“Celebrate Earth” Exhibition at Center for the Arts

Marco Island Center for the Arts is currently featuring the Celebrate Earth Exhibition and speaker series during May and June. The exhibition highlights the need to protect the beauty of our natural world. Participating artists are Judy Becker, Judy Chinski, Deborah Martin, Glory Sheba Spinuzzi, and Karen Swanker. Their exhibits emphasize the beauty of our surroundings by using different mediums to convey the messages. 

The Celebrate Earth Exhibition will be open in the Lauritzen and Rush Galleries May 9 through July 5, 2022. Gallery receptions scheduled on May 10 at 5:30 PM and June 14 at 5:30 PM will offer the opportunity to speak with the artists regarding the message and process behind the exhibition.

Artist Karen Swanker’s "A Florida Dream of Monet’s Water Lilies.”

 La Petite Galerie is featuring artist Annie Bacon’s exhibit through May 31st.

According to the Center for the Arts, in 2020, the Marco Island Center for the Arts annual high school art show and competition moved to virtual platforms due to COVID and the closure of the Art Center. On account of these exigent circumstances, the artwork was collected and displayed on both Facebook and Instagram.

As opposed to having the work professionally judged, the Art Center had people vote for their favorite piece and the People’s Choice winning artist received a gift certificate. This online presence led to substantial activity and community participation. The artwork was also incorporated into a video which is permanently on the Art Center’s YouTube channel.

Artist Judy Chinski celebrates Earth with her Sea Turtles.

By moving the art show to social media platforms (Marco Island Center for the Arts Facebook and now on website), participation and engagement significantly increased. The virtual art show brought together teens, parents and assorted family and friends of all ages who voted and commented on the artwork.

Building on the discoveries from the 2020 project, the Art Center invited high school students in Collier County to submit images (JPEGS preferred) of up to two pieces of artwork in any medium. Results are as follows:

Judging by Artist Tara O’Neill

#1: “Lepidoptera,” by Lee B., Community School of Naples.

#2: “Galaxy Cat at the Beginning of the Universe,” by Luis F., Immokalee High School.

#3: “Self Portrait,” by Derrick J., Palmetto Ridge High School.

Honorable Mention: “Submerged,” by Isabel M., Palmetto Ridge High School.

Honorable Mention: “Hand in No Hand,” by Fay G., Naples High School.

Peoples Choices:

Facebook Vote- “Self Portrait,” by Edwina F., Palmetto Ridge High School.

Website Vote – “Nature Repeats Itself,” Grace P., Community School of Naples.

The Celebrate Earth Exhibition also includes a speaker series on environmental stewardship and ways to make a difference in saving the planet. The speaker sessions are FREE to attend just RSVP to hold your seat on our event calendar at https://www.marcoislandart.org/events-calendar/.