Author: Desiree DeMolina

The Alliance for the Arts’ July exhibition, Pain, Process and Promise, will exhibit from July 10 through August 20 with limited gallery and gift shop hours at 10091 McGregor Blvd. In an attempt to process the multilayered issues facing our society and culture, this exhibition features pieces created by artists working in a wide variety of media.

Beginning July 10, Alliance gallery and gift shop hours will be Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturdays from 9 a.m. 1 p.m. or by appointment by contacting gallery director Ehren Gerhard at [email protected].

Exhibiting artists include: Jeff Abbott, Cesar Aguilera, Robert Allen, Coleen Baggot, Kimberly Beckler, C.Kay Best, Katherine Boren, Cath Branwood, Mila Bridger, Annette Brown, Andy Browne, Barbara Carr, Donna Chase, Diane Chernow, Carol Coates, Maria Collier, Patricia Collins, Patrick Conolly, Elodie Cotton, Michael Danley, Rosemary Fineberg, Judith Fletcher, Marian Fuller, Denis Gaston, Geoffrey Hamel, Lily Hatchett, Sharon Isern, Krista and Leo Johnson, Rose Jung, Steve Kalb, Kenneth Lamers, Jill Lindsay, Ray Lyle, Bruce MacKechnie, Helen Mcwilliams, Kellen Beck Mills, Ronald Nowicki, Julie Obney, Tara O’Neill, Chris Owens, Katrina Parker, Caren Pearson, Michael Pinckney, Barbara Piontek, Joel Ralls, Gregory Read, Myra Roberts, Sherry Rohl, Thomas Roth, Eric Rucket, Paula Rucket, Lydia Rupinski, Ellen Sayet, Dale Smith, Grayson Stoff, Patricia Anderson Turner, Jennifer Unwin, Joy Williams, Christina Wyatt, Pat Zalisko and Amanda Zirzow.

The Alliance will host a series of free, online artist talks on July 14, July 28 and August 11 at 6 p.m. These behind-the-scenes looks offer unique insight into each artists’ inspiration, process and the context behind the work. Be part of the conversation, express your thoughts and ideas or simply sit back and enjoy the discussion of what art means to us as individuals and as a society. Pre-registration is required at ArtInLee.org/ArtistTalk.

While gallery admission and scheduled artists’ talks are free, a $5 suggested donation sustains the future of arts in southwest Florida.

For more information about the exhibit, visit ArtInLee.org/Process or call 239-939-2787. For details on the Alliance’s current programs and precautions, please visit ArtInLee.org/Covid-19.

As part of ongoing enhancements to the Alliance for the Arts ArtsPark and campus, the Alliance announces that the Caloosahatchee Water Wall by internationally acclaimed artist Michael Singer will be installed on Tuesday, June 23rd.  The main structure of the piece, steel beams and aluminum panels, are expected to be installed by Wednesday June 24.  Additional landscaping, ground work and pavers will be installed over the following 4 weeks.

The Caloosahatchee Water Wall, a public art piece, not only depicts the Caloosahatchee River, it also affords an array of environmental restoration. The design of the Water Wall sweeps up water from the ArtsPark pond and filters it before allowing the water to trickle back down. As the water rolls to the bottom of the sculpture, it drips, reels and lands onto plants and soil at the base of the Water Wall, allowing one more shining and slow-moving wash before eventually making its way out to the Caloosahatchee.

“It is truly an honor being selected by the Alliance for the Arts as the artist to create a public sculpture for this inspiring Fort Myers based organization,” says artist Michael Singer. “My hope is the Caloosahatchee Water Wall sculpture becomes a distinguishing work of art for the Alliance while also providing the larger community with an understanding of interconnections between very special natural water systems of the Caloosahatchee River as well as our responsibility to take on damaging environmental human impacts. My hope is that this Water Wall sculpture motivates positive actions that will address complex water quality issues in the region.”

Singer has received numerous awards, including fellowships from the National Endowment for the Arts and the John Simon Guggenheim Foundation. His works are part of public collections in the United States and abroad, including the Australian National Gallery, Canberra; Louisiana Museum of Modern Art, Humlebaek, Denmark; the Guggenheim Museum, New York; The Museum of Modern Art, New York; and the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.

The Water Wall is the anchor to the Alliance’s overarching ArtsPark. Completed project highlights include new crosswalks, sidewalk, pathways, lighting, landscaping reflecting southwest Florida ecosystems, a new contemporary building paint job and a reshaped retention basin that is more effective at collecting and cleaning stormwater.

“It has been a pleasure watching the Alliance campus transform into a space that draws the community in and encourages creativity,” says Alliance for the Arts executive director Lydia Black. “We are enormously grateful artist to artist Michael Singer, the campus enrichment team, the Alliance staff and Board and the countless community partners who have made this project possible.”

Campus improvements are supported in part by John E. & Aliese Price Foundation, National Endowment for the Arts, Robert Rauschenberg Foundation, Frizzell Family Foundation, Deborah Meisenberg Family  Trust, L.A.T. Foundation, Rotary Club of Fort Myers South, a special gift in memory of Lucille Remler, Huffer Foundation, Keep Lee County Beautiful Foundation, LCEC, The Claiborne and Ned Foulds Foundation and a multitude of Alliance members and patrons.

For more information on the Alliance for the Arts or the Alliance ArtsPark, visit ArtInLee.org/ArtsPark.

The Alliance for the Arts is excited to announce its new, online youth class series for the month of June, which includes a diverse collection of visual arts, theatre, magic and dance. Class descriptions, instructor bios and registration are online at ArtInLee.org/Classes.

Classes will be hosted through Zoom at 10 a.m. throughout the month of June. Take one or take them all for an experience unlike any other.

The line up includes:

Acting Fun for the Young – Online Class (Grades 3 – 6)

Mondays, June 1 – 22 • Join Alliance for the Arts Youth Theatre Director and local drama teacher Carmen Crussard online in June for a month of acting fun! Each week young actors will learn, practice, and play with a new theatre technique or skill, play theatre games, and explore in the world of theatre. This class is $40 for Alliance members or $50 for nonmembers.

S.T.E.A.M Up Your Summer – Online Workshops (Grades 1 – 6)

Join us for one – or all – of our S.T.E.A.M workshops led by Alliance for the Arts Summer camp Director and Local teacher, Vania Garcia! All supplies will be provided and delivered to your door for those living in Fort Myers or Cape Coral. Each workshop is $17 for Alliance members or $22 for nonmembers.

Tuesday, June 2 • Get creative with summer flower designs using geometric patterns! A  few simple supplies and you can explore math and art with a bit of engineering as you make beautiful flowers.

Tuesday, June 9 • Let’s dive into the world of robotics! This week, our project will hone in on children’s engineering and creative thinking skills in a fun, hands-on way!

Tuesday, June 16 • Have you ever played with a zoetrope? Zoetropes are simple devices that pre-date film animation. The viewer looks through the slits in a spinning cylinder and sees an animated image. Build your own animation with this project that combines science, engineering and art

Tuesday, June 23 • Add a dash of color to your day! Make a 3-dimensional display to commemorate the creativity of Wassily Kandinsky!

Life is a Circus – Online Workshop Series (Grades 1 – 6)

Join us for one – or all – of our circus and magic workshops led by instructors Brittany and George! Each workshop is $12 for Alliance members or $15 for nonmembers.

Wednesday, June 3 • Start your day with a little stretching warm up and then learn to juggle and spin using everyday items from your home.

Wednesday, June 10 • Razzle, dazzle and learn an easy, yet impressive magic trick using spoons from your own kitchen.

Wednesday, June 10 • Discover card magic tricks and circus skills to wow your friends!

Wednesday, June 24 • If you haven’t been in the previous workshops, never fear, just get ready for some quickly moving fun! If you have been in the previous workshops, now is the time to perfect and show off those Circus skills!

Youth Art Works – Online Visual Arts Class (Grades 1 – 6)

Thursdays, June 4 – 25 • This youth class is designed to foster an appreciation of art for students with a different lesson and focus each week. Students will advance their skills of observation and will cover concepts such as form, value, light and shadow, color, and proportions—and, how to utilize these concepts to convey their personal vision. With an emphasis on exploration, professional artists Krista and Leo Johnson will teach students in a fun, relaxed virtual environment where they can express their creativity and gain self-confidence.

Hula Dance – Online Class (Grades 1 – 6)

Fridays, June 5 – 26 • Fridays are for fun with Hawaiian, Tahitian, Maori and Samoan movements with teacher and dancer Marliss! Each day young dancers will learn new moves and music culminating in a virtual dance extravaganza on the final Friday of the month.

For more information on the Alliance for the Arts or online classes, visit ArtInLee.org/Classes.

As part of ongoing enhancements to the Alliance for the Arts ArtsPark and campus, the Alliance announces the Rotary Club of Fort Myers South Plaza, on the southwest corner of its campus. The Plaza is made possible by a $25,000 gift from the Club to the Alliance for the Arts. To commemorate the project, a Rotary plaque will be installed and dedicated this summer.

“The arts and Rotary have long been intertwined,” says past president of Rotary Club Fort Myers South and Edison National Bank Vice President, Greg Blurton. “The Rotary Club of Fort Myers South is honored to support the Alliance ArtsPark, as it is the perfect opportunity to bring together our similar mission of transforming lives and improving culture and community through inspiration.  We are thankful to partner with the Alliance to dedicate the Rotary South Plaza for our community to enjoy – ultimately building goodwill and better friendships.”

The Rotary South Plaza is part of the overarching Alliance ArtsPark & Water Wall. Completed project highlights include new crosswalks, sidewalk, pathways, lighting, landscaping reflecting SWFL ecosystems, a new contemporary building paint job and a reshaped retention basin that is more effective at collecting and cleaning stormwater.  All enhancements will be anchored by the installation of the Caloosahatchee Water Wall by internationally acclaimed artist Michael Singer.

“Our club is proud to support this plaza which serves not only to beautify the community, but also makes the Alliance for the Arts’ ArtsPark even more accessible and welcoming to the residents of local neighborhoods along McGregor Boulevard,” says current president of Fort Myers Rotary South, Kerri Goldsmith. “The leaders of the Rotary Club of Fort Myers South understand the widespread impact of the arts on our community and are thrilled to partner with Alliance for the Arts on this project.”

“The Alliance is proud to have a space dedicated to Rotary South and their mission to unite people and take action to create lasting change across the globe,” says Alliance for the Arts Board President and rotarian Jon Romine. “Rotarians are known for their passion and commitment to sustainable projects from literacy to education to water and health.  Like our fellow Rotarians, the Alliance is working hard to improve the health and wellness of our neighbors and neighborhood through the arts and campus beautification.  It’s a perfect partnership.”

For more information on the Alliance for the Arts or the Alliance ArtsPark, visit ArtInLee.org.

Theatre Conspiracy at the Alliance for the Arts will present a series of online plays beginning May 21 at 7:30 p.m. This virtual streaming will give audiences a chance to experience theatre from their own homes during physical distancing and creates opportunities for actors in the area to perform safely from home.

The Best Seats In Your House series kicks off May 21 and continues May 28. Productions are directed by Bill Taylor and include all your local favorites including Stephanie Davis, Kayleigh O’Connell, Anna Grilli, Lemec Bernard, Imani Williams, Madelaine Weymouth, Steve Coe and Katie Pankow.

Productions are free to stream, but a suggested donation supports the future of the arts in southwest Florida. Pre-registration is required at ArtInLee.org/BestSeat in order to provide an access link prior to showtime.

The first part of the series on Thursday, May 21 includes short one-act plays written especially for online viewing:

Taking Sum Lumps by Ken Preuss, starring Kayleigh O’Connell and Anna Grilli, directed by Bill Taylor

A young woman breaks a mirror and is offered options by an agent in charge of dispensing the bad luck. Will she spread the bad luck across 7 years or take it all in one lump sum?

Screen Time by Jonathon Ward, starring Imani Williams and Lemec Bernard, directed by Bill Taylor

Mag and Ryan, best friends since college, confront doom with Zoom, social distancing with close-up romancing in a pandemic fatigued world.

Day Four by Reina Hardy, starring Madelaine Weymouth and Steven Coe, directed by Bill Taylor

Amanda and Gabe are in Day Four of lockdown at each other’s apartments. Gabe is engrossed in video games while Andrea begins to need more. She is online and in love with him while Gabe is online and in a battle for his video game life. Will Gabe respawn in his video game or in love?

The series continues on Thursday, May 28:

Love Mom by Shelley Stolaroff Segal, starring Stephanie Davis and Katie Pankow, directed by Bill Taylor

The last time they talked Megan called her Mom a “Karen.”  Mom found out what that means. They are miles apart from each other and not just geographically.

Last Call by Lia Romeo, starring Madelaine Weymouth and Steven Coe, directed by Bill Taylor

Eric’s plane is in a steep descent. He makes one last call to the one woman he owes an apology. Can he win back her love before the plane crashes? Which wing of the plane fell off first? Was that a baby flying through the cabin? Will Wendy ever forgive him? Was that really a baby????

Productions are free to stream, but a suggested donation supports the future of the arts in southwest Florida. Pre-registration is required at ArtInLee.org/BestSeat in order to provide an access link prior to showtime.