ACT Gallery will exhibit Art Poems and Terry Lynn Spry in April!

Join Arts for ACT Gallery, located at 2265 First Street in downtown Fort Myers on Friday,  April 6, 2018 from 6 to 10 pm for the opening reception and Meet the Artists for April Fort Myers Art Walk.  This month, ACT Gallery will feature The ArtPoems Group in the main gallery showing original works of art and poems created especially for selected art and poetry and off the main gallery in the white gallery creative oils by local artist Terry Lynn Spry.  Also showing, New Works from our Co-op Artists!  

Main Gallery – ArtPoems Exhibit

Leslie Morrow

ArtPoems, the collaborative multimedia poet and artist project of Southwest Florida, will be featured in the main

gallery in April.  Ranging from Peace River to Sanibel, from Cape Coral to Fort Myers and Naples, the group of 12 artists and 12 poets has collaborated to produce poems inspired by artworks and artworks inspired by poems. The poems and there paired paintings, sculptures, photography and mixed media artwork will be paired together.  There will also be an Artpoems book available to purchase for the 2018 season.

This year artists are Paul Adamick, Honey Costa, Scott Guelcher, William Kramer,  Claude Lyles, Lawrence Massing, Leslie Morrow, Barbara G. Mulford, Roy Rodriguez, Beverly Taht, Kenneth A. Vinton and Buck Ward.  Collaborating poets are Joyce Berrian Ferrari, Jamilla D. Brooks, Dan England, Christine Goodwin, Sandy Greco, Mary Beth Lundgren, Holly McEntyre, Gary McLouth, Marilyn Mecca, Joe Pacheco, Sid Simon and Lorraine Walker Williams.

In the White Gallery –Terry Lynn Spry

Terry Lynn Spry - Alice in Fort Myers

Terry Lynn Spry’s paintings are in national and local juried art exhibitions.  In addition, her work can be found in private collections across the country.   She graduated from Phoenix Institute of Technology with a degree in production art and went on to study under Nina Conner.  Terry Lynn’s desire to pass on her passion and love for the arts lead her to a career teaching at Alliance for the Arts.   In 2012, she won honorable mention in The Artist Magazine Annual art competition.

Terry Lynn paints in oils on canvas. She loves to create paintings that tell stories. She considers painting same as breathing and better than chocolate.

  ACT Gallery is also featuring new works by over 25 co-op artists. 

 These exhibits continue through Monday, April 30, 2018.   

ACT Gallery August Exhibits are Lynn Bautista-Barnes and 4 Generations of Artists The Family of Celia Malloy

Join Arts for ACT Gallery, located at 2265 First Street in downtown Fort Myers on Friday, August 4, 2017 from 6 to 10 pm for the opening reception and Saturday, August 5, 2017 from 11am to 4pm for the slower paced art walk for August 2017.  This month, ACT Gallery will feature Tonya Bautista- Barnes, a Photographer, Artist and Costume Design, in the main gallery.  In the white gallery, 4 Generations of Artists – The family of Celia Malloy.  Also showing, New Works from our Co-op Artists!  

Main Gallery Artist BIOGRAPHY – Tonya Bautista – Barnes

Photographer, Artist and Costume Designer 

Free Warrior Designs brand was originally born on the Big Island of Hawaii.  Tonya Bautista-Barnes always loved the splendid look of natural materials like bone, feather, metal, leather and stone.  Growing up islander and looking towards her Marianist heritage for inspiration, gave her much creativity and room for growth.  Her love for the bright macaw feathers with the neutral tones of the bone and leather gave her the inspiration to create.   All of Tonya’s designs are 100% handmade by her and are inspired by the bright colors and natural materials of the earth, air and sea. Using as many materials originating from the US and donated or purchased feathers from bird sanctuaries and private owners throughout the Marianas, Hawaiian Islands and the US.  She strives to support as many artists and small businesses as possible.

“Each piece represents a part of myself which will be seen in the individuality and craftsmanship of my work.  I choose my Warrior Sisters carefully.  I photograph them as I see them and how they wish to see themselves. 

Each person I photograph has endured hardships and flourished – proving their strength and determination to RISE.  Every woman is a Warrior and should be respected as such.  "The true warrior isn’t immune to fear.  She fights in spite of it." ~ anonymous  (but I'm positive she was a strong woman.).” ~ states, Tonya.

In the White Gallery 4 Generations of Artists – The family of Celia Malloy

An energetic vibe radiates throughout this multi-generational exhibit of visual art, as engaging and diverse as the women who created it.  Spanning approximately a half century, this eclectic, yet connected body of work is impressive as it represents varied artistic styles and content.  Celia Baiada Malloy, the 97 year old family Matriarch is the main focus of this exhibit. Celia's formative time was spent in the Philadelphia Metro area, and her training of many years ago, is beautifully reflected in unique and elegant acrylics.  Daughters Lynne Van Sciver, Taire Malloy, and Donna Malloy, share their mother's interest, along with granddaughter, Cavan Guenther, and great granddaughters, Julia and Scarlett Novak and Stella Guenther.  Their collective works both contrast and respond to the familial influence.  Lynne's abstract expressionistic style, infused with balance and freedom, has been influenced by training as a psychologist. Taire's charcoal life drawings display a subtle organic style and exude a feeling of calm movement. She studied art at Arizona State, and remains involved with the visual arts in the role of festival director of Art Fest Naples.  Donna Kay echoes her mother and grandmother's love of birds which culminated in the publication of Donna's children's book: "Criss Crow, Flying on Sunshine."  Donna earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Interior Design from the International Academy of Design and Technology, Tampa.  Cavan, Lynne's daughter, is a former science teacher. She is an accomplished abstract artist and rustic-glam jewelry designer. Her art is a mixture of earth, energy and vintage objects.  This delightful exhibition tells the story of connectedness found in art, that flows through generations, moving through time, taking on an exquisite life of its own.

ACT Gallery is also featuring new works by over 25 co-op artists. 

Pat Cleveland and Annette Brown at ACT Gallery for May 2017

Join Arts for ACT Gallery, located at 2265 First Street in downtown Fort Myers on Friday, May 5, 2017 from 6 to 10 pm for the opening reception and art walk for May 2017.  The gallery will also be open on Saturday, May 6, 2017 from 11am to 4pm for those who could not come to the Friday night Art Walk.  This month, ACT Gallery will feature “A Retrospective” by Pat Cleveland and the mixed media art of Annette Brown.  New Works from over 25 Co-op Artists will also be featured.  

Main Gallery – Pat Cleveland – A Retrospective

 Pat began painting at age three when her mother, an artist herself, put a brush in her hand and gave her a small canvas to paint on. Born in New Jersey, she graduated from Traphagen School of Design New York, N.Y., then worked as an interior designer for Bloomingdales until 1975 when she moved to Florida. where she was a designer at Robb and Stucky.

After retiring Pat became a member of several local art leagues showing her work in group and solo exhibits winning awards and notices. In 1996 one of her paintings won an award in an international competition sponsored by Artis Spectrum Magazine, New York City and was featured in an issue of that magazine.  An active member of art organizations, Pat taught creative workshops and art programs for adults and children.

Pat’s work has been presented by Rick Moore Fine Art Gallery, Naples,Fl., Sanibel Gallery, Seaweed Gallery both of Sanibel, Fl., Witt and Witt Gallery, Ft. Myers Fl., Wildchild Gallery,Matlacha,Fl.,Syzygy Gallery, Ft. Myers,Fl., Images Gallery, Lakeland,Fl.,Arts for ACT Gallery, Ft. Myers, Fl. Her work is in many private collections including such notables as Lily Tomlin the actress, Russian Ice Dance Olympic Gold Medalists, local and national collectors.

Pat developed macular degeneration in 2013 which has made her legally blind. She 

continues to paint considering the vision change not as a challenge but as an opportunity for creative growth. Her paintings are oil on canvas and her subject matter varies from landscapes, animals, florals, and still life. In 2013 Pat was one of six featured artists of ACT for their annual fundraiser auction. In 2016 Pat received an award from ACT for 28 years of donating to the auction..

This exhibit has some of Pat’s work before and after the vision changes.

“This retrospective exhibit contains a selection of early and new paintings. Since macular degeneration has changed my vision to a great extent, the viewer will note that I am using a strong color palette and less detail as well. It is a new way of seeing  and expressing my thoughts and feelings and I have been enjoying the transition from my earlier style of work. it has given me a sense of freedom from painting with more detail.” ~ Pat Cleveland

White Gallery – Annette Brown

Annette Brown is a mixed media artist that incorporates found objects and collage into her works.  Often working in acrylics, she has taken classes with Verron Ennis and Leo Johnson. 
Annette’s work is both innovative and aesthetic.