2 Year Anniversary
News - Gallery News
Art Walk Two-Year Anniversary this Friday, October 1st!
Saturday Art Fair Returns.... Saturday, October 2nd!
On Oct. 1, Fort Myers Art Walk will observe its two-year anniversary in the downtown River District with new art exhibits and lots of excitement.
The next monthly Art Walk will be Friday, Oct. 1, from 6 to 10 p.m. The October Art Walk will include more than a dozen art stops and will feature new art shows, live music, street performers, and the traditional after party.
Then on Oct. 2, look for the seasonal return of the Saturday Art Fair in the Patio de Leon from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. featuring nearly 2 dozen local artists.
October 1st, 2010 was officially proclaimed Fort Myers Art Walk Day by Mayor Henderson,
to see the full story click here.
Some highlights of the Friday, Oct. 1 Art Walk:
- Art of the Olympians: The museum welcomes the Southwest Florida Symphony to the Al Oerter Center for Excellence for the October Art Walk for a special presentation. The Cultural Experience Gallery will feature works by Polish Olympian artist and renowned architect Wojciech Zablocki. A Taste of Gymnastics will be on display in Sport Experience Gallery.
- Art League of Fort Myers: Reception for Cele-BRA-tion exhibit. Angela Maglione, one of the winners of the 2010 Young Artists Awards program, will be performing from 7-8:30 p.m.
- Arts for ACT Gallery: Opening reception for new exhibit featuring artists Renzos Avila, Xavier Portilla and Maria Pia Malerba. Halie Bolling, a finalist at the 2010 and 2008 Young Artists Awards competitions, will perform from 7-8:30 p.m.
- Coloring The World: Opening of exhibit showcasing artist Sandy Pond.
- daas Gallery: Opening reception for show featuring abstract pop art of Franck de Las Mercedes.
- Gallery Showcase and Information Center at IberiaBank (Bayview Court at First Street). New Art Walk T-shirts are available at this location as well as buttons, maps and brochures.
- HOWL Gallery: Art of Chris Lacoste - Chris is a local high school senior and this is his first solo show. Chris's large scale and brightly colored ink illustrations showcase a talent beyond his years.
- Sidney and Berne Davis Art Center: Rocktober featuring live music of TJ Kelly Band, The Grand Band and California artist Rob Grad (NOW exhibit).
- Space 39: Exhibit showcasing contemporary artist Ab Hernandez.
Nearly 40 participants make Art Walk happen and they include the Alliance for the Arts, Art League of Fort Myers, Art of the Olympians, Arts for ACT Gallery and Boutique, Browtopia, Café Matisse, Cigar Bar, Coloring The World, Conch Sweet Corner Café, daas Gallery, Delicious Things, Digital Data Destruction, Downtown House of Pizza, Enjewel, First United Methodist Church, Florida Repertory Theatre, Fort Myers Redevelopment Agency, French Connection, Hampton Inn & Suites, Happenings A&E Magazine, Hideaway Sports Bar, Hotel Indigo, HOWL Gallery, Ichiban Japanese & Chinese Restaurant, IberiaBank, Legacy Harbour Hotel & Suites, Market America Realty & Investments, Morgan House Restaurant, The Oasis Luxury Condos, Potomac Bead Company, Red Rock Saloon, River District Alliance, Rossy Fashion Accessories, Sidney & Berne Davis Art Center, Select Transportation, SKS PhotoShoot, Space 39 Gallery, Spirits of Bacchus, Starbucks Coffee, Twisted Vine Bistro, The Veranda Restaurant, What’s Up Dogs?, and the Young Artists Awards Program.
Held the first Friday of every month from 6 to 10 pm., Art Walk features local and national artwork in the downtown art galleries and several art stops in the Fort Myers River District. The evening culminates with an after party at 10 p.m. The October after party will be held at Spirits of Bacchus on Hendry Street.
Another highlight of the very popular evening will be the weekly Friday Night Live which takes place in the Patio de Leon. Grits & Gravy will perform from 6 to 9 p.m.
Always a collector’s item, new Art Walk buttons will be available at galleries that night. Now, Art Walk has its own shirt (in red or black). Shirts are available for a $12 donation at the IberiaBank gallery showcase during Art Walk.
Spend a total of $100 or more during the event at participating stores and/or galleries and receive a free Art Walk t-shirt, while supplies last. Present receipts to claim shirt at IberiaBank, that night only.
A free shuttle service courtesy of Select Transportation Inc., with stops planned near the art venues, and parking at the Harborside Event Center will be available for Art Walk patrons. Shuttle stops include The Oasis Condominiums, Art of the Olympians, and Enjewel on First Street.
A map of Art Walk, transportation, and parking will be distributed by participating galleries. Art Walk is a rain or shine event. Art Walk was started by a group of art galleries and art enthusiasts and debuted in October of 2008. For more information on Art Walk, participating galleries and links to gallery websites, visit www.fortmyersartwalk.com.
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Here’s what some Art Walk participants have to say about the phenomenal success of Art Walk over the past two years:
“Art Walk continues to surprise us. It has completely eliminated the idea that this is a seasonal economy. Our attendance in off-season months is just as busy as in season. Our gallery reaches maximum capacity EVERY Art Walk night.”
- Andy Howl of HOWL Gallery and Art Walk co-chair
“Downtown Fort Myers has become a cultural destination thanks to our team effort and the success of Art Walk.”
- Jamie Kuser of Happenings Magazine and Art Walk co-chair
"It has been my honor to meet so many wonderful new customers during Art Walk for the past two years. Many of you are now my regular customers, and we have established a close business relationship as well as a close friendship. The energy during Art Walk is vibrant. Our business is built on customer satisfaction, and for six and a half years we have achieved this goal as a business in Downtown. Art Walk has helped us grow and helped with revenue during the tough economy. We will continue to bring you unique one-of-a-kind works of art, and as always, a pleasurable atmosphere at Enjewel."
- Lynne Routhier of Enjewel
“Since we opened our doors in 2008, we hoped for a way to attract more and more people to downtown and help in whatever way possible in the revitalization of the area. We were thrilled to know that, unbeknown to us, there were other people out there with the same mentality and the same drive and it was just a matter of time before we had our first Art Walk meeting. The rest is history now.
“Art Walk has meant everything to us. The streets are full of patrons every first Friday and the streets are alive with music and art everywhere. The first Art Walk was a dream come true for all of us who have dedicated so much for the arts and culture of South West Florida. It is amazing to see how much it has grown and the amount of businesses that have partnered with us. Art Walk is now a well established event, if not the most important event, in Fort Myers.
“We, at daas Gallery, are proud to have been there from the beginning and thank everyone who, in one way or another, helped the Fort Myers Art Walk be the phenomenon it has become today. Happy two anniversary Art Walk!”
- David Acevedo of daas Gallery
“Partnering with Art Walk on a monthly basis has been a wonderful opportunity for the Young Artists Awards program. Being able to showcase our student vocalists and musicians at various venues downtown has offered great exposure for performers and for our program.”
- Katherine Boren of Young Artists Awards
“Art Walk, has grown to be a downtown community event that has something for everyone and brings together, artists, their art and many other opportunities to help the downtown merchants,”
- Jim Humphrey, SBDAC Board Member.
The Art Walk event is marked on my calendar each first Friday of the month, I meet my friends and enjoy an evening of dining, art and then discover music at one of the clubs,”
- Kathy McGarrity, member SBDAC.
“I have many opportunities to volunteer and I willingly step up to assist at Art Walk at the Davis Art Center, where I can see great art and many wonderful people,”
- Shelley Porter, SBDAC volunteer.
“When we first started Art Walk I remember hunting my home and what we have at the Art Center and showcasing in the east lobby on a few easels. We had maybe 20 guests and I played music on a little boom box for music. Now we have grown out of the Grand Atrium and into the entire Center where we have many features taking place. Our Center seems to be the place for people to meet and we have extended our hours until 11pm so they can enjoy our Grand Atrium bar and mingle with their friends,“
- Jim Griffith, CEO SBDAC.
“In addition to the fabulous art, the Sidney & Berne Davis Art Center expands their programming to include one act plays along with other featured performances during Art Walk, it truly is the place to be, “
- Aida Buckovich, SBDAC Board Member.
“The Art Walk Committee has created an awesome and well planned monthly event that has finally given our Downtown Historic District something to call its’ own. Each month the crowds grow and there are new and exciting changes on the horizon. They have now added Music Walk each 3rd Saturday and we see this as another destination event for our River District,”
- Kim Becker, Marketing SBDAC.
Saturday Art Fair:
Claudia Goode, Arts for ACT Gallery,
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or (239) 939-2553
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