STORY TOOLS

• E-mail story
• Comments
• iPod friendly
• Printer friendly

More Latest Stories

• First showing: Young award-winning artists to exhibit their work
• Chef Q&A: Kari Lenser
• Art schedule: July 3, 2008

Share and Enjoy [?]

While attending many of the arts events that take place on our island, I am excited about the people I get to see. This past week was a pretty busy week for us at the Center for the Arts (known to many as the Art League), but also at other locations as well. I always enjoy the time that I can share reconnecting with friends and meeting new people. There is always something that comes up or is said that just sticks in my mind.

I was able to spend a few minutes talking with Dave Caruso, a neighbor and patron of the arts in our community and he made a comment. He said to me that he was surprised that no one ever talks about “the energy that is generated by the arts.” This stuck with me. As you may be familiar with, I continue to stress the importance of the arts in our community, but I overlooked this very obvious detail. So of course, the first thing I did was visit the old American Heritage dictionary. I wanted to see how we define energy. What I found was what I think Dave was alluding to in one form of the definition: “vitality and intensity of expression.” In addition, my feeling is that the arts not only create energy but also energize: “to give energy to; to activate or invigorate.”

Dave and I along with 50 other guests attended Orion Bank’s Artist Appreciation Series which hosted Marco Island’s Stephen Muldoon. This arts event brought together a diverse group of people; seasonal and year round; retired and working; young and experienced; friends and patrons of the arts; artists and viewers. It provided the energy to bring together this diverse group of people and continue to energize the evening with discussions that took place at all levels.

Maybe it’s just another way of expressing how important the arts are in our lives and how they continue to keep us human (another smart comment from a friend of mine) but in taking in the arts and cultural opportunities that exist we are energizing ourselves and our community.

So what’s the next step? Well Keith Dameron provided the fuel with the Artist Appreciation Series and now each series will be followed up with a special exhibit of the artist’s work as the Center for the Arts plans a Summer Wine and Art Series. Kick off will be May 6 as the Center hosts an exhibit of new works by Stephen Muldoon through May 30. This will follow-up with an exhibit that will open on June 3 when Malenda Trick will show a body of original works.

I am always stressing the importance of the arts in our community, so what better way to do this series than to establish a community partner? The Marco Wine Seller, Dan Bono, will host a wine tasting at each of the opening receptions. I expect you may want to mark your calendars now, but stay tuned to the Arts and Cultural Calendar for specifics.

If you are looking for energy in the form of movement, then maybe the summer evening programs that will be offered at the Center for the Arts may appeal to you.

Joan Scherer will be providing a Pastel Pet Portraiture program for beginners and Barney Halaschak will provide a Clay Wheel Throwing class for beginners and intermediate levels.

I know we are looking to put energy into positive actions for our children, so of course there are opportunities this June with the Artists Visiting Kids program, Kids Art Kamp and new programming that will be offered by the Center’s youth instructor, Kim Burke.

Let the arts invigorate or activate you. Show your vitality and intensity of expression. Take a look at the Arts and Cultural calendar; there’s always something for everyone. Maybe you will be the next trigger of a new thought, I just know you won’t be disappointed. Till next time…

---

Christine Neal is the executive director of Marco Island’s Center of the Arts. She holds an Associate of Arts Degree in the Liberal Arts with emphasis in the Fine Arts and various certifications and designations in business and the arts. An award winning artist, with 20-plus years in management and sales. Marco Island’s Center for the Arts is located at 1010 Winterberry Drive 239-394-4221 mail@marcoislandart.com.