Story By Jennifer Talbert & Anne Hunter | Photography by Christon Anderson
HOW FOUR WALTON COUNTY PHOTOGRAPHERS ARE HELPING THE ARTISTS AFFECTED BY HURRICANE MICHAEL
In late October, Dawn Chapman Whitty and fellow local photographers Jack Gardner, Shelly Swanger, and Chandler Williams were each independently considering how they could support recovery efforts in the hurricane ravaged towns of the Florida Panhandle. With so many people in the surrounding area affected by Hurricane Michael, the group of photographers decided to come together to answer the question so many had, “how can we help?”
The culmination of their combined compassion and creative collaboration is the Rising Tides Art Show Benefit scheduled for December 7th, from 5PM to 9PM, at Monet Monet located at 100 East County Highway 30A in Grayton Beach, Florida. Hors D’oeuvres and a cash bar will be provided by Grayton Beach Catering. All proceeds from the event will benefit the artists affected by Hurricane Michael with the majority of funds funneling to Floriopolis Community Arts Metropolis, based in Historic St. Andrews.
The art show benefit presents both intact and salvaged hurricane artworks for sale from the Floriopolis roster of 100+ artists from Northwest Florida, spanning from Panama City and Panama City Beach through the Forgotten Coast to Mexico Beach. The gallery and artists will each receive their standard 50% commission for sales with proceeds collected and distributed by the Floriopolis Board of Directors. The Floriopolis line up for the show includes: Heather Parker, Heather Clements, Christon Anderson and other artists to be announced.
The four Rising Tides founders (Gardner, Swanger, Whitty, and Williams) are supported by in-kind donations from The Central Idea Agency, Grayton Beach Catering, Anne Hunter Galleries, Christon Anderson, Amavida Coffee & Tea, Modus Photography, Pedego Electric
Bikes,andMonetMonetinunisonwiththefollowingWaltonCountyartistswhoaredonating works to sell at the event and contributing 100% of their proceeds to the artists affected by Hurricane Michael:
Andrea Alfieri, Jonah Allen, Brandan Babineaux, Beau Bradbury, Jessica Batson, Larry Clemons, Didon Comer, Melissa Davis, Joe Elemore, Billie Gaffrey, Justin Gaffrey, Bill Garrett, Mary Hong, Fletcher Isacks, Rachel Herring, Washboard Jackson, Mark Little, Woodie Long, Susan Lucas, Wendy Mignot, Bailey Miller, Nicole Paloma, Jessica Rae, Kirsten Koza Reed, Anne Reid, Stuart Riordan, Andy Saczynski, Kristine Senft, Marti Schmidt, Aaron Sutton, Liza Synder, Steve Wagner, Dwight Ward, Eileen West, Allison Wickey, Jimmi Wiz, Jamie Zimchek, 1920 and Co.
Live music for the benefit is coordinated by Mike Whitty and hosted by Rob Pate from Blue Ribbon Healers. The evening music ensemble features Pickled Pickers, a favorite local band from 30A that performs every Sunday at AJ’s, who is kicking off the event, along with Floriopolis favorites Bonita Underground, The Frailers, Ashley Feller and Calliope Pettis alongside 30A local favorites.
The Rising Tides founders could not have selected a better art establishment to support through the benefit. Founded and managed by Heather Parker, Floriopolis is a non-profit/charitable operation that has over 40+ volunteers and a core of staff of twelve. With more than 90% of the artists showcased in her gallery from Bay County, the impact on Parker and the artists was huge. “I have artists from all over the county that have lost everything. Some being well established professionals in Port St. Joe that lost entire studios. While others are having to relocate or move from our area completely.”
Parker created Floriopolis as a community center that not only supports local artists, but also offers an environment for people to spend time together, communicate, share ideas and network. “It’s a place for you to get to know your neighbor through their art,” she explains “having
spaces like Floriopolis helps to keep talent in the area, which, in turn, draws outsiders to visit, instead of building an area strictly focused on tourism.”
With the support of the four founding photographers, Anne Hunter, Bailey Miller, Parker and her team were able to salvage more than one-third of the artworks on display inside Floriopolis at the time of the hurricane. “Most of the local arts community is battling with no power, no place to live and no transportation to get around.” Parker paints a grim but realistic picture for the artist that she has represented. Parker’s friend and fellow St. Andrews business owner, Dan Bailey of Amavida Coffee graciously offered up space to temporarily house the recovered artwork at his main office and coffee roaster.
Providing a space for artists is most important to Parker now. “I want to continue connecting people with one another through the arts. We have to keep artists engaged so they can continue healing with the changes ahead of them. Without a space to do so, it becomes harder to fuel their creative sides.”
Billie Gaffrey, artist and Seaside Neighborhood School art teacher was thrilled with the idea of supporting a fellow business owner and artist like Parker. Gaffrey, who shares equally in the passion of supporting that arts said, “I do hope that the artists donating will attend. It is so cool for our artistic forces to come together in unity as one community helping another. It’s not often to see a group of us together. We have all donated time, supplies and money throughout this time post hurricane Michael. I would encourage this event to be not just a donation, but a congregation.” The founding photographers couldn’t agree more. Gaffrey will be painting a live art piece to auction at the end of the night.
An echo of Gaffrey’s sentiments, the Rising Tides Benefit provides the artists of Scenic Highway 30A, an opportunity to return to its roots. “This event is about community and bringing artists together to help each other instead of competing against each other. We live in an area that has plenty of funds to support us all.” Whitty explains, “It could have been us that
Michael devastated, I am humbled to be a small part of the healing.” With the combined efforts of collaborators from 30A and Floriopolis, the hope is to help artists get back on their feet and to feel inspired again. “It was pretty amazing getting together with fellow creators from the 30A area and working together to support others artists.,” says Williams. “Sitting down and sharing ideas, laughs and discussions on past projects, we realized the strength we have as veterans in this area to be a voice and supporter for artists who could use some help in a time of need.”
The Rising Tides benefit is providing a space for the artists of Panama City and The forgotten Coast to show their work and feel the love and support from fellow artists on 30A. “Artists so often are asked by others to donate their work and so many gladly do, but their is very little times that we have fundraising for the artists.” said Williams. With a collision of artistic forces Parker is hoping to see this carry on well after the event. “Lasting interests in collaborations between artists in Northwest Florida would be something to hope for after the event takes place. This is an opportunity for people to know the artist and their story, not just their name.” A new light is shining on the creative community and giving hope and inspiration to people who are looking to experience the arts in a way that feels much less formal and feels much more approachable.
Long beloved Walton County gallerist Eileen West has mentored many artists who are donating their works to the benefit. West understands the impact of artists coming together after a hurricane. “This is wonderful,” she told Whitty. “After Hurricane Katrina I did a show for all my New Orleans artists who had lost everything including the galleries.” West called the show “Waterline” and painted a crungy waterline on the gallery walls about four-feet high to depict the level of water rising. “Still chokes me up to think about what it meant to them,” she says.
Recovery efforts in neighboring communities will continue on for years to come. With events such as The Rising Tides Benefit our community will be able to start the healing process for those directly affected by Hurricane Michael. “ When you have a passion for your art and what you do with it, you really can never escape it.” says Swanger. “ Providing a space, audience and
opportunity for the artists of Panama City and The Forgotten Coast to show their work and tell their story is going to be incredible.”
RISING TIDES FOUNDERS
JACK GARDNER
I grew up in Valparaiso, Florida and first started taking pictures at age 12 when my parents gave me a Kodak Brownie Hawkeye camera for Christmas. My father, who was an avid amateur photographer and my uncle, who had been a portrait photographer and then later a photographic engineer at Eglin Air Force Base, were both inspirations in my photographic career. After graduating from Oglethorpe University in Atlanta, I remained there for more than 20 years, first working in photo labs and then starting my own business as a portrait and architectural photographer. After getting burned out on the “big city rat race” I moved back to Valparaiso a number of years ago and continued my portrait and architectural photography and since then have expanded to food, lifestyle and landscapes. I’m very grateful to be back in my hometown and a part of this talented, creative community.
SHELLY SWANGER
Shelly Swanger is a music, event, travel and fine art photographer. When she’s not on the road she splits her time between Nashville, TN and Santa Rosa Beach, FL. Originally from Memphis, she’s always been a dreamer who fell in love with music, photography and travel at an early age. She received a camera as a gift from her grandparents at the age of fourteen and never looked back. Self taught until returning to school to earn a degree in photography in her late thirties, Shelly has always been drawn to the storytelling aspect of the image, drawing inspiration from photographers like William Eggleston, Diane Arbus, Stephen Shore and Josef Hoflehner, she finds beauty in the ordinary, the forgotten and the left behind. Her work has been described as vibrant, emotional and personal. In 2010, Shelly combined her love for music and photography and slowly built a reputation as one of the most sought after tour photographers in the southeast. She has documented tours for GRAMMY winners as well as serving as in the in house
photographer for the EMMY nominated “Bluegrass Underground” and “Music City Roots” as well as the award winning 30A Songwriters Festival and many others. Her music and travel photography has appeared in The New York times, USA Today, Southern Living, VIE Magazine, Emerald Coast Magazine, American Songwriter, The Fretboard Journal and many other local, national and international publications. Shelly was also honored to have been named “Best Photographer” by Visit South Walton in 2015 and “Hottest Local Photographer” in 2015 and 2016 by 30A.com. When not working or on assignment, Shelly can usually be found wandering the backroads of America looking for the next image. Thank you for taking the time to enjoy her work.
DAWN CHAPMAN WHITTY
In today’s society of commercialism, competitiveness and fast paced technology, Dawn Whitty’s photographic style exemplifies the free spirited nature of going with the flow. Her images render simplicity and capture the importance of the uniqueness in us all. People connect with Dawn’s images as they invoke memories within the viewer. The trusted connection between artist and subject comes through Dawn’s images with a tangible warmth and grace. In addition to her classic portraiture & contemporary fashion photography, Whitty also combines her passion for the water and her creativity with a camera to capture the beauty of imagination above and beneath the magical waters that surround the areas of Florida’s Panhandle, from the Walton County Dune Lakes to the crystal clear fresh water springs and of course the emerald waters of the Gulf. Before Dawn received her Bachelor of Arts degree from FSU, she was a competitive swimmer for Nashville Aquatic Club during her high school years. Combining her two passions of swimming and art, underwater photography seemed a predestined path. After years of travel, Dawn ultimately chose the Grayton Beach- Seaside area, where she has resided since 1997 and continues to photograph her editorial work for the commercial industry as well as lifestyle portraiture for families.
CHANDLER WILLIAMS
Mo-dus is a translation for “The mode or expression.” Capturing the moments of cultural differences and working with people is a natural fit with Chandler’s personality. Starting in the dark room, Chandler has enjoyed his relationship of photography for over 20 years. He has built a reliable crew who understand his working style, communicate effectively, professionally and work quickly. Chandler has recently added industry leading brands such Hilton, Audi USA, Lulu Lemon, Shopify and Southern Living to his portfolio. When Chandler is not out on assignment he enjoys showcasing his landscape art at his Gallery in Grayton Beach, Florida.
