Ocean Art Gallery to celebrate its 10th anniversary

Ormond Beach Observer
Neighbors

By: Frank Gromling

Ocean Art Gallery owner

Ocean Art Gallery will celebrate its 10th anniversary on Saturday, Aug. 6 during Ormond Beach Mainstreet's Art Walk. Owner and Director Frank Gromling invites all clients and others enjoying the Art Walk to visit the gallery to view new art while enjoying live music and anniversary refreshments.

The gallery evolved out of Gromling's national book publishing company, Ocean Publishing, winner of several Benjamin Franklin Awards for publishing excellence. In 2012, famous ocean protector Jean-Michel Cousteau was signed to author a four-book series about America's National Marine Sanctuaries. In the same week, acrylic artist Rick Cannizzaro stopped into the publishing office on A1A across from the Flagler Pier to show Gromling his marine life paintings.

The timing could not have been better, and Cannizzaro's colorful art soon covered the formerly blank walls of the publishing house. Shortly, the public was invited in for informal art shows and the beginning of an art gallery concept evolved. After an expansion and move to a larger location, Gromling decided the gallery needed an even stronger market location.

With extensive research of commercial space in nearby towns and cities, Gromling chose the Granada Plaza Shopping Center at the intersection of Granada Boulevard and State Road A1A in Ormond Beach. On July 2, 2018, Ocean Art Gallery opened in a redesigned 3,000-square-foot space right in the middle of the plaza. With over 20 local, national and international artists in various mediums, sizes, and values, the gallery became an immediate success in the new community. The large space allowed for painting workshops and professional framing, as well as educational talks on art, health and conservation.

From his long history of community involvement in Flagler County, Gromling quickly added his knowledge and expertise to community groups in his new art home of Volusia County. Today, he remains active in several conservation projects, plus Ormond Beach Mainstreet; the Art, Culture and Heritage Committee of the Daytona Beach Area Convention and Visitors Bureau; and most recently, his appointment by Gov. Ron DeSantis to the Florida Council on Art and Culture.

Entering its 11th year, the gallery's next major art project is the national marketing of the pen and ink drawings of Elliot Tiber, who first became best known for his critical role in the Woodstock Art and Music Festival in 1969. Gromling has decided to introduce Tiber's art in the gallery by showing the classic Ang Lee-directed film "Taking Woodstock" on Aug. 15, 16 and 17, the dates of the original Woodstock Festival. The event is free and tickets are available at Eventbrite.com.

In just 10 years, Ocean Art Gallery has grown from a small commercial outgrowth of a publishing house into a respected fine art gallery representing the best local, national and international artists where the atmosphere is friendly, electric, educational, and fun. Yet, as Gromling says, "There is so much more to do!"