Where Art Notta

WHAT NOTTA?

If Lakeland were the “small” town setting for a budding film festival romcom and the main characters met up for a day date, they would meet at Notta Gallery. With the farmers market in the background, they would stroll up the incline of N. Kentucky Ave. knowing Downtown was the perfect choice. There are just enough people around to not feel either secluded or overwhelmed. There is just enough happening to provide options just in case the date goes stale. They would walk to the chic, inviting space and be greeted by one of the owners at the entrance, hands splotched with colors he’s using to paint the Notta sign and direct passersby to spend some of their time inside. Another owner is at the welcome desk contentedly explaining the gallery’s latest exhibit: “Love, Lakeland.”

The gallery is perfect for their conversation. (And a significant other. A brother. A bestie. Two besties, even. But for this imagined movie, it is the crush that hasn’t been seen since college.) It supplies all the right scenarios where the movie wants to show the protagonists visually stimulated to ooh, ahh, and hmm audibly or through their disposition. Before getting too far into the exhibit, the characters chat with a plant-based baker, Laura Sank, selling vegan desserts (they buy her white chocolate pecan blondie that is delicious).

Notta’s vibe is familiar, the artwork both striking and straightforward. Our pretend camera pans across art made by actual Central Florida artists. It shows Chris Roll’s “Three Figures series” and Chanique Davis’s “It’s All Coming Together” abstract piece. There’s a montage of mixed art and the acrylic oil painting, the comic sketches of Aaron Conley (who makes a cameo as the DJ for the gallery’s First Fridays event), and Jeremy Riviera’s layered photography, which made one character comment about how they should have paid more attention in photo journalism & color theory. The music fades and the hopeful couple stops in front of Sara Savannah Jones’ “In A Barbie World” and exchange one-liners about the societal commentary the piece represents.

The more engrossed character then finds themselves pulling their date closer so they can peek around a corner to see an artist transforming a canvas onsite. They’re whispering about how special it is to watch the creative process happen, to witness someone delve into their artistic mode right in front of them. They turn to face one another and both say in unison, “We’ve got to come back.”

This is how Notta thrives, in what lingers after a visit, the desire to have more time there.

WHO NOTTA?

The best events, businesses, ideas, and places come to fruition when the right people are in agreement. Notta’s team of cofounders illustrate this. Their six degrees of separation are now an intertwined collective of visionaries. Andy and Katie Webb are married. Katie knew Tony Agnello through networking. And Tony is engaged to Danielle Klonecki. All of them creatives and business owners, all of them exultant to construct a gallery that would illuminate the work of area artists and energize visitors to become supporters.

“I want people to leave wanting to come back. I always want people to wonder what’s new at the gallery,” says Danielle. Andy follows, “... the biggest compliment is when we have people come in and say they feel like they aren’t in Lakeland, but in Miami or New York.” “It’s exciting, cause, wow, they like this version and we’re not even done yet. I’ve been proud of that,” inserts Katie. Tony adds, “... we’ve all put together something we’re going to be proud of for the rest of our lives.”

The cofounders, as synchronized as possible, state the gratification they have in the assembly of their unit and the assembly of the gallery. Danielle describes the fulfillment she’s found in the team, “I think what I’m most proud of is the group of people we put together and how quickly we made this dream [happen] and how excited the community is about it. The people that we have together are the right people and sometimes you can’t find that out until you’re in the mud figuring things out and building it together.”

The team then lists the many other organizations they are grateful to form alliances/partnerships with. They appreciate their surprising success in curating community.

They appreciate cooperative efforts. They appreciate the Lakeland Downtown Development Authority and those at Depot Arts District. They appreciate the other businesses in the area and the farmers market. They especially appreciate Steven Raya (who originally assisted with logistical relationships and contracts but is now the Communications Manager for Notta). Katie jumps to detail how Steven has complimented the business, “when [Tony] met him and saw his background was in the creative field, he was so perfectly meant to be in this gallery space as its champion. He has picked up so many balls that we have not had a chance to grab; he has helped us immensely.” The inspiration of the gallery appears to be in the right hands and connected to the right people.

WHY NOTTA?

Because it promises so much. It is not just a gallery. At least only a single one for now. The team dreams of having satellite galleries. They want to host workshops and have classes. They want to have events, holiday season exhibitions, and themed weeks. “We want a design week where we can highlight art, fashion, interiors, music, and food that we’re currently planning for next year. For this year, we’re going to have another exhibition, leading into the holidays. We will be adding new pieces representing new artists,” Andy states. Most importantly they want art to be for everyone. Tony asserts, “We’re really trying to create lovers of artwork. We’re trying to create people that want to invest into local creators. We want them to love it, but we want them to also want to desire to support it.”

And it starts with going there.

NOTTA GALLERY

125 N Kentucky Ave, Lakeland

nottagallery.com

Photos by Amy Sexson