Author: Desiree DeMolina

Starting in February, the Alliance for the Arts weekly GreenMarket is expanding to Sundays from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. this season, located at 10091 McGregor Blvd. Fort Myers. The announcement comes alongside the hire of Steven Ceracche as the new market manager.

Steven Ceracche is a third generation farmer from Ithaca, New York. He grew up on a small apple orchard in upstate New York and graduated from University at Albany in 2007 with a BS Environmental Science with a concentration in Biology.

Steven has over 15 years of agricultural experience, specialized in hydroponic agriculture production. He lived in Northern California and Portland, Oregon building, managing and consultation services for various different types of crops and growing environments. He is an owner of Florganica Farms in Punta Gorda.

Starting the first weekend of February, the GreenMarket will be on Saturdays and Sundays from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. While onsite, visitors are invited to explore the Alliance for the Arts’ 10-acre campus or come inside to shop the gift shop or explore its current gallery exhibitions. The gallery is free and open to the public, though a $5 suggested donation keeps Alliance programming affordable and accessible.

Sunday market days will feature Tai Chi on the lawn presented by Ellio Pilates, beginning at 10 a.m. This class is pay-what-you-will to attend and no reservations are required.

Upcoming special events at the GreenMarket include:

  • Grand Opening of Sunday GreenMarket on Feb. 6 from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m.
  • Free Family Art Labs on Feb. 19 from 10 a.m. – noon
  • Mayor’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Day on Feb. 20 from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m.
  • Disability Inclusion Event on Feb. 27 from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m.

For more information on the Alliance for the Arts GreenMarket, visit ArtInLee.org or call 239-939-2787. To become a vendor, contact Steven Ceracche at greenmarket@artinlee.org.

The Alliance for the Arts June exhibition, Voices and Visions presented in partnership with Arts4All Florida, will showcase from June 4 through 26 at 10091 McGregor Blvd. The mission of Arts4All Florida is to provide support and champion arts education and cultural experiences for and by people with disabilities. The exhibition will feature adult artists of all abilities sharing their personal voice or statement through text and imagery as a means to celebrate inclusiveness.

The Alliance will host an online, virtual opening reception on June 6 at 6 p.m. via Zoom. The behind-the-scenes evening will feature a guided tour of the exhibit. The reception is free to attend, although a $5 suggested donation keeps Alliance programming affordable and accessible. An RSVP is required at ArtInLee.org/Arts4AllOpening in order to obtain the access link.

Gallery hours are Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. and Saturdays from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. during the Alliance for the Arts weekly GreenMarket. Face masks are required inside the Alliance building and when social distancing is not possible. Admission to the Alliance gallery is free, but a suggested donation keeps programming affordable and accessible.

For more information about the Alliance, visit ArtInLee.org or call 239-939-2787.

Following a tradition decades-long, the Alliance for the Arts GreenMarket will host a free workshop series each month this summer at 10091 McGregor Blvd. Fort Myers, FL. The first workshop begins on May 15 at 10:30 a.m. with a presentation by local grower, edible and medicinal herb expert and raw food enthusiast Tatiana Logvinova of Green Paradise Eco Farm.

The workshop and demo will provide insight on easy and efficient ways to incorporate farm fresh produce into your meals by offering tips and tricks on good selections, the right storage, diverse usage and propagation for future growth in a small space. Have fun, learn new things, then sample and shop Tatiana’s booth and the GreenMarket to put your newfound knowledge to work!

Grab a chair, blanket and a notepad for this hour long presentation followed by a Q&A. All workshops are free, but small donations are accepted to help the Alliance for the Arts continue programs and activities that benefit the community.

Workshops are free and will be conducted rain or shine. The Alliance campus offers 10 acres of open space, so appropriate social distancing will be maintained.

The free urban workshop farming series continues on Saturday, June 19 with a session on Bread Making presented by Jay and Carolanne of Hearth Bread.

The GreenMarket has been a hub for local backyard veggie gardeners and organic farmers for over 10 years. It acts as a space where knowledge is shared freely, with the goal of making Fort Myers and southwest Florida more sustainable: more growers big and small, better food, introduction of biodiversity and resilience in our gardens and fields.

The weekly market is open from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. each and every Saturday, year-round and rain or shine with free yoga on the lawn at 9:30 a.m. During these hours, the Alliance for the Arts gallery and gift shop are also open for guests and visitors to come and explore. Masks are required inside the Alliance building and gallery and when social distancing is not possible.

For more information, please visit ArtInLee.org or call 239-939-2787.

The Alliance for the Arts is thrilled to announce the participating artists of Art Lives Here. The campaign transforms billboard space throughout Lee County into public art. It is made possible by Alliance season sponsor Carter Outdoor.

Of the submitted works, the Art Lives Here committee juried in local artists Tania Alves, Bruce MacKechnie, Doug Smithwick, Khaysie Tiburcio and Susi Wingenroth.

The project, now in its third year, aims to bring artwork outside of the traditional context of museum and gallery walls, bringing attention to emerging artists’ work and making the arts accessible to all.

For more information call 239-939-2787 or visit ArtInLee.org/ArtLivesHere.

About the Artworks 

Blue Magic by Tania Alves

 I’m often inspired by a color combination and my emotions. I love the freedom of allowing the art appear as I mix the colors on the canvas. I’m repeatedly surprised of where we end, the final work on the canvas and how my heart is full.

 Fandiggity Fandango by Bruce MacKechnie

 I am inspired by the challenge of translating a composition created with mouse clicks into the physical world of paint strokes. As subject matter, I am interested in how pure abstraction is so wide open to interpretation. For this reason, I enjoy playing around with shapes, colors, and compositions to see what comes out of the process—especially surprises and unforeseen meanings. The billboard piece ended up having an exuberance and rhythm that seemed to express some sort of lively, joyful dance, hence the title, “Fandiggity Fandango.”

Art Within Their Souls by Khaysie Tiburcio

 I wanted to create a piece that represented the impact that art has on the painter. This artwork includes portraits of Basquiat, Picasso, and Andy Warhol, morphing into their masterpieces. This is used as a metaphor to express how art becomes a part of the artist.

 Frame of Reference 1 by Susi Wingenroth

This painting shows the morning sun radiating through the cypress trees in the wild heart of the wetlands. It is intended as a call to those who see it to enjoy, care for and preserve these wild places.  When we look up from our busy lives and notice our home, beautiful living planet Earth, we see a frame of reference for making healthier choices to preserve the planet for all living beings and for future generations.

Sun Is Out by Doug Smithwick,

This painting is reminiscent of happy times, like summertime in Norfolk, Virginia where I grew up. My family used to take us to Ocean View Amusement Park just about every weekend. I’ll never forget the colors, the great rollercoaster, Ferris wheel and merry go round. I can still smell the cotton candy. The 1950s were the happiest times in U.S history. World War Two had just ended and our economy was bouncing back. However, winters were grey and cold. We all went to Disneyworld during the winter when it first opened. No grey skies there! I was sold on Florida. I moved here in the 80’s and never regretted the decision.”

The Alliance for the Arts’ January exhibition, Winner Circle – Art Council of Southwest Florida, features over 50 award-winning artists from art organizations including the Alliance for the Arts, Cape Coral Art Center, Cape Coral Art League, Centers for the Arts Bonita Springs, Fort Myers Beach Association, Pine Island Art Association, Sanibel Captiva Art League, Southwest Florida Pastel Society, SW Florida Fine Craft Guild, and the Weavers of Char-Lee.

The Art Council of Southwest Florida’s Winner Circle Biennial Exhibition honors artists who have received top awards from 2018 through 2020. The Art Council of Southwest Florida was formed in 1963 and today consists of nineteen affiliated organizations consisting of members from Lee, Collier, Charlotte, Hendry and Glades counties with a combined membership of over 6,800 artists.

After consideration from jurors Carol Broman and Leila Mesdaghi, awards were unveiled to the public during a virtual opening reception on Jan. 8. Awards totaled $1,000 to artists in both 2D and 3D categories.

Winners Circle Award Winners

  • 3rd Place – 2D – Tom Werdin, Lake Michigan Shore, Pastel, Pine Island Art Association
  • 3rd Place – 3D – Carol Murphy, Earth’s Baptism, Fiber, Weavers of Char-Lee
  • 2nd Place – 2D – Nuch Owen, The Bluebirds of Happiness, Silk Painting, Centers for the Arts Bonita Springs
  • 2nd Place – 3D – Karen E. Harris, Let’s Dance, Stone and Paper Clay, Centers for the Arts Bonita Springs
  • 1st Place – 2D – Christine Wyatt, Two Young Girls, Acrylic and Charcoal, Alliance for the Arts
  • 1st Place 3D – Shannon Vickers, Wishes or Weeds, Glass and Concrete, Cape Coral Art Center
  • Best in Show – Geoffrey Hamel, You Have to Do Your Part, Mixed Media, Alliance for the Arts

A full list of exhibiting artists include: Marnie Becker, Beth Blewett, Katherine Boren, Brian B. Christensen, Dee Cooper, Ginger Craven, Tracy Cullimore, Michael Danley, Stan Dzedzy, Ruth Epstein, Kathy Erickson, Renee Farr, Cheryl A. Fausel, Donna Filomio, Robert A. Ford, Kathy Gibbs, Tanya Trinkaus Glass, Brad Goldman, Carol Gray, Geoffrey Hamel, Karen E. Harris, Barbara Hewitt, Keith Johnson, David King, Diane Kuntz, Mary Liseio, Mimi Little, Zan Lombardo, Judy Majerus, Nance Marsden, Leslie McNeil, Carol Murphy, Elaine Myers, Julie Nusbaum, Lynn Ondercin, Jan Oosterwaal, Nuch Owen, Katrina Parker, Joan Tangren Reynolds, Thomas Roth, Trudy Sampson, Rosemary Sexton, Mary Lewis Sheehan, Ruthe Sholler, Joan Brechin Sonnenberg, Kathy Summer, Africa Valdez, Shannon Vickers, Dannica Walker, Jan Werdin, Tom Werdin, Christine Wyatt, Roseline M. Young, and Peter Zell.

The Alliance gallery and gift shop hours are Monday through Friday 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. and Saturdays from 9 a.m. 1 p.m. or by appointment by contacting gallery director Ehren Gerhard at exhibitions@artinlee.org. The exhibit will continue through Jan. 30.

While gallery admission and scheduled artists’ talks are free, a $5 suggested donation sustains the future of arts in southwest Florida. Masks and social distancing are required inside the Alliance for the Arts building.

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