The Alliance for the Arts (AFTA) presents a juried exhibition in conjunction with its Storm Stories oral history program about Hurricane Ian and its aftermath. The show will feature 53 works of art from Florida artists. Artists were asked to create artwork about their experiences during or after the storm in any capacity. It may be stories of resilience or trauma or loss.
September’s exhibition will host an opening reception on Sept. 1 from 5 to 7 p.m. There will be a closing reception on Sept. 28, from 5 to 7 pm, to mark and honor the one-year anniversary of Hurricane Ian making land-fall. The closing reception will feature light refreshments provided by Jayne Baker, as well as authors, artists and event sponsors in attendance.
Selected exhibiting artists are Robert Allen, Stefanie Babb, Charles Baker, Laura Ball, Elita Barfield, Austin Bell, Linda Benson, Meagan Bonesteel, Laura Borror, Danielle Brant, Stacey Brown, Leslie Brunn, June Burke, Ramon Chirinos, Tracy Owen Cullimore, Sharyn Dahn, Dana Donkle, Marian Fuller, David Giansante, Julie Griffin, Sherry Haney, Sue Higgins-Ferrell, Peter Horan, Rose Jung, Jane Lane, Leoma Lovegrove, Pam Lowe, Doug MacGregor, Dave Mancini, Ying McLane, Susan Miller, Richard Plummer, Nanci Polomski, Dennis Porter, Carole Price, Ellen Prior, Josey Prior, Vickie Resor, John Rizza, Sharon Rodgers, Leah Schneider, Lynne Schwartz, Nancy Searle, Julie Siler Olander, Pat St. Onge, Dominick Tascher, Eric Taubert, Christopher Tuscan, John Warminski, Alex Wilkinson and Deborah Zwetsch.
Following Hurricane Ian, AFTA teamed up with the Gulf Coast Writers Association (GCWA) to launch the oral history project, Storm Stories, where anyone could submit their story from Hurricane Ian. Those collected stories have been compiled into a printed book, and available for purchase at AFTA during the month of September. A book launch will be held in the Fould’s Theatre with GCWA on Sept 9 at 7 p.m. The event is free and open to the public and will feature contributing authors as well as light refreshments. Tickets are free and available on Eventbrite.
Deborah Zwetsch
Saturdays throughout the month will also feature a free, 15-minute healing massage or Reiki to those affected. Each event is limited to two hours and designated for certain members of the public (i.e. first responders, teachers, etc.) For more information or to reserve a spot, visit artinlee.org/storm-stories/.
Saturday, Sept 16, is a monthly free Family ArtLab from 10 a.m. – noon that will be focused on remembering and continuing to heal from Hurricane Ian. Children and families will participate in the creation of AFTA’s Resiliency Garden.
Saturday, Sept. 23 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. will be a meditation workshop designed to be a fun filled experience where participants explore the magic of breath work and creativity. To find out more and register, visit artinlee.org//creative-healing-workshop/.
In the Theatre Gallery: Hope: The Other Side of Hurricane Ian by Kinfay Moroti will be on display. Hope: The Other Side of Hurricane Ian shows how the deadly storm united people in the one thing that couldn’t be destroyed. Kinfay Moroti leads Hopeful Images- an initiative that helps organizations share their stories through photojournalism, messaging and storytelling campaigns.
In the Member’s Gallery: Tamara Culp & Jodi Enders exhibit
Tamara Culp moved from the high desert country of Colorado to Florida to be closer to water in 2015. Since childhood, water has held a special place in her heart as a sanctuary and a haven. Jodi Enders has always been pulled toward exploration, a place where the constant running of the mind halts. She can enjoy simple pleasures and enrichment by analyzing the world on a deeper level than the average individual may grant themselves the time to do.
In the Foulds Theatre: For Those of Us who live at the shoreline by Sasha Wortzel. Sasha Wortzel is a visual artist and filmmaker using video, installation, sculpture, sound, and performance to explore how this country’s past and present are inextricably linked. Wortzel’s work is in the permanent collections of the Brooklyn Museum, Studio Museum of Harlem, Leslie Lohman Museum of Art, and Miami-Dade County Art in Public Places.
The Alliance campus and galleries are open to the public from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, and from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturdays. It is located at 10091 McGregor Blvd. in Fort Myers.
For more info, call 239-939-2787, visit www.ArtInLee.org.
