Please note the updated gallery and administrative office hours:
Tuesday-Friday: 9 a.m. – 7 p.m. and
Saturday: 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Year: 2017
Dear Alliance members and friends,
The Alliance for the Arts continues to monitor the forecast track of Hurricane Irma, which is currently a Category 5 hurricane. We are preparing for possible severe weather conditions, currently anticipated to begin as early as late Friday and to remain in effect throughout this weekend.
The Alliance offices will be closed Friday, Sept 8th through Monday, Sept 11th. All programming including SoCo Second Saturday, the GreenMarket, youth theatre rehearsals, classes and the Fired Up exhibit will be postponed or canceled. At this time we do not know when our facility will re-open. Please check our social media channels and website for additional updates.
Thank you for being a part of the Alliance family. I wish your family safety and security during this uncertain time.
Sincerely,
Lydia Antunes Black Executive Director
The Alliance host its fundraiser Arts On Tap on Friday, Oct. 20 on the Alliance campus. Arts On Tap is an indoor pub crawl featuring the craft of local brewers and distillers benefiting the Alliance for the Arts.
Event proceeds provide support for the Alliance’s robust arts education program for children, adults and families and continue to enlighten, enrich and entertain southwest Florida through affordable and accessible programming.
“Since we are devoted to being a champion for artists, we have decided to celebrate the artistry of craft beer and distilling,” says development director Jessica Clark Wisdom. “From artists and eateries, to cultural organizations and music, the evening will provide artful offerings to suit every taste. Our vision for Arts On Tap is to celebrate the local artisans and businesses redefining southwest Florida.”
The Alliance for the Arts’ September exhibit, Fired Up, will feature the works of 29 Florida artists who have created their pieces using fire or heat in some way. The juried entries represent mediums such as ceramics, glass, welded pieces, encaustics and installations.
The opening celebration will be held on Sept. 8 from 5 – 7 p.m. Juror Lee Brotherton will be on hand to present awards including $300 for Best In Show, $125 for second place and $75 for third place. Meet exhibiting artists and juror Lee Brotherton during a conversational walk and talk through the gallery as they discuss their works on Sept. 9 at 6 p.m. during SoCo Second Saturday Art Crawl. This exhibit runs until Sept. 30. Admission to the gallery is free, but a $5 suggested donation helps keep arts programming accessible.
From 93 entries, 46 pieces were selected by the juror. Artists include: Thais Alvarez, Alyssa Baladad, JoAnne Bedient, Gianna Dubay, Patricia Fay, Ehren Fritz Gerhard, Eric Greenblatt, Carrie Keohane, Jay Lana, Sherry Lavendar, Felipe Maldonado, Sandra Fay Mark, Deborah Martin, John Merchant, Rick Plummer, June Powell, John O’Brien, Marcia Preisler, Mary Etta Rokusek, Ronald Sebring, Gale Shamblott, Joel Shapses, Barbara Simon, Toni Ferrell Sutton, Lynn Troyer, Mary Voytek, Beverly Yankwitt, Roseline Young and Peter Zell
A Simple Thing(Part 2)-Patricia Fay
This year’s juror is Lee Brotherton. Lee’s fine arts career included serving as an elementary art teacher, art museum work, art gallery manager and sales consultant. During this time, she constantly dreamt of being a full-time artist. In her free time she continued to work in the arts, especially with clay.
Brotherton has over 20 years of creating, marketing and selling pottery recreations and original sculpture and paintings. Her sculptures are in private, corporate and museum collections throughout the world.
Let the zaniness begin! Liz Abbott, Stephanie Davis and Karen Goldberg are in jeopardy in the first theatre production of our 17/18 season, opening August 11. Women In Jeopardy by Wendy MacLeod takes us into the lives of three divorced women of a certain age—ringleader Mary (Liz Abbot), sidekick Jo (Karen Goldberg) and exasperating foil Liz (Stephanie Davis). The starring ladies reveal what Kevin Spacey, Dollywood and Bloody Marys mean to them.
With all expenses paid to pursue your writing or acting, where would you choose to live and work next summer?
Liz Abbott: I love to write, however, I don’t consider myself a “writer”….although….possibly in my future! Cinque Terre. I honeymooned there. It was extraordinary. I long to return.
Stephanie Davis: A remote cabin in the Smoky Mountain (preferably near a babbling brook).
Karen Goldberg: I would love to pursue theatre in New York City. It is simply the center of the theatre world and there are many opportunities for me to hone my craft.
If you didn’t write or perform, what would you like your creative outlet to be?
LA: Interior Decorator.
SD: Singing — but being tone deaf prevents me from sharing my voice with the world (you’re welcome).
KG: I would probably sing if I wasn’t acting. I grew up singing and embarrass my children whenever possible by breaking into song.
What is your most treasured possession?
Liz Abbott
LA: Can I possess my kids? That’s kind of weird. I guess possession wise, my wedding band. It was my grandmother’s on my father’s side. Opal and Dale married in 1924. My grandmother, whom I adored, gave me her wedding set on her death bed. It symbolizes a great deal to me 94 years later.
SD: My iPhone (mostly because it has all my photos in it and I treasure them).
KG: I do not treasure possessions. I treasure people. My three children are the light of my life and I treasure them more than anything.
What is your greatest extravagance?
LA: I have traveled and seen many a fabulous hotel, restaurant, show, etc…It always boils down to: Sushi and a good beer…Alone with my husband on our family room floor.
SD: Shopping trips to Target.
KG: I like to eat out a lot. I spent many years cooking every meal for my family and now I am tired and want others to cook and clean for me.
What playwright or actor would you most like to meet?
LA: I really don’t want to meet any of them. I have. It’s so awkward. I like adoration from afar. That said, I have envisioned my grand awkward moment with Carol Burnett over and over.
Karen Goldberg
SD: Since I’ve already met Meryl Streep, I now want to meet Jessica Lange. Not only do I want to meet her, I want have martinis with her.
KG: I am a huge fan of Kevin Spacey. His acting ability is just phenomenal and I would love to learn from him by performing together.
What would you like the title of your autobiography or the title of your biography to be?
LA: More Wire Hangers….
SD: The Life Story of the Gal who had Martinis with Jessica Lange
KG: Sorry Not Sorry
What trait do you most value in a friend?
LA: ALL of them. And they know who they are and what I adore about them and need from them regularly. I’m an only child. They know they are being held accountable.
SD: That they can be counted on to pick up the phone by the second ring when I call.
KG: Honesty. I like people who are true to themselves and others; people who are real and speak with integrity.
What do you like most about yourself?
LA: Hmmmmmm. I was raised by a very beautiful and confident woman. I like a lot about myself. I am also my largest critic. I pride myself on inclusion. I never want anyone to feel left out. I’m also known for making a grand, festive celebration or tradition out of the smallest of situations. I also love a pun.
SD: My amazing interpretive dance skills after I’ve had two shots of tequila.
KG: I crack myself up a lot so I have to say my sense of humor. It rarely lets me down even in the worst of life’s moments.
If, or when, you become wildly famous, where would you most want to present your work?
LA: I gave up on seeking fame years ago. Fame is relative.
SD: Dollywood — because it’s so close to my imaginary Smoky Mountain cabin with the babbling brook.
KG: New York City baby! And London. I always wanted to play London’s West End.
Stephanie Davis
What is your favorite one liner from Women in Jeopardy?
LA: When asked to share a favorite line from the show…I am immediately drawn to one. It’s not a line I say in the show, however, it’s one that strikes a magical chord. I quite enjoy a bloody Mary. Often, I post on Facebook when I am enjoying a special moment with a bloody Mary and am quick to caption the event with a clever quip, such as; “It’s a joyous day for my kids to return to school Mary!”
Thus, my favorite line in the show is Trenner’s at the end of Act One: “Suffice it to say I’ll be worth it Mary!” You can bet your ass that will be my post the morning after we open when I’m enjoying a little Mary of my own.
SD: “I swear to God she’s so stupid she deserves to die!”
KG: “Of course we know it was a man. Women don’t kill strangers, they kill husbands.”
Performances for Women In Women In Jeopardy by Wendy MacLeod are August 11-12, 17-19 & 24-26 at 8pm and August 20 at 2pm. Individual tickets to each show are $25, $11 for students or $22 for Alliance members. This production is kindly sponsored by Susan Ion Hogan, DDS.
The Alliance for the Arts is seeking artists to submit their work to Your Best Shot: A Juried Exhibit. The exhibit is dedicated to photographers and photography and is sponsored by GMA Architects. The show’s opening reception is October 6 from 5 – 7 p.m.
This year’s juror is Steve Chase. Steve holds degrees in both Fine Art Photography and Motion Pictures. Prior to teaching at Florida Southwestern State College he was one of the founding faculty members of the Undergraduate Program of the School of Motion Pictures Arts at Florida State University, where he served as a full time faculty member from 1990 – 2004. In 1997 he won Florida State University’s highly coveted T.I.P. award for excellence in college teaching. In 2002 he was nominated for a university teaching award and in 2004 he was recognized for his distinguished contribution to the success of the Film School.
His photography has been exhibited throughout the state and nationally. His films have been screened at festivals nationally and internationally. Steve is a recipient of a Florida Individual Artist Fellowship – 1992. Chase has taught Fine Art Photography at FSW since 2008.
There will be a gallery walk with the artists and juror October 14 at 6 p.m. during SoCo Second Saturday Art Crawl. There will be a $300 award for Best in Show, $125 for 2nd place, and $75 for 3rd place.
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Let the zaniness begin! Liz Abbott, Stephanie Davis and Karen Goldberg are in jeopardy in the first theatre production of our 17/18 season, opening August 11. 
The Alliance for the Arts is seeking artists to submit their work to Your Best Shot: A Juried Exhibit. The exhibit is dedicated to photographers and photography and is sponsored by GMA Architects. The show’s opening reception is October 6 from 5 – 7 p.m.
