TALLHASSEE, FL - Secretary of State Jim Smith announces an exhibition of mixed media work entitled “Project: Apollo” by Fort Lauderdale artist Kyle Barnette. The exhibition, which will be on display through January 30, 2003 in the Old Capitol Gallery, Lower Level Rotunda of Florida’s Old Capitol building, is part of the Florida Department of State, Division of Cultural Affairs’ Capitol Complex Exhibition Program.

Connecting the modern and the classical and art and science in his work, Barnette presents a unique and exciting perspective on the race for space. Subjects include test pilots and Saturn rockets, take-offs and spashdowns, in a brilliant array of colors and forms. Barnette’s media varies from acrylic on canvas to photo-silkscreens and even fiberglass for “Abel,” the eight-foot monkey with a rocket on its back.

Kyle Barnette received his MFA in Painting and Drawing from the University of South Florida in Tampa. He is currently a faculty member in the art department at Hillsborough Community College. He has exhibited his work at galleries and museums all over Florida, including the Museum of Art in Fort Lauderdale, the Jacksonville Museum of Contemporary Art, the

Margulies/Taplin Gallery in Boca Raton and the Anne Jaffe Gallery in Miami. His work is part of the private collections at the University of North Texas and as well as with several private collectors in Tampa, Palm Beach and Boston, Massachusetts, among other cities.

The Old Capitol Gallery is located in the Lower Level Rotunda of the Old Capitol. Hours are Monday - Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; and Saturday, 11:00 am to 3:00 p.m. For more information, contact Sandy Shaughnessy at the Division of Cultural Affairs at 850/487-2980.

# # #