Coast Guard Art Program

Pop-Up Exhibit: July 1 - August 24, 2025

Art Walk

Saturday, Aug 2nd | 3:00-7:00pm

Several pieces by the U.S. Coast Guard will be on display inside our reception gallery. Admission to Art Walk is always FREE, and you can ride the complimentary shuttle to visit all stops. Beer and wine will be available for purchase inside the museum.

Plus...

Visit our amazing ROOFTOP terrace between 5 and 9pm to enjoy the first round of the Locals Mix's original live music competition! Rooftop admission is $15 per person. Click HERE to purchase tickets. No cover to explore the museum, gardens, and vendor village downstairs! Drinks, including beer, wine, and cocktails, will be available for purchase on the rooftop.

Through the compelling and inspiring medium of visual art, the Coast Guard Art Collection depicts the many missions performed by active duty, reserve and auxiliary service members. The artworks convey the myriad roles of the Coast Guard: as the nation's maritime first responder, as a key guardian of America's homeland security, as a protector of the country's maritime economy and as an important element in the fabric of our maritime communities. Coast Guard artists —most of whom are professional artists— volunteer their time and talents to help COGAP fulfill its missions. 

About the COGAP

The Coast Guard Art Program uses fine art as an outreach tool for educating diverse audiences about the Coast Guard. Today, more than ever, the Service addresses an abundance of challenges as it works to maintain the nation’s security at home and abroad and execute its statutory missions. COGAP art provides visual testimony to the unique contribution the Service makes to the nation in its multifaceted roles as a military, humanitarian and law enforcement organization. Art from the program is exhibited at museums around the country. It is displayed in the offices of members of Congress, Cabinet secretaries, senior government officials and other military services and Coast Guard leadership and locations nationwide. Coast Guard art has also been displayed by the State Department overseas in its Art in Embassies program. This year will mark the 44th anniversary of the Coast Guard Art Program. Today, the collection holds over 2,200 works that capture the many missions the active-duty men and women of the Coast Guard perform daily, including homeland security and national defense, search and rescue, marine environmental protection, migrant interdiction, and natural resource management. Paintings and drawings bring to life the work performed by the Coast Guard and vividly demonstrate the Service’s contributions to the country.

Artist Biographies

Acacia Anglin grew up in Southeast Alaska, where she studied art throughout high school. Upon graduation, she pursued a career working with animals. In her spare time, she continued to create art and worked in a variety of mediums. Married to an active duty Coast Guardsman, the artist often features the service’s work with animals in her COGAP donations, employing watercolor or marker for these pieces.

Contemporary realist Del-Bourree Bach's work is held by many private and public collections including the Art in Embassies Program of the U.S. Department of State. Recipient of more than 150 awards, Bach's work has been featured in several publications including American Artist, American Art Collector and Fine Art Connoisseur. Bach is a signature member of the American Society of Marine Artists, and member of other groups including Artists for Conservation, Allied Artists of America, the Salmagundi Club and a fellow member of the American Artists Professional League. He is an elected artist member of the Copley Society in Boston, and in Connecticut, of the Lyme Art Association, the Mystic Arts Center and the Connecticut Academy of Fine Art.

Amy DiGi received a bachelor's of fine arts in drawing and art/design education from Pratt Institute in Brooklyn and a master's of fine arts in painting from Lehman College in the Bronx. DiGi studied at The Art Students League of New York. Her art was selected by the U.S. Department of State for its Art in Embassies Program. DiGi is a former New York City and Portland, Ore., public school educator and a returned Peace Corps Volunteer, who served in the Philippines. DiGi lives and paints in New York City. In 2011, the Coast Guard sent her on an artist deployment to its training center in Cape May, N.J. More information at amydigi.com

Frank Gaffney has had an interest in art all his life. He grew up in Northern Idaho. After high school, he studied advertising and design at the Cornish School of Allied Arts in Seattle, Wash. He also took courses at the University of Washington in Seattle in portraiture, sculpture and graphic design, and studied portraiture at the Scottsdale Artist's School in Arizona. The artist had his first solo exhibition shortly after graduating from Cornish, and then began working in the graphic arts field as a corporate designer and illustrator. During this period, he painted numerous portraits and other fine art commissions and operated a gallery and studio part time with a fellow artist. More information at frankgaffney.com

Sandra Hart is a signature member of both the International Society of Marine Painters and the Illinois Watercolor Society and is a member of the Arlington Heights Art Guild. Her work has been shown at the Chicago Art Open. She received a bachelor's degree in fine arts from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, where she majored in painting and drawing. She also studied portrait painting at the University of Evansville and art at Wabash Valley College. For three years, she taught oil painting at Gateway Technical Institute in Kenosha, Wisc. More information at hart-to-heart.com

Virginia based artist Debra Keirce has painted and drawn fine art since the 1980’s and 1990's when she worked as a biochemical engineer. In 2010, she turned her passion for the visual arts into a full-time career. She says the creation of highly realistic art that evokes a strong narrative, emotion, or memory is an act that feels magical to her. In addition to original works owned and displayed by a commercial entity in Boston, the artist’s work is held in private, museum and corporate collections across the globe, including the U.S., Japan, Belize, France, and England. She holds signature memberships in over a dozen major artistic societies. More information at debkart.com

Oscar Romero paints in a representational style working mainly with oil on canvas or wood panels. The artist aims to build a bridge between his work and the viewer, thus allowing the viewer to fill the space between what is painted and what is seen. Born in El Salvador and raised in California, he studied under David Hardy at The School of Classical Realism in Oakland, Calif. After his four-year enlistment in the Coast Guard he returned to continue his studies with Mr. Hardy. He currently lives in Sacramento, Calif. More information at poormansart.com

Santa Fe-based artist Douglas Smith received a bachelor's of fine arst from the Rhode Island School of Design in Providence and went on to study at Yale University, completing the Joseph Albers Program. For 25 years, he was creative director for Avon Products, Inc. A member of the U.S. Air Force Art Program, the artist served as the Air Force Art Program committee chairman at the Society of Illustrators in New York. His works are held in the permanent collections of Air Force bases and in museums across the country, including the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C., and in private collections.

Leendert van der Pool was born in the Netherlands and moved to New York City in l994. A self- taught artist specializing in drawings, pastels and oil paintings, van der Pool has exhibited his work widely in museums and galleries in the U.S. and Europe. His drawings have been included in numerous books as well as in several museum collections. He teaches workshops in color theory and drawing in the U.S. and Europe, and has conducted two teaching tours in Japan. The artist divides his time between New York, Paris and the Netherlands. More information at leendertvanderpool.com

Gabriela Burlamaqui

Pop-Up Exhibit: June 6-8, 2025

Art Walk + Meet the Artist

Saturday, June 7 | 3:00-7:00pm

Several paintings by Gabriela Burlamaqui will be on display and for sale inside our reception gallery from June 6 through 8th. You can meet the artist here at OMAM during the Ormond Art Walk from 3 to 7 pm on Saturday, June 7th.

Admission to Art Walk is always FREE, and you can ride the complimentary shuttle to visit all stops. Beer and wine will be available for purchase inside the museum.

Plus...

Visit our amazing ROOFTOP terrace between 5 and 9pm to enjoy the first round of the Locals Mix's original live music competition! Rooftop admission is $10 per person in advanced or $15 at the door. Click HERE to purchase tickets. No cover to explore the museum, gardens, and vendor village downstairs! Drinks, including beer, wine, and cocktails, will be available for purchase on the rooftop.

ABOUT THE ARTIST:

Gabriela Burlamaqui, hailing from Recife, Brazil, and currently based in Orlando, is a versatile artist whose creations span acrylic on canvas, digital art, and innovative use of recycled materials. Passionate about exploring the intricate interplay of human emotions, relationships, and the evolving world, Burlamaqui's work transforms chaos into organized visual statements, embracing imperfection and the beauty found in unconventional places. Her artistic journey has garnered recognition, including showcasing at the prestigious Art on the Loop in New York, winning the Audience Choice Award at FusionFest 2023, and participating in group exhibitions at Mills Gallery alongside renowned artists, where she stood out as the youngest contributor.

Artist Statement:

This collection is a vibrant exploration of my Brazilian roots and cultural influences. Each piece, from "Cafe da Meia Noite" to "Stab," is a reflection of the emotions and experiences deeply ingrained in the Brazilian way of life. Through bold colors and expressive compositions, I aim to transport viewers to the heart of Brazil, where the warmth of the people and the richness of the culture create a tapestry of life that is as beautiful as it is complex. These paintings are not just images; they are windows into a world where emotions run deep and every moment is an opportunity for connection and understanding.

Follow Gabriela:

gaburart.com | Instagram

Makayla Carlson

Pop-Up Exhibit: May 2-4, 2025

Art Walk + Meet the Artist: Saturday, May 3 | 3:00-7:00pm

Several new pieces by Makayla Carlson will be on display and for sale inside our reception gallery from May 2nd through 4th. You can meet the artist here at OMAM during the Ormond Art Walk from 3 to 7 pm on Saturday, May 3rd. Admission to Art Walk is always FREE, and you can ride the complimentary shuttle to visit all stops. Beer and wine will be available for purchase inside the museum.

About the Artist:

Makayla Carlson is an interdisciplinary conceptual artist based out of Iowa. She received her Bachelor's in Fine Art in 2019 from Grand View University in Des Moines, IA. She works amongst a few mediums, but primarily focuses on painting, mixed media, and sculpture. Makayla's work revolves around a symbolic connection between humans and nature. Driven by color, emotion, and experiences in the natural world, her work explores themes along the lines of grief, relationships, stagnancy, neglect, and more.

ARTIST STATEMENT:

"The intention of my body of work is to show deeper connections between humans and nature. The way that I express these connections is by presenting common experiences between humanity and nature such as growth, stagnation, adaption, and relationships. Many pieces are intuitionally based, inspired by experiences I personally have had in nature, and revolve around ideas in environmental science. I explore these concepts through paintings, mixed media, and sculptures. In each piece I juxtapose humanity and nature with a common thread in mind. There is a symbolic use of color, subject matter, and materials that is important to the concepts behind each piece."

FOLLOW THE ARTIST

• Website: makaylacarlson.net
• Facebook: artbymakaylacarlson
• Instagram: @artbymakaylacarlson

Jane Solose

"Cloudscapes" Pop-Up Exhibit: February 28 - March 2, 2025

Art Walk + Meet the Artist: Saturday, March 1 | 3:00-7:00pm

Make OMAM one of your stops during the First Saturday Ormond Art Walk to meet artist Jane Solose and see her abstract fluid artwork in the "Cloudscape" pop-up exhibit on display in our reception gallery.

Admission is FREE, and you can ride the complimentary shuttle to visit all Art Walk stops! Beer and wine, will be available for purchase.

About the Artist:

Five years ago, Jane Solose discovered the beauty, magic, and science of fluid dynamics related to acrylic pouring art, and in that short period of time produced a collection of unique and colorful abstract creations. The self-taught artist enjoys experimenting with various fluid art techniques, pouring mediums and color combinations. Her pieces have been displayed locally at the 2021 Ormond Memorial Art Museum Pop-Up at the PAC “Holding Space” exhibit, the 2022 “The Gift of Art” show at the Art Spotlight Gallery in Ormond Beach, the 2022 “Glitter, Glow, Shine, Sparkle” exhibit held at the Ormond Memorial Art Museum, and most recently at the Art League of Daytona’s 2025 Annual Members Awards Exhibit. Jane is a native of Niagara Falls, Ontario in Canada. Prior to becoming an abstract fluid artist, her career as a concert pianist, recording artist and master teacher took her to Korea, Japan, Austria, Bulgaria, Hungary, Romania, Serbia, Russia, Argentina, Canada, and around the U.S. After serving 40 years as a music educator in colleges, conservatories and universities in Canada and the U.S., Dr. Solose retired as Professor of Piano from the Conservatory of Music and Dance, The University of Missouri-Kansas City and currently resides in Daytona Beach Shores, Florida.

FOLLOW THE ARTIST

• Website: janesolose.com
• Facebook: JaneSolose.FluidArt
• Instagram: @janesolose_fluidart

Shawn Ehlers

Pop-Up Exhibit: January 31 - February 2, 2025

Art Walk + Meet the Artist: Saturday, Feb. 1 | 3:00-7:00pm

Make OMAM one of your stops during the First Saturday Ormond Art Walk to meet artist Shawn Ehlers and see her fine art photography/encaustic wax pieces on display in our reception gallery.

Admission is FREE, and you can ride the complimentary shuttle to visit all Art Walk stops!

Beer and wine, will be available for purchase.

Artist Biography:

Shawn Ehlers is a former Ford/Elite model who lived and worked in Milan, Paris and New York before getting behind the lens. Photographed by well-known photographers as Helmut Newton, Olivero Toscani and Albert Watson, her shift behind the camera was an easy transition. She gave models movement and posing directions familiar to her, helping launch successful commercial and fashion careers. Also working as a celebrity shooter for Wireimage and Getty Images, some of her roster includes: Lady Gaga, Meryl Streep, Jack Nicholson, President’s Bush and Clinton, Susan Sarandon, and Whoopie Goldberg. As a fine artist she won the prestigious gold award in 2015, Prix de la Photographie (PX3) for her series, “Women as Birds”. She combines the medium of Polaroid photography with the ancient art of encaustic wax.

Artist Statement:

"The main portion of this collection of pieces focuses on the reverence I have for nature and particularly water. Open water swimming has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. I am passionate about swimming in all bodies of water: oceans, lakes and rivers. Water has a fluidity that is both healing and calming. It’s the ebb and flow, the gentle and tumultuous waves that gives the water a mesmerizing effect. My intention of combining the photographic medium with encaustic wax is to evoke the feeling I get from being at one with the water or experiencing it: floating, suspending, and supporting. A few of the pieces in this collection express my thoughts, feelings and experiences as I travel the world. I’ve come back to my roots with photography, shooting exclusively with various Polaroid cameras. I find the film produces a magic image which scanned during the development of the photo is then printed using watercolor textured archival paper and ink. Typically there are several layers of encaustic wax that are brushed on and manipulated with a palette knife to get the surface I desire. The art of encaustic wax began in ancient Greece, initially applied to the hulls of ships with pigment and eventually made it’s way to both easel painting and sculpture. There is a luminosity and dimensionality with the application of encaustic wax. The textured surfaces I create mimic the feeling of water and the image underneath. The translucent quality of the wax intensifies the feeling and beauty of the abstraction of nature."

Follow Shawn Ehlers

INSTAGRAM | WEBSITE