"Draw the World" Exhibit at Art Center

The Marco Island Center for the Arts invites the community to experience two inspiring new exhibitions opening June 29 and continuing through July 28. The exhibitions will be showcased throughout the Center's galleries, featuring Draw the World in the Lauritzen and Rush Galleries and a solo watercolor exhibition by Adriana Rangel-Houser in La Petite Galerie.

Draw the World brings together four accomplished artists: Beth Schroeder, Wendy Wagner, Hope Hanley, and Sir Roland Richardson, whose diverse approaches to drawing reveal the remarkable versatility of line, form, observation, and expression.

Richardson's charcoal works celebrate one of art's oldest mediums, exploring its ability to transform simple materials into vivid and living presences. His work reflects a deep appreciation for the timeless power of drawing as a form of personal expression. This is Sir Roland’s second exhibit at the Marco Island Center for the Arts, with an exhibit at the La Petite Galerie of his oils and etchings of people and places in September, 2025.

Hanley draws inspiration from urban sketching, watercolor painting, and the landscapes she has called home, from Chicago's cityscapes to the expansive skies and coastal scenery of Southwest Florida. Her work captures the beauty of everyday places through direct observation and artistic interpretation. Hope is also sharing her accordion-style sketchbook of scenes that are uniquely Marco.

Wagner's portrait drawings move beyond physical likeness to explore emotional experience. Through careful observation and expressive mark-making, her portraits invite viewers to connect with universal feelings of contemplation, resilience, vulnerability, joy, and human connection. Beth’s series of portraits reveals the sitters’ physical likeness but also their vulnerabilities and inner portraits.

Schroeder's work is deeply influenced by nature, meditation, and the creative process itself. Working across a variety of media, she allows each concept to guide its own material expression, revealing what she describes as the "bones" or essential structure of her subjects. Her work encourages viewers to experience life more fully through artistic connection. Beth’s pieces are quite large, meditative and her art journey has taken her to jungle-like settings in Florida, the woods of Michigan, and to art studios – all part of her creative process.

In La Petite Galerie, visitors will discover the luminous watercolor paintings of Adriana Rangel-Houser. Born in Colombia and trained in textiles and fashion design, Rangel-Houser built a successful career creating handwoven textiles and award-winning fashion designs before turning her creative focus to watercolor painting. Inspired by the natural beauty of Southwest Florida, her vibrant works capture the color, light, and richness of the region. Included in the exhibition is her award-winning painting, The Majesty of Lemons, which received recognition from the Fort Myers Beach Art Association in 2024. According to Adriana, Naples has provided the inspiration for many of her designs and tropical themes.

Together, these exhibitions celebrate observation, imagination, and the many ways artists interpret the world around them. Through drawing, watercolor, and mixed-media approaches, visitors will encounter works that invite reflection, curiosity, and a deeper appreciation of both the natural and human experience.

You are invited to an opening reception celebrating the artists, which will be held on Tuesday, July 14, 2026, at 5:30 PM. The reception is free and open to the public.

The exhibitions will be on view from June 29 through July 28, 2026, at Marco Island Center for the Arts, located at 1010 Winterberry Drive, Marco Island, Florida. For additional information, call 239-394-4221 or visit marcoislandart.org.