Catching Art at Home

This is the seventh year for this popular homegrown Art at Home Exhibit and Sale using four local homes with 16 locally known artists sharing their wide variety of media and art experiences with the public. It has become a “pre-Christmas” tradition for residents to pick out their holiday gifts for family and friends or to pick out something special for themselves. 

There was a steady stream of visitors throughout the day! And it did not cost anything to visit, browse and chat with the artists. Supporting local artists is also about getting to know them as active members of the community. 

Local art is one of a kind, unique, personal, and the opposite of mass-produced goods. If you bought a painting, ceramic bowl, a Christmas ornament, or a hand-crafted necklace, it is one of a kind. And you get to meet the artist and make that personal connection. Economically, you are also supporting the local economy.

On Palm Avenue West in Goodland, Jim Freeman was the host artist, and his fine art photography filled the hallways along with the exhibits of Judy Wittwer, fellow Goodland resident Amanda Tessarzik, and Donna Teper. Amanda Tessarzik is a potter and had handmade ceramic bowls, vases, mugs, and decorative holiday items. Judy Wittwer is known for her whimsical mermaid tree toppers, mobiles, and colorful stone crab claws adorned with feathers!

Just down the street on Coconut Avenue, Tara O’Neill hosted Myriam Kriel, Hope Hanley, and first-time exhibitor Hyla Crane. Hyla found a new passion - creating an upscale designer recycle collection. These are collectible vintage fashion buttons transformed into necklaces or matching earrings. Just looking through her boxes of buttons is like a time capsule of fashion history, such as the iconic Versace gold Medusa logo. Myriam Kriel was back for her second year with her pottery and porcelain sculptures depicting lions and elephants reflecting her South African heritage.

Both Tara O’Neill and Jim Freeman are well-known artists living in Goodland, and they both want to preserve Goodland as an “ideal place for art programs where people could create and display their art.” 

On Marco, Judy Chinski and Jim Robellard hosted Nancy Norman and jewelry designer Mary Limont. Jim Robellard and his wife, Judy Chinski, are residents of Marco, and they photograph, paint, do art shows, and work together on their art. Judy paints in both transparent watercolor and acrylics, and Jim is known for his nature photography. Nancy Norman, also of Marco, is all about ceramics and is a member of the Center for the Arts Clay Guild.  

Karen Swanker of Saturn Court was the host to local artists Jo-Ann Sanborn, Roberta Bresette, and new exhibitor Gina Sisbarro. According to Gina, this was the premier of her “Scrapped Collections,” which are made from what she calls throw-away treasures. Her collection came from countless boxes of beads, pearls, and bangles which she did not want to go to waste! 

Karen Swanker is known for her “found objects turned into art pieces.” Jo-Ann Sanborn is all about the Everglades, and her hand painted holiday angels sell out during the holidays.

If you missed this event, you will find a display of some of their artworks for sale at the Marco Island Center for the Arts gift gallery.