Palm Beach Insider: 'Summer Pleasures: Palm Beach or Bust' debuts at Haven
Shannon Donnelly
Anthony Burroughs and Stephanie Kantis, the husband-and-wife founders of Haven, opened their capacious gallery for a reception and exhibit to benefit two local charities.
The event took place July 29 at Haven's space on Royal Poinciana Way and featured the debut of a new series of paintings by local artist Bruce Helander.
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The evening included cocktails, hors d'oeuvres, and the first look at "Summer Pleasures: Palm Beach or Bust," a group of colorful collages and paintings of island summer life, from a vintage convertible transporting a family onto the beach to a sunbather toasting from a giant martini glass.
The exhibit's title comes from the centerpiece work in the show, Helander said during the meet-the-artist segment.
"One of my new paintings was inspired by a 1950s billboard depicting a cartoon family in a convertible on their way to a drive-in theater, he said.
Other images include flower gardens, a lady on the beach cooling off in a large champagne glass, a swimmer diving off a board and a classic Mickey Mouse balloon floating in the air during the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.
More than 100 people attended.
A portion of all works sold benefited the Center for Creative Education, where Helander has served as a board member for nearly a decade, and Meals on Wheels.