The Alliance for the Arts invites the public to its opening reception of Moving Roots: Mariapia Malerba on Friday, Oct. 6 from 5 to 7 p.m.
The free event features the works of the artist as well as light refreshments provided by Jayne Baker. The exhibit will be on view through Oct. 28 at 10091 McGregor Blvd. in Fort Myers.
The gallery will be completely wrapped from top to bottom in larger-than-life artwork, transforming it into a portal of imagination, a silent participant, a tapestry of monochromatic hues with fleeting touches of crimson, recounting the enchanting tale of “Moving Roots and the Comic Adventure.” This exhibit beckons souls to embark, to delve within, to illuminate the unknown. Moving Roots invites visitors to explore the depths of our being, leaving a trail of questions, emotions and insights.
Mariapia Malerba is an Italian-American artist who was born in Puglia, a region in Southern Italy. She studied art in high school and then went on to study at Accademia di Belle Arti, a fine art institute in Lecce, Italy. After earning a degree in art, with primary coursework in scenography, set design, and costume history, Mariapia moved to Lake Como in Lombardy, Italy to work as a textile designer. She has created textile designs for well-known fashion designers, such as Dolce Gabbana, Versace and Cavalli. Working in Italy was an extraordinary time for Mariapia to grow as an artist.
Art by Karen S. Johnson will be featured in the theatre gallery. Johnson relocated to Cape Coral in 2019 to pursue her lifelong dream of becoming a full-time artist. Born and raised in the suburbs of Chicago, Karen has always been an artist at heart since childhood. She spent 30 years as a professional hair stylist in Naperville, IL, while always taking workshops from some very talented artists in Illinois and Florida where she soon became a member of both Cape Coral and Fort Myers Art Leagues.
The member gallery will showcase the works of David Hampton.
For more information, call 239-939-2787 or visit at www.ArtInLee.org.
