The City of Fort Myers Public Art Committee will be exhibiting its Biennial Individual Artist Grant Recipients show being featured in the downstairs Grand Atrium of the Sidney & Berne Davis Art Center in May.
Upstairs in the Capital Gallery, an exhibit titled Embracing Stillness, a group show that explores the art of still life, will be on display
Both galleries are open for viewing May 6 – 26. Opening night for both exhibitions will be during Art Walk on Friday, May 6 from 6 to 10 p.m.
The City of Fort Myers strives to encourage artistic quality and program innovation, to develop new audiences, and to challenge existing audiences, through their annual Individual Artist Grants. The city aims to promote lifelong arts and cultural education, multicultural inclusion, and also increase private support for the arts & culture and economic development and tourism.
This valuable grant opportunity encourages art and culture in all Fort Myers communities, creating a nurturing environment in which artists can flourish.
The exhibition showcases the work of visual and performing artists who received grants from the City of Fort Myers in 2020 and 2021. But this is no ordinary visual arts show. Rather, it will be headlined by artist Lily Hatchett performing her renowned Paper Grotto Live! to musical accompaniment by Kat Epple and feature a 3:36 minute trailer of multi-Emmy recipient and nominee Connie Bottinelli’s new film, Driving Mrs. M as well as a durational performance poem by FGCU English professor and Ghostbird Theatre Company co-founder James Brock.
Also included in the show will be works by popular local artists Katherine Boren, Patricia Collins, Stephen Hayford, Krista Johnson, Leo Johnson, Leila Mesdaghi, Dana Roes, Terry Lynn Spry, Lambertus “Berry” van Boekel and Roseline Young.
Elise Sewall – Embracing Stillness exhibit
Upstairs in the Capital Gallery, Embracing Stillness is an education-inspired exhibition that is bound to result in a prolific array of artworks from creators of varying skill levels. This is an open-call exhibition, inviting artists of all walks of life to produce art inspired by this subject. One of the most effective and widely used educational tools for artists is practicing still life, which is defined as creating art depicting a subject that is inanimate or dead.
Most artists are exposed to this practice frequently in order to help hone their skills, while others consider it their preferred subject matter. In either case, exploring the art of still life is essential in an artist’s development of skill and style.
By hosting a juried exhibition with an emphasis on a basic subject such as still life, SBDAC can encourage both emerging and established artists to go beyond comfort zones and learn something new in the process.
Adding to the talent that evening, the music of The Kelly Neff Band will be featured on the rooftop at Sidney’s Rooftop Sculpture Garden.
The Sidney & Berne Davis Art Center is located in the heart of historic downtown Fort Myers at 2301 First St. For more information, visit www.sbdac.com or call 239-333-1933.
Doug Shemenski – Embracing Stillness exhibit
