Rockhouse Masterpieces: Will Fernandez Exhibit

January 22nd, 23rd and 24th, with a Cocktail Reception from 6-9pm on the 22nd, Friday night.

“An open mind to whatever comes his way” is how Cuban born painter and sculptor Will Fernandez describes the inspiration behind his creations.

Fernandez unveils his newest creations at Rockhouse Masterpieces, the spectacular multi­level gallery housed in the newly repurposed and modernized 19th Century Coral Rock Church, located along the edge of Key West’s rapidly expanding Bahama Village Arts District.

Fernandez never intentionally lends a message to his work, often combines reality with whimsy, and almost always works from what he refers to as a “diffused memory” rather than an actual image of the object he recreates. “ I enjoy working with all mediums, clay being my favorite because it is the most spontaneous” states the artist.

Much of the sculpture Will creates is in the ancient form of Raku, a process which requires a dual heating process, the finale of which is a dramatic flaming of the red hot sculpture as it smothered in sawdust and leaves creating a bronze like, coppery patina or a light crackle finish, that comes as a result of the various glazes and levels of fire which are applied. Never really knowing exactly how the finish will appear is part of the appeal of Raku.

Situated along Whitehead Street, just a few steps from the Hemingway House along the path to the Southernmost Point, Rockhouse Masterpieces, located at 330 Julia Street, is open seven days a week from 10:00am ­ 6:00pm and represents local, Cuban and internationally acclaimed painters, sculptors and photographers and is the largest permanent North American showroom of the exotic, handcrafted and ecologically sustainable Pacific Green furniture collection.