Still Life in Americana

The July Exhibit at the Marco Island Center for the Arts has something for everyone, and it is free to the public. It is a colorful blend of American history, art and culture captured in still life. It is also a celebration of Teachers Past and Present - Love to Learn, now open for viewing through to July 29th. “We are honoring the contributions of past and present instructors sharing their passion and creativity with the community,” said Patricia Mills, Communications Manager for the Marco Island Center for the Arts.

Joel Shapses, a local renowned sculptor and instructor, has two free-flowing alabaster creations. Jo-Ann Sanborn brought two landscape paintings reminding us of our connection to the natural world around us. Tara O’Neill of Goodland brought two art pieces in pastel and India Ink and Judy Chinski’s vibrant art in both watercolors and acrylic are just a few of the numerous exhibitors honoring teachers past and present.

Acrylic exhibitors included Diane Reed Eiler, who paints in watercolor, oil and acrylics and makes use of bold textures and colorful shapes; Inez Hudson is a self-taught artist and her philosophy is that beauty and fun is in everything, it’s just a matter of helping it be seen.

For clay/pottery, Nancy Norman says that “working in clay can be very simple or extraordinarily complex, best of all, it’s fun; Judy Becker is also a painter, potter and metal sculptor; Rinny Ryan creates fun and sometimes irreverent folk-art type earthenware.

The La Petite Galerie features Still Life in Americana by Marty Simon. He is a member of the American Artists Professional League and his art has been honored at the National Academy in New York City. He has also been selected many times to exhibit his work in the League’s Grand National at the World Trade Building. Currently, Marty lives in Naples with his wife Irene sharing their home with their Jack Russell Terrier, Sadie. Often, you will see Sadie added to Marty’s Americana Still Life collage. Marty is a member of the Marco Island Center for the Arts.

Marty uses bold colors for his exhibit of Still Life in Americana invoking nostalgia and featuring a sampling of the simple pleasures of life; the vintage patterns of a Pennsylvania Dutch Quilt; patriotic colors and every-day items we find in our cupboard.