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Visual and Performing Artists and Events in the news March 15-21, 2023

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1     ACTORS

 

Gregg Birr is Bill in Hollywood Arms at Arts Center Theatre on Marco Island

Gregg Birr appears in the role of Bill in Hollywood Arms for Arts Center Theatre. Gregg’s previous credits include Beer for Breakfast for The Studio Players, the delivery man in Neil Simon’s Barefoot in the Park (which he also stage managed), The Same Time Next Year, An Evening of Ten-Minute Plays, Emotional Baggage and High Noon in Boom and How They Talk in South Boston. Go here for more of Gregg’s theatrical credits.

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Chance Cintron is Norwayne Crumpler in ‘Doublewide, Texas’

Chance Cintron is a Fort Myers television and stage actor. He is appearing in the role of Norwayne Crumpler in Doublewide, Texas in the Off Broadway Palm through April 9. His stage credits include Ha! Ha! Ho! The Holiday Show at Off Broadway Palm (2022), Nick in Over the River and Through the Woods at Off Broadway Palm, Bo in Grumpy Old Men for Broadway Palm, Konstantin Treplyov in FSW Black Box Theatre’s production of Anton Chekhov’s The Seagull, Mr. Wormwood in Florida Repertory Theatre Education’s conservancy production of Matilda and Georg in Florida Rep Education’s conservancy production of Spring Awakening. You’ll find more of Chance’s credits here.

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Louise Cornetta plays alcoholic mom in ‘Hollywood Arms’

Louise K. Cornetta makes her Marco Island debut in the role of Louise in Hollywood Arms for Arts Center Theatre. The role is based on Carol Burnette’s real-life mother, who struggled with and eventually died from alcoholism. Although she graduated cum laude with a degree in theater from the University of Southern California, Louise did not initially go into acting but instead began a 27-year career ESPN that took her to every major sporting event. But Cornetta eventually found her way back to the stage seven years ago. View more of Louise’s credits here.

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Kevin Crumpler returns to Fort Myers Theatre as Judas and John the Baptist in ‘Godspell’

Kevin Crumpler plays the parts of John the Baptist and Judas for Fort Myers Theatre in Godspell. His prior credits include Professor Bhaer in Little Women (his Florida debut), Caractacus Potts in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, the Beast in Beauty & The Beast, Lancelot in Camelot, Buck Barrow in Bonnie and Clyde, Warren Sheffield in Meet Me in St. Louis and Sonny Malone in Xanadu. Go here for the rest of Kevin’s credits.

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Jorja Evans one of Jesus’ disciples in ‘Godspell’

Jorja Evans plays one of Jesus’ modern-day disciples for Fort Myers Theatre in Godspell. Her previous credits include Amy March in Little Women, work in the ensemble of Elf Jr., Miss Honey in Matilda, Jr., Mrs. McKee in The Great Gatsby, Margot Frank in The Diary of Anne Frank and Ursula in Fort Myers Theatre’s summer show The Little Mermaid Jr. (2020).

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Jackie Gossett one of disciples in ‘Godspell’

Jackie Gossett is a talented young actor-singer. She presently portrays one of Jesus’ disciples in Fort Myers Theatre’s production of Godspell. Jackie’s prior credits include the parts of Moana in Moana, Jr. at Florida Repertory Theatre, Charlotte in 13 the Musical at Gypsy Playhouse, Ariel in The Little Mermaid Jr. at Florida Repertory Theatre, Molly in Peter and the Starcatcher and Impulsive in The Experiment.

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Patrick Huey is alcoholic father in ‘Hollywood Arms’

Patrick Huey plays the part of the alcoholic father in Hollywood Arms at Arts Center Theatre. This is his first performance with Marco Island Center for the Arts and his first foray on stage since his undergraduate years at the University of Pittsburgh, where he performed as Dan in excerpts from Sexual Perversity in Chicago. Go here for more on Patrick.

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Aimee Naughton is Cinderella in ‘Into the Woods’

Aimee Naughton appears in the role of Cinderella in Into the Woods at New Phoenix Theatre. Aimee’s previous roles include Chiffon in Belle Theatre’s production of Little Shop of Horrors, Lady Beaconsfield for New Phoenix Theatre in Jekyll & Hyde the Musical, Mickey in Odd Couple: Female Version for Belle Theatre, work in the ensemble of Head Over Heels the Musical for New Phoenix Theatre, Logainne Schwartzandgrubenniere in The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee and Sister Mary Amnesia in both Nunsense and Nunsense II for Cultural Park Theater.

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Vizcaya Phillips plays little sis Alice in ‘Hollywood Arms’

Vizcaya Phillips makes her Arts Center Theatre debut in the role of Helen’s little sister, Alice, in Hollywood Arms. Vizcaya is ten years old and attends Tommy Barfield Elementary. Vizcaya enjoys modeling and has been featured in several magazines and runway shows. She looks forward to modeling at New York Fashion Week in September 2023. In her free time, she likes participating in the youth programs at Marco Island Center for the Arts, honing her modeling craft, and attending dance and aerial silk classes.

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Samantha Pudlin one of the disciples in ‘Godspell’ at Fort Myers Theatre

Samantha Pudlin  is appearing as one of the disciples in Godspell at Fort Myers Theatre. Pudlin’s recent stage credits include the role of Meg in Little Women for Fort Myers Theatre, ensemble work in Head Over Heels for New Phoenix Theatre, the Lady of the Lake in Spamalot, Crystal in Little Shop of Horrors and Marcy Park in The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, all for Cultural Park Theatre. The rest of Samantha’s profile is here.

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Olivia Rodriguez is young Helen for Arts Center Theatre in ‘Hollywood Arms’

Olivia Rodriguez portrays a young Carol Burnette (Helen) for Arts Center Theatre in Hollywood Arms. The 14-year-old Marco Island resident (by way of Boston, Massachusetts) discovered her love for performing at a very young age through dance and theatre. In 2019, she played the role of Sir Robin in Monty Python’s Spamalot and in 2020 played the role of Katrina in The Ghost in the Typewriter. The rest of Olivia’s profile is here.

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Theo Rosso a disciple in ‘Godspell’ at Fort Myers Theatre

Theo Rosso appears as one of the disciples in Godspell at Fort Myers Theatre. Rosso’s previous roles include Jay Gatsby in The Great Gatsby, Javert in Les Miserables, Ren in Footloose, Lonny Barnett in Rock of Ages and George in The Drowsy Chaperone. Rosso also served on the opposite side of the footlights, working as Assistant Director in Fort Myers Theatre’s production of The Diary of Anne Frank.

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Cassie Sampson gets witchy for New Phoenix in Sondheim’s ‘Into the Woods’

A local stage actor, Cassie Sampson has been involved in more than two dozen theater productions in Southwest Florida over the course of her career. She plays the Witch in Into the Woods for New Phoenix Theatre. She previously appeared as Ronnette in Little Shop of Horrors, in the role of Cinderella’s stepmother in Into the Woods for Belle Theatre, and was a member of the ensemble of Jekyll & Hyde the Musical and Queen Gynecia in Heed over Heels the Musical for New Phoenix Theatre.

Go here to see all of Cassie’s theatrical credits.

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Vanessa Schoof in ‘Doublewide, Texas’ at Off Broadway Palm

Vanessa Schoof made her professional acting debut at Theatre Conspiracy in the role of Susie Glenn in Selina Fillinger’s drama Faceless. Now she appears in Doublewide, Texas in the Off Broadway Palm Theatre. Born and raised in Fort Myers, she pursued theater at Lehigh Senior High School. Her most notable performances there included the roles of Addaperle in The Wiz, Violet in 9 to 5, and Donna Alternate in Mamma Mia! Go here for more on Vanessa.

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Cindy Sepich plays Dixie in ‘Hollywood Arms’

Cindy Sepich is Dixie in Hollywood Arms at the Arts Center Theatre on Marco Island. Cindy previously appeared as Rose in the reading of Paradise and Mr. Prince at Arts Center Theater and Lila in Silver Alert at the former Marco Players She recently performed in 37 Postcards and Singin’ Broadway at the Island Theater Company. She also appeared in many community theater productions in suburban Chicago.

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Kayci Suskind plays one of disciples in ‘Godspell’ for Fort Myers Theatre

Kayci Suskind is an aspiring actor who appears as a disciple in Godspell for Fort Myers Theatre. Her acting credits include Margot Frank in The Diary of Anne Frank for Fort Myers Theatre (2021), the Sour Kangaroo in Seussical the Musical for Creative Theatre Workshop (2021), and worked in the ensemble (and Kitty’s understudy) in The Drowsy Chaperone for Creative Theater Workshop. Go here for the rest of Kayci’s credits.

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Cassy Terwilliger is the baker’s wife in ‘Into the Woods’

Cassy Terwilliger appears as the baker’s wife in Into the Woods at New Phoenix Theatre. Recent credits include Crystal in Little Shop of Horrors at Belle Theatre in Cape Coral, Emma Carew in New Phoenix Theatre’s production of Jekyll & Hyde the Musical, and her New Phoenix debut in Head Over Heels. Terwilliger majored in vocal performance and theater at Emporia State University, where she performed in numerous operas and musical productions. Go here for more on Terwilliger’s theatrical credits.

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Cristine Villarreal makes theatrical debut in role of Helen in ‘Hollywood Arms’

Cristina Villarreal makes her theater debut in the role of Older Helen in Hollywood Arms at Arts Center Theatre. Like the aspirational Carol Burnett character that she plays in the dramedy, Cristina chases many rainbows in real life. After working in corporate America for a while, she traveled to explore and live in New Zealand for two years, where she developed a love for living and working unconventionally.

The rest of Cristine’s profile is here.

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Kendra Weaver returns to Foulds Theatre as voice of the wall in ‘Hatmaker’s Wife’

Kendra made her Theatre Conspiracy at the Alliance debut as Goodman in Men on Boats, She returns the Foulds Theatre stage as the voice of the wall in Lauren Yee’s The Hatmaker’s Wife, and she regularly appears as Mom and Wife in the new dramedy Our Crazy Life, which also stars (mais oui) her hilarious husband and rambunctious kids.

Go here to see all of Kendra’s stage credits.

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Madelaine Weymouth is Voice in ‘The Hatmaker’s Wife’

Madelaine Weymouth plays Voice in Theatre Conspiracy at the Alliance’s production of Lauren Yee’s The Hatmaker’s Wife. Maddy’s acting credits include Jen in Bekah Brunstetter’s The Cake for the Alliance for the Arts, Claudia Faith Draper in Nuts for The Studio Players, Elina in 2019 New Play Contest winner Phillip Christian’s The Chechens, Betty Schaefer in Lab Theater’s summer spoof Sunset Schmoulevard, and Clarice Orsini in the regional premiere of Jordan Tannahill’s Botticelli in the Fire. Go here for more.

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Jim Yarnes is Meckle in ‘The Hatmaker’s Wife’

Jim Yarnes is enjoying his 43rd year on stage. He started with Gulf Coast Opera Company before going on to perform at the Broadway Palm Dinner Theater, Cultural Park Theater, Lab Theater and Theatre Conspiracy at the Alliance for the Arts. He next appears in the role of big-hearted Meckle in Theatre Conspiracy at the Alliance’s production of Lauren Yee’s magical surrealistic comedy The Hatmaker’s Wife.

Go here to view Jim’s full profile.

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2      DIRECTORS

 

Carmen Crussard makes Theatre Conspiracy directorial debut with ‘The Hatmaker’s Wife’

She makes her Theatre Conspiracy at the Alliance directorial debut with Lauren Yee’s The Hatmaker’s Wife, a beautiful and poignant story that is sure to move audiences with its authenticity and dazzle them with its whimsy. At the Alliance, she is best known as its Youth Theatre Director. In that capacity, she has directed such wondrously ambitious, wonderfully-staged and densely-packed musical productions over the past decade as Pippin, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Calvin Berger, Monty Python’s Spamalot the Musical, Heathers the Musical, Almost, Maine, Peter Pan, Jr. and Xanadu, Jr. See all of Carmen’s credits here.

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Marilee Warner directs ‘Hollywood Arms’ for Arts Center Theatre

Marilee Warner directs Hollywood Arms for Arts Center Theatre. In 2022, she directed Love or Money for the Marco Players. Her theatrical credits include Broadway, Off-Broadway and Regional Theatre productions, with roles that include Jenny Katz in The Mystery of Anna O, Lela Rogers in Ginger & Me, Mary in Sharing a Life, Gabby in Naked By the River, Jane in Maternal Spirits, Meredith in Bat Boy, Truvy in Steel Magnolias, Babe in Queen of Bingo, Mary in Vanities, Mae in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. Many of these productions were world or regional premieres. You can view the rest of Marilee’s theatrical credits here.

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3     ARTISTS

 

Spotlight on River Basin muralist Rod Acosta

Local artist Rodney Acosta has painted two panels for the Fort Myers River Basin Mural Project. The first is the actual fort’s guardhouse and a survey map that was drawn to scale by a major who came in 1856 to find out why so much money was being spent to build the fort. The second is a rendering of Fort Myers’ colorful sheriff, Frank Tippins, in a boat on the Caloosahatchee River with three other men.

The rest of Rodney’s bio is here.

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Spotlight on River Basin muralist Lorrie Bennett

Lorrie Bennett is one of 39 artists who have painted murals for the River Basin Mural Project being conducted by the City’s Public Art Committee, Community Redevelopment Agency and Fort Myers Mural Society. Lorrie has painted two River Basin murals – one of Seminole Chief and feared warrior Billy Bowlegs and the other of Uncle Marion Hendry’s Grocery Store at the northeast corner of Hendry and Front Streets. Lorrie describes herself as a self-taught intuitive, contemporary, and expressive mixed media artist and illustrator who, from an early age, had an affinity for drawing and painting. For Lorrie, creating has always been a journey of experimentation and exploration. The rest of Lorrie’s credits can be read here.

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Spotlight on River Basin muralist Sherry Lynn Diaz

Sherry Lynn Diaz is one of 39 artists who have painted murals for the River Basin Mural Project being conducted by the City’s Public Art Committee, Community Redevelopment Agency and Fort Myers Mural Society. Sherry has contributed two murals to the project, the first being this one of the great Seminole chief and warrior Billy Bowlegs. Sherry has exhibited her art in juried local, state and national shows, earning awards on all three levels. She has enjoyed two well-received one-woman shows. Her art can be found in private and corporate collections in the Dominican Republic as well as many places throughout the United States. Please go here to see Sherry Lynn’s full profile.

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Spotlight on River Basin muralist Ruben Dimas

On the Hendry Street side of the detention basin next to Luminary Hotel three stanchions south of Edwards Drive is a mural of Henry Ford sitting in a Model T. It’s the car that Ford had the local dealer deliver to his friend and neighbor Thomas Edison on the occasion of the latter’s birthday in 1916. The mural was rendered by Fort Myers Mural Society member Ruben Dimas, an automotive artist born and raised in Fort Myers, Florida. He specializes in automotive illustrations, graphic design, and product design for the auto industry. Go here to see the rest of Ruben’s credits.

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Spotlight on River Basin muralist Michelle J. McDonald

As you walk around the basin next to Luminary Hotel, you’ll come across a mural depicting the arrival of colorfully attired guests on the pier at Thomas Edison’s home downriver on McGregor Boulevard. It was rendered by Michelle J. McDonald, who currently works primarily in acrylics and pastels. She is also known for her “Beautiful Bookmarks,” which are comprised of scraps of paper that create a collage. Michelle’s story is like that of many other later-in-life Florida artists. Go here to find out how.

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Spotlight on River Basin muralist Lesley Morrow

Lesley Morrow is one of 39 artists who have painted murals for the River Basin Mural Project being conducted by the City’s Public Art Committee, Community Redevelopment Agency and Fort Myers Mural Society. Lesley painted the portrait of John Alexander Weatherford that appears on one of the stanchions across from Ella Mae’s Diner at the Luminary Hotel. Morrow is locally known for expressive oil, acrylic, airbrush and mixed media paintings that express the feminine experience and mystique. Featuring vibrant brushstrokes and a distinctive palette, Morrow’s paintings are bold, raw and eye-appealing. You can read Lesley’s full biography here.

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Spotlight on River Basin muralist Eric Riemenschneider

Eric Riemenschneider is one of 39 artists who have painted murals for the River Basin Mural Project being conducted by the City’s Public Art Committee, Community Redevelopment Agency and Fort Myers Mural Society. Eric’s contribution to the project is a portrait of a Miccosukee warrior named Billy Fuel who fought alongside Seminole Chief Billy Bowlegs and Miccosukee Chief Sam Jones during the Seminole wars.Eric is a portrait artist who also reimagines commercial spaces to match the theme of the business through murals and collections of paintings.  Go here to read Eric’s full bio.

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Spotlight on River Basin muralist Roland Ruocco

Muralist Roland Ruocco has contributed four compositions to the Fort Myers River Basin Mural Project, a homage to iconic Fort Myers banker, businessman and real estate developer Harvie Heitman that will be installed on one of the four obelisks on Edwards Drive and panels to be installed on the stanchions surrounding the basin that depict the shuffleboard courts that were located at one time next to the Hall of 50 States, the fire that claimed the Lee County Packing House on Memorial Day in 1953, and drovers unloading cattle from a barge, on which he collaborated with his artist wife, Wendy White. Go here to view Roland’s education, training and more on his body of work.

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Spotlight on River Basin muralist Samantha Taylor

Samantha Taylor is one of 39 artists who have painted murals for the River Basin Mural Project being conducted by the City’s Public Art Committee, Community Redevelopment Agency and Fort Myers Mural Society. She has painted two of the murals included in the project, the first being the Father of Fort Myers, Captain Francis Asbury Hendry and the second being The King, Elvis Pressley, who performed twice during the 1950s at our City Auditorium.

A native Floridian, Samantha is known for her portrait paintings, local murals and tattoo artistry. As an avid painter specializing in oils and fluid mediums, Sam is inspired by the human form and surrealism. Go here for the rest of Samantha’s bio.

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Spotlight on River Basin muralist Erik Schlake

Fort Myers Mural Society muralist Erik Schlake is one of 39 artists participating in the Fort Myers River Basin Mural Project. Not only is he contributing a mural panel for the obelisks that flank either side of Edwards Drive, he is leading the team that is installing the mural panels on the stanchions and obelisks that encircle the detention basin. Schlake has been influenced over the years by traditional decorative art as well as contemporary street art. He combines various styles in his work, infusing classic painting with elements of trompe l’oeil, grisaille, and other traditional decorative art in an effort to engage and interact with the viewer a less formal mode of communication. It’s a style he often refers to as “modern traditionalist.” The rest of this post is here.

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Spotlight on River Basin muralist Dawn Webb

Dawn Webb is one of 39 artists who have painted murals for the River Basin Mural Project being conducted by the City’s Public Art Committee, Community Redevelopment Agency and Fort Myers Mural Society. Dawn painted a mural of Fort Myers first African-American settlor, Nellis Tillis, who, with his wife, Ellen, were also the town’s first interracial couple.

Dawn is a proud born-and-raised Southwest Florida native. Born in Fort Myers, she has watched the city develop and grow since the 1970s. On the fine arts side, Dawn works in the medium of acrylic painting. But she is also a gifted tattoo artist. Go here for the rest of Dawn’s bio.

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Spotlight on River Basin muralist Wendy White

Based on a vintage 1930s-era postcard, this mural depicts the many activities that visitors can enjoy during a fun-filled trip to Fort Myers. Titled Florida Fun, it was rendered Wendy White who is an accomplished artist, curator, director, playwright, screenwriter and teacher. Born in Rockaway Beach, New York, Wendy’s palette and writings are strongly influenced by her early environment of living by the sea. Her father was a painter and while she was growing up, she and her twin brother would frequently model for him as muses. Go here to view Wendy’s impressiver resume.

 

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4     ART SHOWS AND EXHIBITIONS

 

Alliance receives record number of submissions for All Florida show

The Alliance for the Arts’ eagerly-anticipated annual All Florida Juried Exhibit opened March 3. This year, the Alliance received more than 700 submissions, which is 120 more than the previous All Florida Juried Exhibit. From those, juror Grace Gdaniec selected 66 pieces for inclusion in the 37th installment of the Alliance’s longest running exhibition.

The rest of this announcement is here.

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Go here for names of this year’s All Florida exhibitors

The Alliance for the Arts’ eagerly-anticipated 37th Annual All Florida Juried Exhibit opened March 3. From the 720 submissions from artists residing around the State of Florida. From these, juror Grace Gdaniec selected 66 pieces. Go here to see who made the cut.

 

 

 

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Hear about 37th Annual All Florida Juried Exhibit on WGCU

The 37 Annual All Florida Juried Exhibit is on view this month in the main gallery of the Alliance for the Arts. The show continues to grow in stature and statewide recognition, as evidenced by the fact that the Alliance received 120 more submissions this year than it did in 2022. That presented this year’s juror, Grace Gdaniec, with quite the challenge when it came to deciding which 60 or so works to include in this year’s exhibition. Go here to hear the full story on WGCU.

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Spotlight on 37th Annual All Florida juror Grace Gdaniec

The Alliance for the Arts’ eagerly-anticipated 37th Annual All Florida Juried Exhibit opened March 3. From the 700-plus submissions that the Alliance received this year, juror Grace Gdaniec selected 66 pieces for inclusion in the show.

“It was an honor to jury the 37th Annual All Florida Exhibition at Art Alliance,” Gdaniec says in her Juror’s Statement. “The large number of entries this year is a testament to the reputation of the Exhibition, and the number of contemporary artists from around the state that are actively creating in Florida’s vivid and vast artistic landscape.” The rest of this profile is here.

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Spotlight on 37th Annual All Florida Exhibit Best in Show ‘White Shirt’

On March 3, Juror Grace Gdaniec chose an oil painting by Dunedin perceptual painter Anders Fernach titled White Shirt as the 37th Annual All Florida Exhibit’s Best in Show. Although he paints a wide range of subject matter, Fernach often chooses to paint the everyday, the familiar, the mundane. “I find there is beauty in the every-day that is all too often overlooked,” says Fernach, who makes slow, quiet paintings in a fast, loud world.

Go here for more.

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Spotlight on All Florida artist Linda Hugues

One of the 66 artworks juried into the 37th Annual All Florida Exhibit on view in the main gallery of the Alliance for the Arts through April 1 is Linda Hugues’ oil painting Pink on the Street. Hugues’ sunlit cityscapes and landscapes speak of joy and connection in everyday life. Hugues paints either in oil or acrylic. “Oil for its luscious smoothness and blending qualities, and acrylic for its bright colors and forgiveness,” says Linda. The rest of this Spotlight is here.

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DAAS’ April show features art of group of local artists

DAAS CO-OP Art Gallery & Gifts is showcasing the artwork of a group of local artists in April. Each participating artist was invited to submit one piece representative of their work and creativity.

One of the artists who accepted DAAS’ invitation is Sonia Rose, a member of the Union Artist Studios on Fort Myers. Her work explores a variety of mediums, evoking spiritualism and mysticism.

Rosa has collaborated with multiple artists as a professional figure model and is very well known in the art scene of our city.

Visual artist and graphic designer Julia Da Rocha is another participant. She brings a vibrant, feminine and intuitive approach to the mix. Da Rocha, also a member of the Union Artist Studios, exemplifies freedom in her work, rejecting limitations on her medium and process. Her work, as well as several other participating artists, will help create an atmosphere of wonder and an introduction into the artistic world of each exhibiting artist.

“Our gallery enjoys these invitational exhibitions because they support a number of artists and challenge them to create something special for the exhibition,” remarks DAAS CO-OP Art Gallery co-owner and curator David Acevedo. “When you put a group of highly creative individuals to work together, wonderful and unexpected things happen and that is essentially what our [cooperative] gallery concept is.”

Acevedo also founded the Union Artist Studios and most recently, the Arts & Eats Café, located in the campus of the Alliance for the Arts in Fort Myers.

The opening reception is scheduled for Friday, April 7, 2023, from 6:00 to 9:30 p.m., in conjunction with the monthly Fort Myers Art Walk event. The exhibition will be on display through April 30, 2023.

DAAS CO-OP Art Gallery & Gifts is located at 1815 Fowler Street, in the Butterfly Estates complex in Fort Myers, FL. The gallery’s business hours are Wednesday to Sunday from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. More information about the venue and/or how to become a member can be found at daascoop.com or by calling 239-590-8645.

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Davis Art Center hosts International Baccalaureate Visual Arts Exhibit in April

The Sidney & Berne Davis Art Center will host The Fort Myers High School International Baccalaureate Visual Arts Exhibition in the Grand Atrium in April. The exhibition showcases work by 38 students in a wide range of visual media including traditional and digital photography, acrylic and oil painting, pen and ink, printmaking, fiber arts, sculpture, ceramics and more.

During the past two years, the students have explored the works of historical and contemporary artists, investigated critical theories in art, and created extensive documentation of their art-making processes in a series of sketchbook entries that fulfill the requirements of the International Baccalaureate Visual Arts program.

The exhibition’s opening takes place during Art Walk from 6:00-10:00 p.m. on Friday, April 7, 2023. Sidney’s Rooftop Sculpture Garden will be open during the opening, with live music provided by 3HR Tour under the stars from 7:00 to 11:00 p.m.

The show will remain on display through April 28.

Photos:

  • Brooke Pocklington
  • Katie Welborn
  • Antonia Orbe Coka
  • Victoria Borton

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Davis Art Center hosts Maria Collier’s ‘Sounds & Color’ in Capital Gallery in April

The Sidney & Berne Davis Art Center will host Sounds & Color by artist Maria Collier in the second floor Capital Gallery in April. An intuitive artist, Maria’s muse and inspiration is music and dance, which she uses as a guide in choosing her vibrant and lively color palette. Her pieces are poured and scraped, and go from the floor to the easel and back again. She builds layer upon layer, relying on the interaction of each to create an unanticipated relationship of color and texture. While music plays in her studio, Maria employs door stops, trowels, foam brushes and both floor and window squeegees to bring her work to life, allowing the surprise of small moments and unexpected detail to come through.

Maria is a Colombian-born artist who has lived on the Southwest Florida coast for over 40 years. She began painting on canvas after being diagnosed with an auto-immune disease. The healing that occurred from being aligned with her true passion comes across in the joyful colors she uses in her work.

The exhibition’s opening takes place during Art Walk from 6:00-10:00 p.m. on Friday, April 7, 2023. Sidney’s Rooftop Sculpture Garden will be open during the opening, with live music provided by 3HR Tour under the stars from 7:00 to 11:00 p.m.

Sounds & Color will remain on display through April 28.

The Sidney & Berne Davis Art Center is located at 2301 First Street in the historic downtown Fort Myers River District.

For more information call 239.333.1933 or visit the website at www.sbdac.com

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Exhibition of paintings by Anna Razumovskaya opens at Shaw Gallery in Naples

An exhibition of new work by Russian artist Anna Razumovskaya opened on March 16 at Shaw Gallery of Fine Art on Naples Fifth Avenue South.

Razumovskaya is best known for her classic, romantic figures that carry a sense of elegance and grace. They carry an aura associated with the Renaissance and yet, due to her signature powerful and dynamic technique, are refreshingly modern.

Anna’s eclectic mix of experiences has enabled her to create a truly unique signature style that resonates with those who share her passion for life. She is a great believer in art’s power to heal, transform and inspire others in their journey.

Anna is a graduate of the Russian State University For Arts, where she got the distinction award of high-class artist in 1991. Subsequently, she studied art in Germany, Belgium, and Holland. With solo exhibitions in New York, Paris, Toronto, Amsterdam, Antwerp and Berlin and numerous works in private collections across the globe, she has become one of the most exciting and collectible artists on the contemporary scene.

Born at the height of the cold war, Anna has seen two very different worlds, that of the austere communist regime alongside the sophistication and femininity of her fashion-conscious mother. She excelled at art school, and enjoyed the freedom of learning and perfecting her technique in a variety of different media. Of particular interest to her were the portrait masters of the late 19th Century, John Singer Sargent, the Russian painter Valentin Serov, and earlier masters such as Peter Paul Rubens and Rembrandt. She traveled around Europe absorbing the influences of artists, and finally settled in Canada which she now feels to be her real home.

Looking at Anna Razumovskaya’s art, you always get a feeling of artist soul tension behind the painting. “Romanticism” is the word to describe Anna’s works … interlacing of quiet tones with the bright color impact at the end is the trademark of the artist… abstract elements is the significant aspect of every artwork and, in combination with the sensual dynamics, creates an unforgettable experience for the viewer.

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IMAG celebrates 100th anniversary of discovery of Tut’s tomb with ‘Return of the King’

November 4th marked the 100th anniversary of British archeologist Howard Carter’s discovery the tomb of King Tutankhamun. Because Tut’s successors tried to obliterate his name from the annals of Egyptian history, the pharaoh had been buried in an out-of-the-way place that had prevented robbers from finding and plundering the tomb. So when Carter opened it, the tomb still held the bulk of its treasures. The IMAG History and Science Center in Fort Myes is celebrating the 100th anniversary of the tomb’s discovery with an exciting exhibition containing reproductions of scores of the artifacts found in Tut’s tomb that’s been extended to May 14, 2023. Listen on WGCU for the details: https://news.wgcu.org/…/imag-history-science-center…

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SWFL arts organizations conducting survey to quantify economic impact of the arts

The Alliance for the Arts and dozens of local arts organizations are surveying audiences attending their events in an effort to quantify the economic impact of the arts here in Southwest Florida. In fact, it’s part of a nationwide study by Americans for the Arts of the contribution made by arts organizations to their local economies.

This is the sixth such study and involves 387 participating communities in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. In Lee County, the Alliance for the Arts is spearheading the effort to collect the data needed for the study. Go here to hear why you should participate in the study if you are asked to complete a survey.

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5     PUBLIC ART

 

River basin mural project creates walkable outdoor art and history museum

In collaboration with the CRA, the Fort Myers Mural Society and Public Art Committee have installed 57 murals on the stanchions and obelisks that encircle a 1.8 acre detention basin adjoining the new Luminary Hotel. Each mural features people and scenes from the days when Fort Myers was a port dominated by 7 long pierces jutting into the Caloosahatchee River. Augmented by Otocast, this walkable outdoor art and history museum is expected to draw thousands of visitors to the downtown Fort Myers River District and enhance the visitor experience of both residents and vacationers alike. Listen to some of the artists who worked on the project sound off about their experiences – and what you can expect when you tour the murals.

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Identifying river basin murals and muralists

Work is underway at the river basin adjoining Luminary Hotel on an ambitious new outdoor art and history museum. When it is completed, the walkable gallery will feature 57 murals – four on the obelisks on Edwards Drive and 53 on the concrete stanchions which anchor the decorative fence that circumscribes the basin.

The project is a collaboration between the City of Fort Myers Public Art Committee and Community Redevelopment Agency and the Fort Myers Mural Society. The Mural Society has engaged 38 local artists to render the murals which, in turn, tell stories about Fort Myers’ early existence as a port town on the river that many once called the most picturesque waterway in all of Florida.

The artists are painting the murals on special, high-grade cloth that is being glued to the concrete in a way that converts them into scratch-resistant tiles that prevent fading and resist damage from moisture and other elements. So far, Fort Myers Mural Society artists Erik Schlake and Roland Ruocco have installed about 14 of the mural panels, and their efforts are attracting crowds.  Their recurring question:  What will the other murals depict? Here’s the answer.

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Update on installation of the river basin murals and audios that tell their stories

As February draws to a close, work continues on the Fort Myers River Basin Mural Project. That’s a collaboration between the City’s Public Art Committee, Community Redevelopment Agency and the Fort Myers Mural Society to create an outdoor, walkable art and history museum that features 57 murals which tell the tale of Fort Myers’ early existence as a port on the Caloosahatchee River. Painted on specially-manufactured mural cloth by 38 area artists, the panels are being installed on the concrete pillars or stanchions and four obelisks that encircle the detention basin adjacent to Luminary Hotel.

Proposed last May, the artists were given 100 historic photographs, postcards and related images in September, and in spite of the damage and losses that many of the artists suffered during Hurricane Ian, most completed work before Thanksgiving.

Go here for the rest of this update.

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Audios for four more River Basin murals go live on Otocast

Four more River Basin mural audios are now live on Otocast:

Mural # 26 depicts the Coca Cola Bottling Plant that was located on the City Pier in 1914. While it’s almost impossible to fathom now, back then the water in the river was so clean and pure that the plant mixed it with the patented syrup to bottle and distribute the soft drink locally.

The rest of this update is here.

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6     THEATER PRODUCTIONS

 

‘Hollywood Arms’ a dramedy about shattered hopes and realized dreams

Arts Center Theatre presents Hollywood Arms March 15 through April 2. Based on Carol Burnett’s memoir One More Time and filled with wry humor and true-life grit, Hollywood Arms is a story about shattered hopes and realized dreams. A period piece, the story is set in California in 1941 and 1951 in a dingy one-room apartment called the Hollywood Arms that’s located one block north of Hollywood Boulevard. There, three generations of women on welfare attempt to eke out a hardscrabble existence in pre and post war California during the wane of Hollywood’s Golden Age. The rest of this advance is here.

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Hear about ‘Hollywood Arms’ on WGCU

Carol Burnett is one of America’s most beloved entertainers. The Arts Center Theatre on Marco Island is producing a play that Burnett wrote with her daughter, Carrie Hamilton. Based on Burnett’s memoir, One More Time, the family drama delves into Burnett’s early life and the influences that enabled her to develop the wry wit and insightful humor that earned her variety show eight Golden Globes and 25 Emmy Awards over the course of its 11-season run. Go here for more.

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‘Godspell’ comes to Fort Myers Theatre March 10-19

Godspell comes to Fort Myers Theatre March 10-19. Based on the Gospel according to Matthew, Godspell is the first musical theatre offering from composer Stephen Schwartz, who went on to write such well-known hits as Wicked, Pippin, and Children of Eden. The musical features the international hit “Day by Day,” as well as an eclectic blend of songs ranging from pop to vaudeville, as Jesus’ life is played out onstage. Even after the haunting crucifixion, Jesus’ message of kindness, tolerance and love lives vibrantly on.

Go here for play dates, times, cast list and ticket information.

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Gulf Coast Symphony brings ‘Gypsy’ to Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall

Gulf Coast Symphony’s production of Gypsy comes to the Barbara B. Mann Performing Art Hall for two 7:30 p.m. shows, the first on March 17 and the other March 18. With lyrics by the immortal Stephen Sondheim, music by Jule Styne and book by Arthur Laurents based on the memoirs of striptease artist Gypsy Rose Lee, this groundbreaking 1959 musical focuses on her mother, Rose, whose name is synonymous with “the ultimate show business mother.”

The rest of this advance is here.

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New Phoenix’s ‘Into the Woods’ mash-up of history’s fav fairy tales

New Phoenix Theatre brings Into the Woods to the stage April 13-30. on September 16. Into the Woods is a mash-up of history’s favorite Brothers Grimm and Charles Perrault fairy tales with a major dose of reality injected by James Lapine (book) and Stephen Sondheim (music and lyrics) to underscore that our lives rarely take the path we anticipated, our actions impact others in often-unexpected ways and, more often than not, what we think we want most in life isn’t nearly as satisfying or fulfilling as we envision. You will find the rest of this advance here.

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‘Doublewide, Texas’ in Off Broadway Palm through April 9

On stage in the Off Broadway Palm Theatre through April 9 is Doublewide, Texas. This laugh-out-loud comedy comes from the writers of The Savannah Sipping Society and The Dixie Swim Club.

This hilarious, fast-paced Southern-fried comedy follows the inhabitants of one of the smallest trailer parks in Texas as they scheme to save their little community after finding out that the nearby town of Tugaloo is determined to annex them. In Doublewide, Texas, life is double the fun, double the joy, and double the laughter.

Off Broadway Palm Artistic Director Paul Bernier directs Chance Cintron (Norwayne Crumpler), Kay Francis (Big Ethel Satterwhite), ML Graham (Georgia Dean Rudd), Jim Heffernan, Rachel Lord (Larken Barken), Ken Quiricone (Lomax Tanner), Vanessa Schoof, Donna Schulte (Caprice Crumpler) and Jenny Smith.

Performances are Tuesday through Sunday evenings, with selected matinees. Ticket prices range from $50 to $70 with discounts available for groups of 20 or more. Tickets are now on sale and can be reserved by calling (239) 278-4422, visiting BroadwayPalm.com or in person at 1380 Colonial Boulevard in Fort Myers.

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Whimsical and poignant ‘Hatmaker’s Wife’ at Theatre Conspiracy at the Alliance

Theatre Conspiracy at the Alliance for the Arts presents The Hatmaker’s Wife March 16-26. Premiering Off-Broadway in 2013, this whimsical and poignant play has now made its way to our very own Fould’s Theatre. Sweet and surreal, it’s a story that bends time and space to redefine the idea of family, home, and true love itself. The rest of this advance is here.

Go here for play dates, times and tickets.

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