
Austin Bell and the MIFA board with the scholarship recipients. Photos by Maureen Chodaba
The Marco Island Foundation for the Arts (MIFA) is a charitable non-profit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to bringing literary, visual and performing arts to public places on Marco Island. At their recent annual luncheon, scholarships were presented to five students who are majoring in the arts in college. Also included at the luncheon was the presentation of the prestigious MIFA Artist of the Year Award to Austin Bell, Curator of Collections of the Marco Island Historical Museum. The event was held at the Wesley United Methodist Church, with delicious catering by Stonewalls Restaurant and floral designs by the Calusa Garden Club.
Scholarships were

Anastasia Baron and her artwork.
MIFA Board member Clara Alber introduced the Island Dance Academy performers Celina Alber, Caelin Bert, Kaitlin Campbell, Laney Dunstan, Ashley Francis, and Alex Stephens

Brenda Perez displays her creations.
As he took the podium, MIFA 2017 Artist of the Year Austin Bell told the crowd how “crazy” it seemed that he should be receiving the award. He jokingly said, “I can’t even draw.” Ironically, those words were spot on in describing the new, far broader meaning of the word “artist.” Bell was nominated for the award by Pat Rutledge, executive director of the Marco Island Historical Society (MIHS). Rutledge said, “Austin is not a painter, a sculptor nor a photographer, but someone who has made an outstanding contribution to the cultural

Pat Rutledge with Austin Bell at the museum.

Joseph Byrne performs his solo “Origin of Love.”
Getting back to his personal description of his reception of the award as being “crazy,” Bell lightheartedly told the young scholarship recipients, “A little stubborness and craziness can be a good thing. Sometimes you have to be a little stubborn if you have a vision. If you are getting satisfaction in what you are doing, keep doing it!”
Perhaps the most touching and profoundly artistic statement of the day came from long time Marco Island resident Emily Savage, wife of Herb Savage, an architect who worked with the Mackle Brothers in the early days of the island’s development,

Island Dance Academy
MIFA President R. Clark Lindberg, Vice President Karen Swanker and the MIFA Board would love to see the entire community involved with this wonderful all-volunteer organization. As a community organization, MIFA sends their message to Marco Island, saying, “We believe that the arts are the catalyst in bringing people together and help to create a sense of community.”
To learn more, please visit www.marcoarts.org or email info@marcoarts.org.
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