Coastal Breeze News

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and this year area artists are stepping up and helping out with Bras for Life, a live-auction benefit to be held at Art League, Marco Island’s Center for the Arts on October 5. The preview reception starts at 5:30 p.m. A portion of the proceeds will go directly to Susan G. Komen for the Cure, Southwest Florida. Right now, as you read this, artists throughout the community are busy constructing, deconstructing, designing, and decorating women’s brassieres. All artists are encouraged to participate, but keeping quality standards at top notch will be the job of ... Read More »

There are “big doings” at Marco Island’s Artist Colony at the Esplanade! The Colony, an innovative enterprise of fifteen local artists, consists of three working studio-galleries: Portside, Rightside, and Waterfront, at the Esplanade Shoppes on Collier Boulevard. ArtWalks are held the last Wednesday of every month at 5-8 p.m. At their August 25 ArtWalk, the artists were joined by Marco Island Foundation for the Arts president, Sandi Johnson. The MIFA office/gallery is also at the Esplanade, next door to the wildly eclectic Waterfront Gallery. Sandi used the event to share details, about the many contributions the Foundation makes to our ... Read More »

Get off the highway? I know, I know, last time I told you to Get out on the Highway. But c’mon! It’s summer. The roads are empty; the crowds are non-existent; and it’s the perfect time to visit all those places not so easily accessible in high season. So, before it’s suddenly December and you are w a a y too busy and the roads are…oh, what’s the word…terrifying, get out of your climate-controlled home and into your climate-controlled vehicle and drive to one of Collier County’s fabulous climate-controlled non-profit Art venues. Here are a few suggestions: Museum of the ... Read More »

“Learning the Art of Raku” will be taught by visiting artist, Annabelle Johnson & Richard Rosen, at the Art League, Marco Island’s Center for the Arts, 1010 Winterberry, Marco Island. The session begins August 31 and runs for 5 weeks, ending on September 28. Classes will be held Tuesday and Thursday 3:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. (*On September 14 class will be 12:30 p.m. -5:30 p.m.) Pre-registration is required. The program is free to Marco Island resident children and is open to 4th to 8th Grade Students. Through their collaborative efforts, the Art League, Marco Island’s Center for the Arts and ... Read More »

I’ve been thinking a lot lately about the Florida Highwaymen – not the sweat and bug-plagued road crews we pass daily – but the 1950s artist movement started by sweat and bug-plagued African American painters from the Fort Pierce area. These Highwaymen are considered by many enlightened scholars and critics as the beginning of the Florida Regional Art tradition. But man, oh man, what a tough beginning. It’s difficult to make a living as an artist, but it is do-able. It requires unalterable faith and great persistence; and is definitely difficult. If you are an artist without representation, you must ... Read More »

Anyone who has strolled Cambier Park on the second Saturday of the month is familiar with the Naples Art Crafters Outdoor Art Festivals, when a dedicated group of juried local Artists set their white tents along the park’s dappled trails: painters, potters, sculptors, photographers et cetera. . . and the Gourd Lady. When I exhibit with Art Crafters, I’m fortunate to be booth-neighbors with Jean (Allen) Belknap. I spend early mornings, coffee in hand, marveling at her intricately carved and whimsically painted gourds. Running my hand over their organic twists and turns soothes me, and getting acquainted with my neighbor ... Read More »

No time for summer doldrums, there’s a new pARTy in town that I know you‘ll want to be in on. Art League, Marco Island’s Center for the Arts is busily getting ready for the upcoming 2010-11 season: new installations, new classes, new exhibitions and big celebrations…and they really need to make some room. Just leave it to the creative minds to turn house-cleaning into a blockbuster event! It seems for years their storerooms, closets, cubbies, cabinets, and bins have been slyly filling with original 2- and 3-dimensional works of art, artists’ materials, frames and display items. There’s a huge assortment ... Read More »

In my last column I expressed some very definite opinions about the 1960’s Collier County Art Scene?including some pretty snarky remarks about the over-abundance of sand dune and pelican paintings. I’d like to think I’m the sort of person who, when they’re wrong, say they’re wrong?especially when no less than twenty-three of my own dear readers point it out. Instantly. The truth is, Pelicans don’t make bad Art, bad Artists do. Consider the common Pelican. What a delight to catch it gliding low above the Gulf, nary a mosquito’s breath between its elegantly outstretched wing-tips and an angry wave. With ... Read More »

Have you heard the expression, If you can remember the sixties then you weren’t there ? Well I can remember the sixties and they were definitely not here. I arrived on Marco Island in 1967, and while it was breathtakingly beautiful it was somewhat of a cultural wasteland. Other parts of the country were practically exploding with brilliant innovations in art & music. Pop-Art, Op-Art, Rock & Roll and Jazz Fusion were challenging perceptions across the nation. Not here. Here the Art Scene was pretty much limited to seagulls and sand dunes. And pelicans, pelicans everywhere, on canvas, on driftwood, ... Read More »

Since 1983, the Art League Marco Island’s Center for the Arts has been awarding scholarships to Collier County high school seniors who are continuing their education in the Arts. On April 9th, during a public awards ceremony and reception, applicants and award recipients were honored; $4,500 in awards were presented. This Scholarship program provides an opportunity for Collier County high school juniors and seniors to exhibit their original artworks and compete for scholarship funds to continue their education in the arts. All funds provided for the program are provided by dedicated donations from Art League Patrons and the dedicated business ... Read More »

The Art League Marco Island’s Center for the Arts Board of Directors has been diligently addressing the process to replace outgoing Executive Director Christine Neal. At a special Board Meeting held to address this issue a decision was made to develop a Search Committee in an effort to perform a Nationwide Search for the replacement. Director Maury Dailey was appointed as the Chair for the Search Committee. In addition to Dailey, past Board members Barney Halaschak, Sandra Hill and Education Committee Chair Edythe Newbourne make up the initial committee that developed the proposed plan of action. Dailey states, “We take ... Read More »

Experience Paris in Marco Island as the Marco Island Foundation for the Arts (MIFA) presents the Left Bank Art Fest at the Esplanade. Free to the public, this one day event will take place on Saturday, April 17th, 2010 from 10am to 4pm along the waterfront and elsewhere at the Esplanade, 800 N Collier Boulevard, Marco Island. Three categories of artists will be presented: Youth (children and students through high school senior), Amateur and Professional. Original paintings, drawings, photography, mixed media, sculpture, fiber arts and printmaking are eligible. No crafts. Artists interested in being part of this event should fill ... Read More »

It’s a question I am often asked, seeing that I make my living, designing creating, and repairing jewelry, but it is still a tough question to answer. For centuries gold has been a symbol of wealth and success. Wars were fought, regimes toppled, civilizations even erased. Tons of gold was well spent or frivolously squandered. For example, amongst the Egyptians, Greeks and Romans, their royalty and high society wore pounds of the gleaming metal to symbolize their wealth and position. Kind of like our rap music stars of today. That was then, this is now. Some folks may possess only ... Read More »

“Our Marco Bridge”  First in a series of Marco Memories artwork by local artist Nancy Rhodes. Nancy painted this picture without knowing at the time that this particular view would never be the same considering the bridge work taking place. Now everyone will has an opportunity to own art which serves as a longstanding Marco Island memorabilia as well. Nancy is offering a giclee on canvas, framed, for $300, or a print on watercolour paper, unframed, for $100. Ten percent of all proceeds will be donated to the Marco Presbyterian Church Youth Group. E-mail Nancy Rhodes at [email protected] Read More »

Final preparations are underway for the Second Annual Marco Island Seafood Festival which takes place March 20 and 21 at Veteran’s Community Park. Mark your calendars! Not only will you be able enjoy the highest quality seafood selections and be entertained by the best local musicians, your attendance supports the humanitarian efforts of three local non-profit organizations: The Sunrise Rotary Club of Marco Island, the Kiwanis Club and the Marco Island Noontime Rotary Club. “In addition to great food and entertainment, we’re offering an expanded arts and crafts area this year,” said  Stan Niemczyk, event founder. “Also new this year ... Read More »

A Goldsmith’s Reflections by Richard Alan It was the most interesting holiday season I have ever experienced in my forty years in the jewelry business. There was not a single “must have piece of jewelry” that the industry repeatedly and in an annoyingly redundant manner attempted to sway the masses to purchase for the ultimate holiday “Wow” piece of jewelry. Year after year it was always something; Of course you remember the blitz of advertising from the diamond conglomerate De Beers, first there was the must have past, present and future diamond pendant that depicted a diamond pendant of three diamonds ... Read More »