Work of talented Palm-Aire artists featured at free show to help raise scholarship funds

PALM-AIRE -- John Grey made his name in the insurance industry.

Anelisa Murphy worked as a layout artist and illustrator.

Joy Pendergast taught art and made a living as a working artist throughout her career.

They are among the artists showing their work at the 34th annual art show by the Art Association of Palm-Aire.

Neither Grey nor Murphy ever contemplated life as an independent artist during their working years.

Pendergast did, and she brought a steely determination and shrewd business sense to the endeavor.

"The life of a starving artist never appealed to me," said Pendergast, a Boston native.

Pendergast is a watercolorist who paints beach scenes and still life, but she really favors florals.

"I like doing big blossoms, close up," Pendergast said.

Her work proved attractive to hotel chains, corporations and art show patrons. At one time, she did about 45 art shows a year, selling prints and originals.

"I have been lucky to be able to make a living doing something I love to do," Pendergast said.

In retirement, Grey has become a skilled wood carver and photographer.

He brings exacting focus and patience to his art, which ranges from nudes to busts of Civil War soldiers and Navajo Indians, and walking sticks. He even carved a statue of Palm-Aire resident Gus Andreone, who at 104 is perhaps the oldest living card-carrying PGA professional. The Andreone carving, which typically looks out on the Palm-Aire golf course, is back in Grey's garage workshop for weather damage repairs.

One item Grey plans to exhibit this year is a sequence of three sculptures showing how a piece of wood becomes a finished work of art.

"It shows how it is done, one, two, three," Grey said. "I start with a raw piece of wood and begin chipping away."

Murphy, a prolific and talented painter and sculptor, was born in Brazil to German parents, and educated in Brazil and Germany.

During her career, she worked for advertising agencies, illustrated several books and painted indoor murals in Iowa and Minnesota.

She says she is in good company at the Palm-Aire Art show.

"We have amazing artists here," she said.

The art show is open to the public 9 a.m.-6 p.m. daily Feb. 22-28 at Palm-Aire Golf and Country Club, 5601 Country Club Way. The public is invited. No admission charge.

The art show showcases the talents of Palm-Aire residents, and raises funds for the Ruth Levin Scholarship. This year, two scholarships will be awarded to local students.

James A. Jones Jr., East Manatee reporter, can be contacted at 941-745-7053 or on Twitter @jajones1.

This story was originally published February 17, 2016 at 11:11 PM with the headline "Work of talented Palm-Aire artists featured at free show to help raise scholarship funds ."