Armory Art Center — Attraction in West Palm Beach

This is probably unlike other reviews of the Armory Art Center as it is focused on those that work there and not the center itself. My mother was Carol Caldwell, a known, award winning and published artist in palm beach county. She studied under the watchful eye and expert direction of the famed and incredibly knowledgeable illustrator and painter Graham Ingles (Google him!). She and a good size group of professional artists and teachers studied and painted with him every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, from 8 am till 5 pm. Some of them, including mom, had been with him for 20 and 30 years. When he passed away, my mother turned the upstairs of our house into a studio so they could all continue painting together and found that Graham was still there in each one of them and they were able to help each other. His legacy lived on in each of them. This continued for a good 15 years or so until their numbers slowly dwindled down and it finally came to an end. In the meantime my mom had emassed a huge library of art books, all in pristine condition. Mom passed in April of 2019 just before the pandemic. I began boxing up her books and going through art supplies. 12 cases of books so heavy I could hardly lift them, 6 large wood easles and tabarets from Grahams old studio of which a couple went to neighbors who paint. Stay with me... I wasn't about to try and sell these books online, way too time consuming. I tried donating them to the college and was told they weren't accepting donations. I didn't want them to go to a thrift store as I knew mom would have wanted them to go to artists to further their education and being an artist myself, wanted the same. I opened my home to neighbors to take what they might like before I had the house cleared out for sale. One of the women that came took an easles and asked if she could have the two boxes full of unopened oil paints. Of course I said yes and asked if she would like some great art books. She told me that the Armory Art Center was redoing their library and I should see if they might like them. I called that day and was directed to Derek, he's the man in charge of donations. A few days later I loaded all of the books in my car and my neighbors loaded their SUV with easles and tabarets and off we went to donate. Derek and his associate met us and loaded up carts and wheeled them into the building. They both could not have been nicer and we chatted for quite a while about mom and Graham. I was overjoyed seeing how happy they were to give moms books and Graham's easles and tabarets, originally from his studio, a new home where they could further the education of a new generation if budding artists. My heart is very happy...and I know Mom's and...

I attended the Armory Arts Annual Festival yesterday and enjoyed the displays and musical performance. I was disappointed so many of the artists selling art work were from other counties....thought they'd be local or Armory students. It would have been more welcoming if 1 or 2 Armory members actually welcomed guests as we entered the property and handed us info pamphlets about the displays, artists, and classes offered. I had to look for the table/tent to get pamphlets and had to ask about classes. Glad to see refreshments were available to purchase...however way overpriced.There was security and motorcycle police handling traffic concerns. Art work on display inside facility was very nice. It was a lovely day for an outdoor arts festival however I had no idea who was in charge at the Armory Festival and hence did not feel they appreciated my attending...yet I received an invitation. It lacked a greeting or greeters at the entrance. In my opinion if one invites guests; one must greet guests. However I will probably return to a future event bec I enjoyed...

I grew up in an abusive home, mainly emotional neglect and verbal abuse, with occasional physical abuse. My childhood trauma and experience made me believed that I don’t deserve kindness or love, unless I am ‘perfect’. So I led a life of self attack, constantly criticizing myself cruelly inside- until this voice has been shrinking at Armory pottery classes. In clay, learning how to throw and change shape of the pots I make, I cannot possibly be perfect- and my teachers keep telling me it’s ok not be perfect. They show me kindness and compassion that I deserve being treated nicely even I can’t throw a perfect pot, and they teach me it’s ok to let go and accept and embrace the imperfections. I am eternally grateful to Armory, and especially to Mark Walnock, the ceramics director. I often wonder if I would still be physically alive if I haven’t met Mark and Armory Art Center. Pottery helps me to stay alive, and enriches my life. Thank you Mark and the ceramics teachers at...