches, $1,200

“I came to America in 2000 to study English,” he said. “I met my current roommate and my first painting here was a watercolor of his saltwater reef aquarium. His sister proudly displays this piece at her home in Sunset Bay, New York. After that, I started to paint realism.

"Cherries and Berries," Watercolor, 24 by18 inches, $500

“Because of this early experience, I became inspired by the beauty of the nature in Florida. I always go for more accuracy in my painting. It was actually kind of amazing to see my artwork look like the real thing. I call it magic.”

Currently, he is working on commissioned paintings, and recently finished a 13-by-11 foot koi pond in concrete stain on his client’s living-room floor. For him, this was a new and challenging experience, but he is happy with the results.

Han Young working on his koi pond commission

Close up of koi pond

Young is a member of the Artists of Palm Beach County and Poets of Palm Beaches and he has worked as an instructor at A Unique Art Gallery in Jupiter. “I have had many learning experiences, which have brought me joy,” he said. “I am easily inspired by other artists and I love to inspire others in return.”

Young composed this poem on his koi pond.

Where there are koi,
there are water lily flowers and lily pads
Where there are water lily flowers and lily pads,
there are frogs, butterflies and dragonflies
The pond is breathing its happiness and
the full circle of love

Art on Park is located at 800 Park Avenue, Lake Park. Hours are noon to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday. For information, call 561-345-2842.

Linh Pham

West Palm Beach artist Linh Pham likes to think her  art is based  around patience and elegance. “My main objective is to make art that is soft on the eyes but at the same time I want the viewer to realize my complete attention to detail,” she said.

“Putting a lot of time and effort into one single object to make it grand just makes me that much more satisfied for I think other people also appreciate it.”

"Lolita Cinderella," ceramic, acrylic, white nail polish, 5 by 5 by 7 inches, by Linh Pham, $480.

Jose Casado

Greenacres resident Jose Casado draws inspiration from life. “Self-experiences, heard stories, dreams and wishful thinking all combine and mark me,” he said.

“I react to these impressions and see them reflected in my artwork. Sometimes I feel what I need to express and research ways to achieve the representation of that feeling or idea. The process often brings chaos and consumes me for weeks at a time.” As ideas begin to “sprout,” he works on an image or two. As the process gains momentum, he is bombarded by  several images, which he is challenged to bring to life.

"Sprouts," digital photograph 13 by 19 inches, by Jose Casado, $100

Alysha Wilcox

West Palm Beach resident Alysha Wilcox’s artistic style constantly evolves. “I work with ideas, and as I’m working I usually generate at least ten more. My artwork usually reflects life and the beauty found in it,” she said.

Although ceramics has been her main medium, she has become interested in many media. “My goal as an artist is to make art that people from all walks of life can appreciate. I love it when someone who is not interested in the arts at all has to stop and say ‘wow.’”

"Grey Scale Tiger," acrylic paint 14 by 17 inches, by Alysha Wilcox, $150

The opening reception is on Tuesday, April 9  from 5:30 to 8 p.m. Gallery Hours are Monday, Wednesday, Thursday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.,  and Tuesday 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Friday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

For information call, (561) 207-5015. The Art Gallery at Eissey Campus is at Palm Beach State College, 3160 PGA Boulevard, Palm Beach Gardens. The Art Gallery is located in the BB building.

Artists participating are Harry Benson, JoAnne Berkow, Geoffrey Bradfield, Carlos Castellanos,  Nancy Ellison, Stephen Gibson, Bruce Helander, John Loring, John Mercurio and Andrew Kato,  Edwina Sandys, Barry Seidman, Jeffery W. Smith and Sandra Thompson.

Barry Seidman

Photographer Barry Seidman will present photographs from his series Handscapes. His book titled New Eyes, a “photobiography,” is a compilation of his many fine-art photographic series in a signed and numbered, limited edition. Included with each book is a signed original giclee print.

“‘To know it as well as the back of your hand.’ With Handscapes, it is the intimate self-exploration of my left hand as an abstraction, created by the curves and shapes that have always been there, but not really discovered until this moment,” Seidman said.

Seidman: Handscape, #266, Artist’s Proof #1. Archival Lambda print mounted under Plexiglas, 31 by 44 inches. Signed and dated on verso

JoAnne Berkow

Painter and sculptor JoAnne Berkow will show pieces from her ‘Cloud Series,’ which takes a subject that is already abstract and breaks the composition down into individual modules. Berkow is the author of three books, Shades of Love; What They Didn’t Teach You In Art School, and Painted Poetry.

“Considering how realistic my paintings appear, it may surprise the viewer to learn that I tend to think of my work as a stringing together of abstractions,” Berkow said.

Berkow: Sunrise One, oil painting, 8 feet by 15.5 feet, consisting of 20 15-by-30-inch canvases

Composer, Lyricist, Writer John Mercurio

Andrew Kato Conceiver,  Director

John Mercurio

For more than 20 years, the successful collaborative team of John Mercurio and Andrew Kato have combined their talents to do what they do best: storytelling. Kato is the idea man and develops the scenario playing an integral part in the creation of the story and how it will be told, suggesting plot points, design elements and other theatrics, while Mercurio writes the book, music and lyrics.

Andrew Kato

At Artist as Author, they will present “Page to Stage,” a depiction of the importance of the book and how it is developed and translated to renderings and ultimately the stage.

A lecture series, consisting of panel discussions with the artists, will be held April 2, 16 and 30, at 3 p.m. at the Cultural Council Gallery, located at 601 Lake Avenue, Lake Worth. Gallery hours are Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information call (561) 471-2901.

According to Bloomberg, Jan 31, 2013, statewide foreclosures are up.

Robert Shiller can’t offer a clear picture.

I’m paying attention, because I’ve listed my house, and if this sounds confusing to you, join the club. Before jumping down to the end of this article to read more on what the FL Reators, Bloomberg and Shiller have to say, take a look at how some of our local realtors see it:

Mark Lunden: K2 Realty, North Palm Beach, (561) 691-1223

“Here’s my take: As always – all real estate is local. In the north county (Jupiter, Tequesta, Juno Beach, Palm Beach Gardens, and North Palm Beach – an inventory that includes roughly 100k homes) there are currently 65 properties listed for sale as REO (bank-owned). I don’t know what is considered ‘normal’ for REOs, but I can say with confidence that 6/10 of 1% is likely below average. In this area, there is no inventory – roughly 2700 properties listed for sale out of 100,000 or so. The rule-of-thumb has always been that, in a ‘healthy’ market 10% of the available inventory is for sale – we’re at 1/4 of that – less than 5 month’s supply.

“We are seeing multiple offers/competing bids on any property that is priced reasonably. What sets this apart from the boom is that prices are climbing at a reasonable, non-bubble pace. Good news for buyers. One of the toughest jobs we have now is convincing sellers that they have priced the property correctly – many are surprised how quickly they are selling and think they should hold off. One of the problems there is that there is a danger of the property not appraising. Appraisers are overly cautious and therefore artificially holding down prices. Their fear has precluded them from recalling that ‘market price’ is just that – what the market will bear.

“To sum up – the market in NPB County is white hot, and has been since the turnaround over two years ago.”

Joseph M. Quirk, Cobblestone Realty, Jupiter, (561) 427-9326, www.cobblestonefl.com

“The North County area has seen certain home price points prices jump 20-30% in the past year in a number of neighborhoods. Condos and single family homes in the 75-250k price points have all but disappeared off the radar.

“Investors, paying cash for income producing property, have become the day to day buyers and can’t find enough available inventory.

“In our area, the higher priced properties are next in line to be picked at as we’ll as the areas moving north, Tequesta, Hobe Sound and up through Stuart and Port St. Lucie as the inventory in the Palm Beach Gardens, Juno and Jupiter area continues to shrink.”

This Palm Beach Gardens townhome in Cielo was sold on 12/17/2010 for $236,900 and today is listed for sale through Cobblestone Realty for $310,000.

"This Palm Beach Gardens townhome in Cielo was sold on 12/17/2010 for $236,900 and today is listed for sale through Cobblestone Realty for $310,000." - Joseph Quirk

And how about other parts of Palm Beach County? Here’s what my realtor, Diane Duffy (with Illustrated Properties in the Manalapan office), told me the other day. “There are no metrics to work with right now. List Prices/Sale Prices are all over the place and even appraisers are having trouble pinning them down. Closed sales continue to be cash driven. Cash buyers are buying what they like– if they get a good vibe, they move on it. Because of this, the person requiring financing can’t sit on the sidelines — don’t wait, follow your gut and make an offer. At the end of the day, you won’t be disappointed that you did.” (Diane Duffy’s number is (561) 767-0860)

122 North L Street, Lake Worth

News from Florida Realtors: According to housing data released by Florida Realtors, Florida’s housing market had increased sales, higher median prices, more pending sales and the continued shrinking of inventory levels in January. However, overly restrictive credit requirements remain an obstacle for many potential buyers, who find it difficult to access affordable financing options.

Statewide closed sales of existing single-family homes totaled 13,679 in January, up 11.7 percent compared to the year-ago figure.

Meanwhile, pending sales – contracts that are signed but not yet completed or closed – for existing single-family homes last month rose 31 percent over the previous January. The statewide median sales price for single-family existing homes last month was $145,000, up 12.4 percent from the previous year.

The inventory for single-family homes stood at a 5.6-months’ supply in January; inventory for townhouse-condos was at a 6.2-months’ supply, according to Florida Realtors.

“I’m particularly impressed with the rise in percentage of list price received by sellers,” said Florida Realtors Chief Economist Dr. John Tuccillo, referring to the January data. Sellers of single-family existing homes in January received an average of 92.2 percent of their original list price; sellers of townhome-condo units received an average of 93 percent.”

News from Bloomberg: One in every 32 Florida households received at least one notice last year, more than double the average U.S. rate of one in 72, RealtyTrac said on Jan. 17. Statewide, home repossessions increased by 16,276 over the 12-month period to 84,456, the biggest gain in the U.S. The state’s foreclosure crisis is exacerbated by a required court review of each case.

Robert Shiller: “We’re beginning to hear noises that we’ve reached a major turning point in the housing market — and that, with interest rates so low, this is a rare opportunity to buy. But are such observations on target?

It would be comforting if they were. Yet the unfortunate truth is that the tea leaves don’t clearly suggest any particular path for prices, either up or down.

“I can’t offer any clearer picture, and I don’t see a solid basis for anyone else to do so, either.”