A lively crowd turned out Thursday, October 17, at the Marco Island Historical Museum for the opening reception of prolific local artist Paul Arsenault’s colorful artwork. Arsenault’s artwork forms a tapestry of SW Florida’s history, and many of the historic paintings on display in the museum’s Sandlin Gallery are for sale as part of the museum’s exhibit Reflections of South Florida, a 50-Year Art Adventure with artist Paul Arsenault.
It’s hard to say who is more excited about the exhibition, the artist or the curator. Museum manager Rebecca Mazeroski, who curated the exhibit, is certainly delighted to have Arsenault’s works filling the museum’s rotating gallery. One of the hardest things for her was deciding which paintings to include in the exhibition.
“The biggest challenge we actually had was whittling it down,” Mazeroski said. “I’d say there were about 30 paintings where I’d say, ‘Paul, it’s beautiful, but we’ve gotta make some decisions here.’ Paul has a lot of great, wonderful works. We made a decision about regionality. Since the exhibit is Reflections of South Florida, that helped us narrow it down a little bit. We looked at what is near and dear to our hearts. So, you’ll see a lot of Marco Island, a lot of Goodland, a lot of Isles of Capri and Naples, a lot of Collier County. As a historical museum, we love the paintings that tell stories. Paul has been a master at finding images that tell stories about old Florida and quirky Florida, some of which we see disappearing over time. Some of the images that he did 40-50 years ago are kind of historic artifacts themselves now. They help to support and tell a story along with the photos, journal entries, ephemera, and objects we have of these places. Paul’s paintings support that story. That’s why we were excited when Paul wanted to do an exhibit with us. We love this kind of artwork in our museum.”
Artist Paul Arsenault amid a collection of his Marco Island paintings.
“This is one of the big nights of my life celebrating my 50th retrospective of painting in the South Florida/Marco area,” Arsenault said. “I had no intention of becoming a historian necessarily, but after years and years, I suddenly became a historian simply because I lived it, and I’ve been telling the stories and painting the pictures.”
Arsenault arrived in the Naples/Marco area in 1974 and immediately went to work identifying scenes and painting them. He was a bit overwhelmed by seeing his art so majestically displayed in the Sandlin Gallery.
“This represents paintings and stories of my 50 years here, and it’s wonderful to see it all together,” he said. “It’s kind of an immersion into the early charm and the old fishing community and how it’s changed through the years. You can see it through the different paintings through the different decades. So, it’s a wonderful record of how things have been and where things are now.”
There was quite a crowd milling through the museum enjoying Arsenault’s work and enjoying conversation with the venerable artist while perhaps learning a bit about his creative process. Arsenault had a definite plan as he went about documenting the area on canvas.
“The idea was painting the time and place that shows off the place best,” he said. “Whether it’s blossoming trees or special boats or just the certain time of day, the light. I like to honor images that contribute to the special quality of the place. That’s what I go after.”
Arsenault describes his style as Impressionism. He has certainly developed a style that is immediately recognizable.
There was a brisk crowd at the opening of Reflections of South Florida, a 50-Year Art Adventure with artist Paul Arsenault.
“It is nice that people appreciate that they can go into a room of landscapes and pick my paintings out,” Arsenault said. “I like the use of color. I like using rhythm and form and pattern to just kind of keep the surface lively. The Impressionism and the combination of all those things. Emphasizing one, backing off the other. These are the tools that define my style.”
Many in attendance were Arsenault admirers – and collectors. Arsenault has so many local collectors that he has trouble estimating the number. Many own as many as five, 10, or 20 of his paintings.
“Right,” Arsenault said, “and more. When you’re here a long time and you’re generational, people are supportive if they like your work. And I’ve been very fortunate.”
One corporate client commissioned Arsenault to create 150 paintings.
“He sent me all over Southeast Asia and France in particular,” Arsenault said. “He was a good collector.”
Not all creative people can produce on demand. Arsenault obviously can.
“When you have a buyer sending you around the world, it’s a good motivator,” he said.
Like many masters of their trade, Arsenault doesn’t look at painting as work.
“I’ve been fortunate to be able to have a style that’s bold and direct,” he said. “And it’s not a laborious thing. It’s more of a spontaneous thing. So, you’re looking at 50 years worth here, and that’s just my style. A lot of these paintings kind of tell the story of South Florida, and it’s kind of fun to be able to have some of the paintings to sell.”
The Marco exhibit is the start of museum exhibits for Arsenault. He said that will likely raise the value of his paintings.
“I haven’t gone the academic route,” he said, “museum collections, but I’m getting into that now, building a momentum and a block of traveling shows that will go to museums and academic venues. That’ll raise the bar.”
Reflections of South Florida, a 50 Year Art Adventure with artist Paul Arsenault, runs through February 15. The Marco Island Historical Museum is open Tuesday-Saturday from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM.