TALLAHASSEE, FL – Secretary of State Glenda E. Hood announces an exhibition of paintings by Miami Beach artist Jessica Concepcion entitled, The Art of Concepcion. The exhibition, on display at the Old Capitol Gallery, will run from October 3, 2003 through January 5, 2004.

“The Department of State is pleased to provide Florida’s emerging artists with the opportunity to exhibit their works at the Capitol Complex,” said Secretary Hood. “The Old Capitol Gallery features innovative artworks such as the expressive paintings of Jessica Concepcion, and provides viewers with the unique exposure to the new, contemporary work being created by talented artists in our state.”

Using a variety of media such as oils, acrylics, charcoals, and pastels, Jessica Concepcion has created a series of expressive paintings that recall events in her life. Through the process of painting, she finds peace in what is hidden beneath the surface. She states, “What I am intending to express is there, but hidden beneath it is a subtext that deals with issues like an absent father, the single-child syndrome, and abandonment…What matters to me is the peace I find in those few seconds, when what was hidden is revealed.”

Jessica Concepcion received a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the Ringling School of Art and Design where she studied figure drawing, painting, and narrative imagery. She has worked as a scenic artist and her paintings have been exhibited throughout the Miami-Dade area.

The Old Capitol Gallery is located in the Capitol Complex in the Lower Level Rotunda of the Old Capitol. Hours are Monday - Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; Saturday, 10:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; and Sunday, 12:00 noon to 4:30 p.m. For further information, contact Sandy Shaughnessy at the Division of Cultural Affairs at (850) 245-6480 or visit: www.Florida-Arts.org.

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