The Sidney & Berne Davis Art Center hosts two great art shows in July.
On display in the Capital Gallery (upstairs) is Covers by John “Crusher” Healy, an exhibition that pays homage to the album cover artists of previous and exciting musical decades. Featured in the Grand Atrium are six award-winning photographers. Katy Danca Galli, Rob Hoovis, Paul Marcellini, Alexis Horn, Dan Ivetic and Kyle van Emmerik come together in a group exhibition titled Visions of Clean Water, benefitting Captains for Clean Water and the Sanibel Captiva Conservation Foundation.
Both shows open on Friday, July 5 from 6 to 10 p.m. during Art Walk and will be on display through July 26. Admission is $1.
Just as a local band covers songs of their music heroes, John “Crusher” Healy‘s work covers artists’ album covers of days past: enlarging them, making them three dimensional, and taking artistic liberties. John likes to work with his hands: drawing, painting, sculpting, and repurposing items into new forms. This particular series of work reflects his love for bands, their music, and the artists who designed these iconic album covers. Growing up during the ‘70s and ’80s, he experienced an explosion of pop culture and high energy music.
His Grandma, Elsie, bought his first three cassette tapes (all KISS albums) which helped to create the “rock and roll beast” he is today. His love for art and music has greatly affected his life, even changing the direction of it. After attending hundreds of live shows and concerts over the years, his passion for music has become a huge part of who he is and inspired him to pursue art. Please note, there may be a couple unexpected, famous guests and theatrical “treats” awaiting attendees of his exhibition’s opening night.
Visions of Clean Water will offer a compelling mix of imagery, from the natural world to nightscapes and underwater scenes, and will showcase the compelling and unforgettable beauty of Southwest Florida. Each exhibiting photographer has a unique photographic style, and each is fully devoted to where they call home here in SW Florida. They all wake up at the crack of dawn, lugging 30 pounds of equipment just to catch the perfect highlight of the sunrise glazing the water, and each photographer has seen the gulf at its best and at its worst.
The ongoing water quality crisis has affected our region deeply, from farmers and fishermen to artists and entrepreneurs, highlighting a need for unity and change to protect the fragile ecosystem of SW Florida.
Organizer of Visions of Clean Water, Katy Danca Galli says, “Organizations like SCCF and Captains have worked tirelessly, dedicating their lives to this cause, and I would love to give back to these ocean warriors.” She continues, “Our lifeblood is water. It feeds our bodies and in SW loridaL, our pocketbooks as well. We need clean water, and if we have no blue, we will have no green.” Galli is a professional underwater photographer, former photo editor for Scuba Diving magazine, recipient of the Lee County VCB artist residency for 2017, and winner of competitions as first place in the wide angle category for the Florida Skin Divers, and Our World Underwater.
The Sidney & Berne Davis Art Center is located at 2301 First St. in the downtown Fort Myers River District. For more info, visit www.sbdac.com or call 239-333-1933.
