‘Walk Through the Arts’ offers visual, performance
Arts and culture of Southwest Florida will take center stage Jan. 10 when the Lee County Alliance for the Arts holds its annual “Walk Through the Arts” event in Fort Myers.
Entering its sixth year, Walk Through the Arts will showcase a multitude of artistic mediums from throughout the region as live performances join art galleries and other organizations for a look at all the cultural opportunities available.
“This is one of our biggest events,” said Alliance for the Arts’ Chelsea Birczak. “It helps to fulfill our mission to be part of the arts all throughout Lee County. This will be a showcase for the county.”
Unfortunately, Walk Through the Arts will have a bit of competition.
The Cape Coral Festival of the Arts takes place the same weekend, making Jan. 10 somewhat of a watershed moment for the local arts scene.
Alliance Education Director Scott Guelcher said planning the walk on the same day was not meant to be a competition, just a mere oversight.
The biggest difference between the two events is that the walk features visual as well as performance art, whereas the Festival of Arts focuses mostly on visual.
Dick Steele of the Cape-based Jodick Productions will participate in Walk Through the Arts despite his Cape ties, saying he “was not aware” of the Cape-based event.
Steele and his wife, Joanne, participated in last year’s walk, in part to help get their fledgling production company off the ground and to support performing arts.
“Our first reason (for being involved with the walk) is to support the alliance and to build awareness for the Ned Foulds Theater,” Steele said. “Our second reason is to find talent and to support our own shows.”
Jodick utilizes the Foulds Theater for its productions. This year it will perform “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” in March.
Coming from a background of amateur theater, Steele said he always had a “pesky day job” that kept him from pursuing his passion full time.
A former director at Cultural Park Theatre, Steele struck out on his own after having what he describes as “artistic and political differences” with the theater.
Now the Steeles are primed to make their own mark in the local performing arts scene, praising the amount of opportunities Southwest Florida has to offer.
“There’s certainly no shortage of things going on,” said Steele. “Anyone interested in the performing arts has a wide choice here.”
The Lee County Alliance of the Arts Walk Through the Arts will be held from 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
For a full list of activities and participants, visit the Alliance for the Arts at: www.artsinlee.org.
For more information on Jodick Productions, visit: jodickproductions.com.