![\"Guests](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Guests-enjoy-Alfredo-Barrancos-artwork.-Courtesy-of-Melanie-Jankun.jpeg\")
Guests enjoy Alfredo Barranco’s artwork.<\/p>\nGuests enjoy Alfredo Barranco’s artwork.<\/p>\n
Courtesy of Melanie Jankun<\/p>\n
Canon Coffee partnered with the Creative Hub of Apopka\u00a0last Thursday\u00a0to host\u00a0an Artist Meet & Mingle\u00a0party<\/a>\u00a0for the coffee shop\u2019s latest art exhibition.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u00a0was just a nice evening to walk around and speak to the artists,\u201d said Creative Hub of Apopka president Melanie\u00a0Jankun. \u201cAlso, we had two of the artists that are going to be showing in the next couple of months come, so they were able to see it and learn and talk.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n Featured artists Alfredo Barranco, Bradley Craven and Mark Pettengill\u00a0greeted guests as Canon Coffee served treats and drinks.\u00a0Brothers Keeper, the\u00a0classic rock\u00a0band for which Craven\u00a0plays bass<\/a>, performed\u00a0live music<\/a>\u00a0for the guests.\u00a0<\/p>\n Although\u00a0Jankun\u00a0has collaborated with Canon Coffee for three years,\u00a0the meet and mingle party\u00a0was the first of its kind for their partnership. A committee composed of local artists and community leaders organized the event.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201c[The committee] talked about who was prepared,\u201d\u00a0Jankun\u00a0said. \u201cA lot of these artists are very new, and\u00a0they\u2019ve\u00a0never shown their work before, so [we considered] who was prepared and has enough pieces to fill the coffee shop.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n The committee selected Barranco as the headlining artist.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cInfluenced by punk rock, concerts, movement, and nature, my work reflects energy, emotion, and bold expression,\u201d said Barranco\u00a0in\u00a0a March 2 Facebook\u00a0post<\/a>. \u201cWith a background in graphic design and production, I bring ideas to life through markers, acrylics, inks, murals, and mixed media\u00a0\u2014\u00a0working on everything from canvas to unexpected surfaces.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n Barranco\u2019s abstract style complements the traditional styles of Pettengill and\u00a0Craven. Craven specializes in acrylic paintings of\u00a0\u201csunsets and waterscapes,\u201d\u00a0while Pettengill\u00a0\u201cexplores classic Americana through a lens of surreal observation,\u201d according to a Creative Hub of Apopka Facebook\u00a0post<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n Canon Coffee will display the current exhibition\u00a0for the\u00a0remainder\u00a0of March and the entirety of April, with a Florida nature-themed\u00a0photography exhibition appearing in its place on May 3.\u00a0The exhibitions will rotate every two months.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cI think there\u2019s already things happening for the community to see art in the community, but if we could engage them more and get them to really value and celebrate it, that would be amazing,\u201d\u00a0Jankun\u00a0said.<\/p>\n Sarah Merly is an editorial assistant and reporter for The Apopka Chief. She joined the Chief in May 2025 after graduating from Patrick Henry College’s journalism program in Washington, D.C. In her spare time, Sarah loves watching rom-coms, visiting Disney, and throwing parties.<\/p>\n![\"Bradley](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Bradley-Craven-paints-a-scene-by-the-seaside-during-the-party.-Courtesy-of-Melanie-Jankun-768x1024.j.jpeg\")
Courtesy of Melanie Jankun Bradley Craven paints a scene by the seaside during the party.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/2-1.png\")
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