Gallery of Art 850 in Panama City, Florida, hosted the opening reception for 'The Color Blue' art exhibit on Thursday evening. The show is the second in a series of themed exhibits, following last year's 'The Color Red' which coincided with the RedFish Film Festival. Artists were invited to create works featuring shades of blue, and the exhibit includes 75 entries spanning paintings and sculptures, up from 63 last year.
The exhibit matters because it underscores the role of local galleries in fostering community culture and supporting regional artists. Gallery owners Kim Griffin White and Mark White emphasized that the event helps transform downtown Panama City into an arts district, providing a platform for creative expression and community connection. The show runs through June 27, reinforcing the importance of accessible, non-competitive art spaces in building local cultural identity.