Congratulations to Central Florida artists Donne Bitner of Orlando, Nancy Baur Dillen of Melbourne, Grace Leal of Cocoa Beach, Susan Martin of Merritt Island, Terry Norris of Mims, Jennifer M. Surgen of Daytona Beach and M. Laine Wyatt of DeLand, who will be included in the first exhibition of the new Florida Museum of Women Artists in DeLand.

The museum will open Nov. 14 at 100 N. Woodland Blvd. It’s 1 7,300-square-foot space, with three galleries.

Here’s more:

The Florida Museum for Women Artists has announced the works chosen for “The Florida Museum of Women Artists Inaugural Juried Exhibition”.

Of the hundreds of applications received, the committee has chosen to include works by: Kristin A. Anderson of Apalachicola, Beth Appleton of Eastpoint, Barbara Balzer, Leslie Anne Chanove of St. Petersburg, Terrie Corbett of Tallahassee, Jaimie Cordero of Pinecrest, Joelie Dietrick of Tallahassee, Nancy Baur Dillen of Melbourne, Mary Erickson of Marshville, M.K. (Mary) Foltz of St. Petersburg, Lilian Garcia Roig of Tallahassee, Kathleen Giddens of Lake City, Jean Goddeau of West Palm Beach, Julie Guyot of Tallahassee, Holly Hanessian of Tallahassee, Mary Klein of St. Pete Beach, Grace Leal of Cocoa Beach, Susan Martin of Merritt Island, Luisa M. Mesa of Miami Beach, Melissa Miller Nece of Palm Harbor, Lesley Nolan of Tallahassee, Terry Norris of Mims, Florence Putterman of Sarasota, Becki Rutta of Tallahassee, Jacquelyn Modesitt Schindehette of Ocala, Joan Brechin Sonnenberg of Naples, Jennifer M. Surgen of Daytona Beach, Kathleen Wilcox of Tallahassee, Charity Wood of Tallahassee, M. Laine Wyatt of DeLand, Valeria Yamamatoof Miami, Donne Bitner of Orlando, Gwyndolyn Fryer of Sarasota, Kathleen Erickson of Punta Gorda, Bettina T. Edwards of Bonita Springs, Emily Arthur Douglass of Atlantic Beach, Constance Bransilver Barrow of Naples, and Florence A. Roghaar of Boca Raton.

On the exhibition, David C. Swoyer, Museum Services Consultant and NovaFolio Gallery Owner says, “This exhibition will make the visitor fully aware of the great expressive strength in the art by contemporary Florida women artists”.

The Florida Museum for Women Artists is the only venue in the state of Florida, and the southeast United States, to provide art and other artistic disciplines exclusively by women artists.

“The opening of a new museum these days is very rare and very exciting. Opening a museum dedicated to women in the arts is unique. However, a museum such as The Florida Museum for Women Artists is sorely needed to showcase the talent that exists among women artists. I recently visited a well known large gallery and found less than a handful of women artist represented among at least 30 male artists. It again brought home the need to have a facility dedicated to women in the arts.” Anna Schrieffer, President of the board, Florida Museum for Women Artists.

The new museum will open its doors to the public on November 14, 2009. The 7,300 square foot space will include three galleries, a gift shop, coffee lounge, meeting / lecture space, and curatorial area. Exhibitions will include contemporary art, collections, and traveling exhibits from quality institutions.

The Florida Museum of Women Artists is located at 100 N. Woodland Blvd in DeLand Florida. Beginning November 14, 2009, the galleries and gift shop will be open: Tue-Thursday: 11am to 6pm, Fri-Sat: 11am to 7pm, Sundays: 1pm-5pm Closed: Mondays and major holidays. Travel time is approximately 1 hour from Orlando, 1.5 hours from Jacksonville, 4 hours from Tallahassee, and 3 hours from south Florida areas.

The Florida Museum for Women Artists is a 501(c)(3) organization. The mission of the Florida Museum for Women Artist is to inform the public of accomplishments by women artists in all artistic disciplines; identify and promote exceptional Florida women artists, both emerging and established; and reveal important efforts by women artists throughout history.