Date: May 26th 2010

- PRESS RELEASE -

Fort Myers Art Walk Friday, June 4

The monthly downtown Fort Myers art event returns in June.
The next Art Walk will be Friday, June 4, from 6 to 10 p.m. The seasonal Saturday Art Fair is taking a summer break and will return in the fall.

The June 4th Art Walk will include more than a dozen art stops and will be highlighted by new art exhibitions, live music, and the traditional after party.

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 at several art stops in the Fort Myers River District. The evening culminates with an after party at 10 p.m. The June after party will be held at Spirits of Bacchus on Hendry Street.

Approximately 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, Café Matisse, Cigar Bar, Coloring The World, Conch Sweet Corner Café, daas Gallery, Delicious Things, Digital Data Destruction, Downtown Deli & Market, Downtown House of Pizza, Enjewel, First United Methodist Church, Florida Repertory Theatre, Fort Myers Redevelopment Agency, French Connection, H2 Downtown Bistro, Happenings A&E Magazine, Hideaway Sports Bar, Hotel Indigo, HOWL Gallery, Ichiban Japanese & Chinese Restaurant, Iberia Bank, LaTrattoria Restaurant, Main Street Antiques, Morgan House Restaurant, The Oasis Luxury Condos, Potomac Bead Company, Sidney & Berne Davis Art Center, Select Transportation, SKS PhotoShoot, Space 39 Gallery, Spirits of Bacchus, The Spot, The Veranda Restaurant, and the Young Artists Awards Progr am.

Some highlights of the Friday, June 4 Art Walk:

• Art at The Oasis Condominiums: Group photography exhibit Our Realities showcasing women at work.
  
• Art of the Olympians: Founder's Exhibit in the Cultural Experience Gallery features works by Olympian artists Al Oerter and Liston Bochette. A special African Dance performance by Olympian artist Nzaeli "Queen" Kyomo will take place during Art Walk.
  
• Art League of Fort Myers: Opening of new summer show. An awards reception is planned for 6-7:30 p.m.
  
• Arts for ACT Gallery: Opening reception for exhibit featuring artists Dr. Michael Anderson - large format photography, Marie Cahill paints Downtown Fort Myers and Matlacha, and John Yuccas - nature photography.
  
• Coloring The World: Gallery will feature the art of Stephen Gray-Blancett and colorful works by various local and international artists.
  
• daas Gallery: Opening reception for Abstract Alchemy, featuring the art of Katherine Boren. Dana Alvarez, a contemporary and jazz vocalist and multiple year winner of the Young Artists Awards program, will be performing in front of the gallery from 7-8:30 p.m..
  
• Enjewel: Featured artist is Andrea Trank from Heaven Lane Creations.
  
• HOWL Gallery: Opening reception for show featuring the urban and sequential art inspired imagery of artist Matt Lackey.
  
• Sidney and Berne Davis Art Center: The return of the popular vinyl art exhibit Turn, Turn, Turn. The Laboratory Theater of Florida will present a free one-act play entitled Tender Offer at 7 and 8:30 p.m.
  
• Space 39:  Opening of a new show featuring artwork by FGCU students.

The Art Walk Information Center is located at Iberia Bank (Bayview Court at First Street).  See art work from each of the galleries and get information and brochures for the event here.  The new Art Walk T-shirt is also available in the visitor center for a $12 donation (during the Art Walk only).

Another highlight of the extremely popular evening will be the weekly Friday Night Live, which takes place in the Patio de Leon. John Mooney will perform from 6 to 9 p.m.

Always a collector's item, new limited edition Art Walk buttons will be available at galleries that night.  The buttons go fast so arrive early if you are collecting them.

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, 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.

Media Contacts (co-chairs):
Andy Howl, HOWL Gallery, andy@fortmyersartwalk.com or (239) 332-0161
Jamie Kuser, Happenings A&E Magazine, jamie@fortmyersartwalk.com or (239) 278-5236

MEDIA FILES:
http://www.fortmyersartwalk.com/print