NFMAA’s curent show is ‘3 Dimensions’
Greetings of great joy to all readers in and around our North Fort Myers and Lee County neighborhoods.
Our current show is “3 Dimensions,” and member Donna Sillars of Cape Coral, our featured artist, has 10 or more of her mosaic artworks on display. They are for sale as are the majority of displayed items. Donna has practiced her art creations for more than 20 years, and is widely versed in several media Our Peoples’ Choice Awards winners were: Donna Sillars, first place; second place went to Rose Young, and Roxanne Lawrence, for third place.
I invite you to visit Gulf Coast Village Independent Living Center at 1333 Santa Barbara Blvd., Cape Coral, from 8 a.m. to 8 pm., every day of the week to enjoy the display of more than 80 items and maybe meet some of the delightful GCV staff and residents as you meander along the walkways. These items will be removed on Tuesday, Oct. 5, between 1 – 4 p.m. Incoming exhibit materials will be accepted in this timeframe as well.
We’re preparing to open our ART House at 120 S.E. 13th St., Cape Coral. It’s on GCV grounds – 1333 Santa Barbara Blvd., Cape Coral 33990) on a part-time weekly schedule.Call for hours. 239-257-8589.
Our next GCV exhibit title is “Holiday Expressions.” We are receiving for this extended show which is scheduled for Monday, Oct. 5, from 1 – 4 p.m. The reception is planned for Wednesday, October 13, 2 – 3:30 p.m. in the Elevator Lobby where refreshments will be available for your pleasure. The Peoples’ Choice Award Winners will be announced at 3 p.m. Insure that your vote is counted – please put your votes in the wooden box on top of the piano before 2:55 p.m. (Oh – I know! It’s so difficult to make a choice with all the excellent pieces to choose from – but please try your best. We want your vote to count.) The Featured Artist/s for this extended exhibit will be announced in my next column – as they have not yet been approached at this writing. Due to the extended timeframe of this exhibit, it is possible for us to have two of our outstanding artists share this honor.
New (Ad)ventures: No. 1. As a result of our growth and inclusive benefits, we have joined with Tranquility Lakes (4316 Boathouse Lane, Cape Coral – off Burnt Store Road/Veterans Parkway & Durden Road., a 25-minute ride from NFM via Diplomat Parkway), The SWF Muscle Car Group, to offer a new concept for meeting people who are willing to share their wider range of interests in one setting – the first Car, ART & Food show – on Sunday, Sept. 13 from 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. The Muscle Cars Group of SWF will be holding their car show in the parking areas of the facility from 9 a.m. until noon – look for Chris whose idea this was; while the Lee County Art Center, Inc./North Fort Myers Arts Association will be offering a variety of art displays, demonstrations and sales opportunities for attendees in the Tranquility Recreation Room where coffee will be provided by Tranquility Enterprises and a variety of food trucks will also be available outside for quenching your appetite. Come explore this new venue and enjoy this new Sunday activity. Bring your family, friends, neighbors, visitors!
We look forward to seeing you there. Mark your calendars today so you don’t miss this new adventure.
Do you enjoy car designs and making your ideas come to life in your artworks. Call us for possible inclusion in this new adventure, 239-257-8589 .
#2. As part of our ongoing Art in Public Places program, we are delighted to add a new venue, “Sweet Melissa’s Restaurant,” 16230; Unit 210; Summerlin Road, Fort Myers – near Health ParK, to our list of businesses where you can see our artist’s works on display while you’re conducting your business or enjoying a selection from their extensive menu, and even purchase the artwork that appeals to you . Payments can be made with a quick phone call to Dee (239-257-8589), Rudy Brendlmaier (203-383-9385), or our Treasurer, Steve Sillars (239-502-3527) or by paying on our webpage, nfmaa.org. Tom and Melissa are young and personable, with great food creations. An interesting idea has been approved – Chef Melissa will conjure up a recipe for the artworks for each reception — more on this idea will be noted in my next column. I just wanted you to know what a new adventure you might enjoy on your days out and about. The art works will be on display until the first Saturday of each month, when a new group will be installed. Get your reservations in advance for a special meal by a special couple of new business creators at 16210 Summerlin Road., near Health Park. 239-990-6889.
New Community Outreach program with Gulf Coast Village has formed and NFMAA will join them in this auspicious opportunity. Look for more information on this new fabulous community program in coming columns.
New Intergenerational Committee being formed. We have formed a new community collaboration search committee to provide intergenerational programs to all residents, students and visitors. Recent participants include: James Sams, NFM Academy for the Arts, Asst. Principal, and Paula Martinez of the Scientists’ Society of SWFL, several Gulf Coast staff and residents have previously attended our first foundational meeting, this past spring. Our focus is to promote interactions between generations and development of an annual scholarship program for art students in Lee County who will be working toward their pursuits of higher education.
These fund-raising programs are designed to strengthen community relationships between different age groups for the benefit of all. The focus will be on encouraging students from our area education centers to join our members in joint art displays, present theater and music presentations, STEM education projects, and other interesting projects and programs at Gulf Coast Village Independent Living Center’s Auditorium.
How can YOU help, or join in this new adventure?
Call Dee Stevenson, President, NFMAA, 239-257-8589, or drop her an email (delnora62@yahoo.com) with your suggestions, questions, offers of support, and assistance in any area/scope of the project.
Join us for our next intergenerational meeting as has been suggested to begin 4 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 10, at The ART House, 120 S.E. 13th St., Cape Coral on GCV grounds.
Light after-school refreshments will be provided. Please call Dee to make your reservation 239-257-8589 or 740-804-4310, email: delnora62@yahoo.com. Plenty of free parking.
As we develop our Season 2026-2027 programs, we are always looking for new members with a wide variety of skills and talents who want to enjoy the many benefits of NFMAA membership and opportunities to present their works to the wider community at no additional fee to them. Call Dee for more information and answers to your questions. 239257-8589, or email to delnora62@yahoo.com. OR, find us online: nfmaa.org.
Do you have a background in interior design, museum or gallery curation, sculpting in a variety of media, performance art, or musical talent, business space design & displays? We’d love to gather a wider audience to advance our current venues and as we revamp ART House Gallery. 239-257-8589 to discuss. We are always on the lookout for ways of broadening community access as we grow our appeal to broader age ranges of our citizens’ interests. We are all about learning and sharing opportunities that add to the variety of programs for education and growing a strong sense of belonging and acceptance by our community at large. And having fun while we explore your interests or learning new ones. Join us!
Thank you for your continued interest and support.
— Dee Stevenson is the president of Lee Co. Art Center, Inc. dba: North Fort Myers ARTS Association.