Year: 2018

The Alliance for the Arts and League of Women Voters of Lee County invite the public to participate in the following candidate forums:

All four forums will be held at the Alliance campus in the theatre at 10091 McGregor Blvd. Fort Myers, FL 33919 from 6 – 7 p.m. The forums will be conducted according to the guidelines of the League of Women Voters of Lee County (LWV).  LVW will moderate, track time and present questions from the audience.  Candidates will be given three minutes for an opening introduction, one minute to answer questions and two minutes for a closing statement.   Attendees do not need to RSVP.

The League of Women Voters or Alliance for the Arts does not support or endorse any candidate or political party.

The Alliance for the Arts will present The Comediannettes (formerly Diva Comedy Night) on July 21 at 8 p.m. in the theatre. This one night of side-splitting standup comedy features funny and fierce female comedians all from Florida.  General seating tickets are $15 for Alliance members and $20 for non-members.

The line-up features Pam Bruno, Dani Thralow, Nancy Francis and Mariannette LaPuppet.

Pam Bruno, from Hollywood, Florida, is the winner of 2015 Ultimate Miami Comedian. Pam has worked with many nationally known comedians, including Wendy Liebman, Emmy-winner Louie Anderson, Tommy Davidson, Bobby Lee, and the legendary singer Roberta Flack. She recently appeared with Kevin Hart in his new TV series, Hart of the City, on Comedy Central.

Dani Thralow was recently named Acme Comedy Club’s Second Funniest Person in Minneapolis and St. Paul. She has been selected to perform at comedy festivals throughout the United States. She enjoys spending time with her daughters, two little girls (at least that is what they are so far), running, and speaking about entrepreneurship.

Nancy Francis is a life-long family woman and a 30 year veteran of the Real Estate Title Business, this Librarian look-alike decided to take to comedy. Nancy’s take it or leave it Mom attitude transcends generations. Watching the audience watch this Grandmom “tell it like it is” must be seen.

Mariannette LaPuppet is a professional actress and writer of over 25 years turned comedian. She was a finalist in Nick @ Nite’s ‘America’s Funniest Mom’ and Winner of the 2nd Annual Comedians Ball in Florida and finalist in Comic Cure’s ‘Florida’s Funniest Female’. She has featured for top comedians like Craig Shoemaker, Michael Winslow, Judy Tenuta and Pauly Shore.

For more information on this event, visit ArtInLee.org/Comediannettes or call 239-939-2787.

You won’t have to go far to experience the wonder of the Smithsonian. The Smithsonian’s Museum on Main Street Hometown Teams: How Sports Shape America traveling exhibition comes to the Alliance for the Arts and examines the many roles that sports play in American society. The exhibition demonstrates how hometown sports energize the community, instill pride in it and create a bond that is passed from one generation to the next. The show is on display from June 30 through Aug. 11 at 10091 McGregor Blvd. Fort Myers, FL.

To complement the Smithsonian’s traveling exhibit, the Southwest Florida Historical Society and Lee County Black History Museum will curate memorabilia exhibits with local sports stories.

The exhibition’s opening ceremony is July 6 from 5-8 p.m. Throw on your favorite jersey, nosh on peanuts and popcorn, participate in free patriotic arts and crafts projects and explore the exhibit. This event is family-friendly, free and open to the public.

A panel discussion on the history of sports in Lee County will be held at the Alliance on July 21 at 10 a.m. The panelists will be announced soon.

The Alliance will also screen The Mighty Ducks on July 14 and Caddyshack on July 28 in the theatre. Tickets are $5 presale and include admission to the gallery. Seating is limited and first come, first serve. Caddyshack is rated R and sponsored by Winged Foot Title.

Receptions and panel discussions are open to the public and do not require tickets or reservations. While gallery admission is free, a $5 suggested donation keeps Alliance programming affordable and accessible.

This exhibit is made possible by a Florida Humanities Council Grant awarded to the Southwest Florida Historical Society. Project partners include the Smithsonian, the Alliance for the Arts and the Lee County Black History Society.

For more information about this exhibit, visit ArtInLee.org/HometownTeams or call 239-939-2787.

The Alliance for the Arts is seeking artists to submit their work to Dia de lost Muertos: A Juried Exhibit, coming in October. Artists should create pieces that showcase traditional Mexican sugar skulls merged with the artist’s aesthetic. Categories are sculpture, painting (including oil, acrylic, collage, watercolor and mixed media), photography, prints and drawings. The show exhibits from Oct. 5 through Nov. 3 at 10091 McGregor Blvd. Fort Myers, FL.

In many parts of Mexico, South America and the United States, Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) is a time to remember and celebrate the lives of friends and family. More about reveling life than remembering death, this unique day encourages us to connect with loved ones while reflecting on the ties that bind the past to present.

“Community participation is a powerful part of this holiday,” says exhibitions coordinator Krista Johnson. “That’s why we’re calling on local artists to contribute to this lively and fun exhibit.”

The show’s opening reception is Oct. 5 from 5-7 p.m. with awards at 6 p.m. Opening receptions are free and open to the public and feature light refreshments. There will be a $250 prize for Best in Show, $125 for 2nd place and $75 for 3rd place.

A high-traffic month for the Alliance, this exhibit will be up during Pride, Italian Fest, Rocky Horror, Arts on Tap Fundraiser and other events. Artists may submit up to 3 artworks for consideration. All entries must be submitted online no later than Sept. 20. To download the prospectus or submit artwork, visit ArtInLee.org/SugarSkulls.

Receptions and gallery talks are open to the public and do not require tickets or reservations. While gallery admission is free, a $5 suggested donation keeps Alliance programming affordable and accessible.

The Alliance for the Arts is excited to announce the return of its annual fundraiser Arts On Tap on Saturday, Oct. 20 on the Alliance campus at 10091 McGregor Blvd. Fort Myers, FL 33919 from 7 – 10 p.m. The announcement comes alongside the nationwide celebration of American Craft Beer Week. Arts On Tap, now in its second year, is a taste of creativity in the Alliance gallery featuring the craft of local brewers benefiting the Alliance for the Arts.

Participating crafters include Big Blue Brewing, Bury Me Brewing, Eight Foot Brewing, Fort Myers Brewing Company, Momentum Brewhouse, Palm City Brewing,  Point Ybel Brewing Company and Scotty’s Bierwerks with more to be announced. For one night only, guests can delight their senses with locally-handcrafted beers and spirits, hand-selected wines and culinary creations against a vibrant backdrop of local art.

“The Alliance for the Arts is all about supporting small, independent makers who have a story,” says development and marketing director Jessica Wisdom.  “We’re excited to celebrate the art of craft beer for the second year in a row. In our never-ending quest to outdo ourselves, this year’s event will be bigger and better with more art, more food, more fun and of course more beer!”

Last year, Arts On Tap attracted 200 guests. Tickets are $75 and include unlimited tastings from participating breweries and distilleries, culinary creations, pub snacks, gallery admission, music and games. The first 75 guests to purchase a ticket will receive an exclusive Support Local pint glass. Arts On Tap is for ages 21 and older. A state-issued form of I.D. is required.

Arts On Tap is a fundraising event for the Alliance for the Arts, a nonprofit visual and performing arts center located in the heart of Fort Myers. Since 1975, the Alliance has been transforming lives and improving community through the arts. Event proceeds support a creative hub that spurs self-expression, imagination and individuality.

The event is sponsored by Briers CPA, Custom Packaging and Products , EnSite, HBKS Wealth Advisors, Priority Business Solutions and Sanibel Captiva Community Bank. Sponsorships and visibility opportunities are also available at ArtInLee.org/OnTap.