Mills Gallery’s return marked by the art of friendship
The opening of “Unapologetic” marks the return of an art gallery, an honor for a prominent member of the Orlando art community, a celebration of friendship and a tribute from one artist to another.
“This exhibition is close tomy heart,” said Kristy Lee, one of two featured artists in “Unapologetic” at the Mills Gallery in Orlando. Lee curated the exhibit in honor of its other featured artist: Paul T. Scarborough, who died of a heart attack at age 56 in late September 2018.
Scarborough was more than a mentor to Lee.
“We became fast friends,” she said, after the two met at a charity event. “We both painted every day. We would talk late at night about art. We had plenty to say.”
Lee found inspiration in Scarborough’s works— and was motivated by the man.
“Paul’s art is strong but free,” she said. “Iwanted to be that kind of artist.”
Itwas Scarborough who gave her the courage to expand her style.
“He said, ‘Why don’t you do that?’” she recalled. “He would say, ‘Just paint.’”
“Unapologetic” shows off Scarborough’s bold, freestyle technique with a selection of colorful abstracts.
His philosophy is on view, too. One sign in the gallery reads: “If in your soul, you knowyou’re an artist, don’t let outside influences talk you out of it. Just jump to the other side. Do it, do it now.”
Lee, a New Yorker transplanted to Florida, had been working in a stricter style of portraiture. But with Scarborough’s encouragement, she stretched her wings.
In the “Unapologetic” show, she has included a New York street scene responding to COVID-19, as well as faces and images that have abstract elements — but don’t go as far as Scarborough’s pieces.
“I didn’t want to compete with Paul’s work,” she said. “I mean, look at the energy in Paul’s art!”
She refers to Scarborough’s paintings as “a big party, and Iwant to go to that party.”
With money raised from the sale of the works, Lee and Scarborough’s family plan to start a foundation in his name. The goal is to provide scholarships to up-and-coming artists.
“Paul would love that,” Lee said.
The bond between Scarborough and Lee extends to gallery owner Boris Garbe; Mills Gallery opened in 2016 with an exhibition by Scarborough and Martha Lent. Because of the coronavirus pandemic, it has been closed for months.
“I loved Paul,” Garbe said. “Paulwas very generous to me whenwe opened, he took me under his wing. He really was one of the founders of Mills Gallery.”
And itwas Scarborough who introduced Lee to Garbe, paving theway years later for this tribute to friendship.
“All thiswould not be possible if I did not have that relationship with Paul,” Lee said. “Hemade me believe in myself. He allowed me, unapologetically, to be the painter I wanted to be.”
‘Unapologetic’
• Tours: To arrange a private tour of the exhibition, call Boris Garbe at 407-234-7033.
• Where: 1650N. Mills Ave. in Orlando
• Info: millsgalleryorlando.
Find me on Twitter @matt_on_arts or email me at mpalm@orlandosentinel.com. Want more news of theater and other arts? Go to OrlandoSentinel.com/ arts