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Arts and Entertainment: M. A. Harley Exhibit Opens at Arts Center Gallery
February 9th, 2004

Arts and Entertainment: Arts Center Auction Draws Enthusiastic Crowd
February 1st, 2004

Arts and Entertainment: More Than Just Paint on Canvas - the Art of Travis Parks
January 31st, 2004

Arts and Entertainment: Watercolor Exhibit Opens at Arts Center Gallery
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Arts and Entertainment: Natural Inspiration - a Gallery and a Vision
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Arts and Entertainment: Annual "Rock the Boat" Exhibit Draws Crowd
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Arts and Entertainment: The Wildlife Artistry of Rod Random
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Arts and Entertainment: A Good Old Fashioned Mystery
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Arts and Entertainment: FSU - UF Art Exhibit Opens at Arts Center Gallery
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Arts and Entertainment: A View Under the Ocean with Artist Alda Leffew
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Arts and Entertainment: Frostproof Artists Paint Cedar Key
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Arts and Entertainment: Grammatical Wit and Wisdom
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Arts and Entertainment: Plein-Air Exhibit Opens at Arts Center
October 5th, 2003

Arts and Entertainment: Author Showcases Cedar Key
October 4th, 2003

Arts and Entertainment: Plein-Air Artists Visiting Cedar Key
October 1st, 2003

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Natural Inspiration - a Gallery and a Vision

Natural Inspiration - a Gallery and a Vision

Maureen Landress

A reception on December 31st marked the grand opening of the new Natural Inspiration Art Gallery on 2nd Street. Owner and artist, David Chatowsky, chose the name of the gallery as a reflection of his art and it's philosophy – express the beauty in nature.


The gallery is a family affair, with works exhibited by David, his father Tony, and his two sisters Mary and Rebecca. A number of the elegantly simple red cedar frames, used to showcase the paintings, were created with the assistance of local craftsman Herman Wells There are also works by local artist/photographer Chris Harkness. The gallery will also have works by famed muralist Stacy Breheny of the University of Florida Museum of Natural History.

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Tony Chatowsky used the Japanese art of fish painting to capture the splendor of this dolphin fish


The current offerings include photography, pen and ink sketches, acrylics, oils, fish prints and charcoal drawings.

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Can you find the swamp critter in this clever painting by Dave Chatowsky?


The themes of the works run the gamut from whimsical mermaids under the sea, to cleverly disguised swamp creatures hidden beneath brilliant green lily pads. The fish prints, though simple looking at first glance, contain a complexity of rich detail. (Just ask and Dave will tell you about the amazing process used to create these one-of-a-kind images).

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Mermaids frolic beneath the sea in this work by Rebecca Chatowsky


Some of the smallest works on display are so exquisitely rendered, that they belie their humble beginnings as "found objects". Delicate scallops with subtle hints of satiny color hidden deep within their shells, and crude edged arrow heads that dance with symmetry and light.

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A delicate scallop painting in a natural cedar frame by David Chatowsky


This is not just a gallery, but a working studio as well, and David can often be observed putting the finishing touches on one of his works, as he sits beside the sun filled main windows.

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David hard at work


The gallery is open Tuesday through Sunday from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. However, Dave says, "If the lights are on it means I'm working so just give a knock on the door".

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