Opening Reception: Saturday, June 14, from 5-9pm
On View: June 14 – July 5
Morean Arts Center

Passages is an exhibition honoring the extraordinary life and work of Janet Gentlewind Folsom, a beloved artist, mother, husband and friend. A member of the Morean for 30 years, Janet’s vibrant portraits and still lifes were a highlight in annual members exhibitions. Her painting won Best of Show in the Morean’s 2015 All Florida Juried Exhibition, and the Morean mounted a solo show of her work in 2018.

Coming from a family who owned a toy-making company, Janet says her grandfather told her many fairy tales which encouraged her creativity. About her work, Janet said, “I am passionate about painting. I am drawn to all of the problems related to creating a painting: color, design, composition, and most of all capturing the spirit of my subject matter. Over the years, I have painted many portraits. In these paintings my goal is to capture the spirit, dreams, hopes, and anxieties that come with living life.”

Janet Gentlewind Folsom (1954 – 2024)

Janet Folsom earned a degree in Art History from the University of Maryland, College Park in 1976. Over the years, she accumulated numerous awards and accolades for her work.

She exhibited her paintings in galleries and exhibitions throughout Florida and the mid-Atlantic states. In 2021, her paintings were featured in the prestigious Skyway exhibition at the Tampa Museum of Art. She was a long-time resident of Gulfport, FL along with her husband, the artist Eric Folsom.