Celebrate Vibrant Adult Student Art

Have you done anything creative today? Research shows that creativity boosts remarkable mental health benefits. Creative hobbies such as adult drawing, clay, sculpture, watercolor, oil, acrylic, and photography help adults build community connections. The adult students feel more connected with other adults sharing similar interests. And exhibiting their creations gives local artists a big boost in self-confidence and recognition for their unique talents.

The Marco Island Center for the Arts is celebrating its Adult Student Show through April 28, which provides students the opportunity to show their art in a public gallery setting. The collection features 81 pieces of art and the exhibit is also juried with the following results:

Adult Student Exhibition

First Place - Marianna Richards “Abundant Coconuts.”

Second Place - Jean Ondyak “Pear Parade.”

Third Place - Sharon Young “Man in Cape.”

Hon Mentions:

Pat Howard - “Sutton’s Bay Sunflowers.”

Julie Schnell - “Island Glow Up.”

Sally Abramo - “Tagene.”

La Petite Galerie is featuring a Collection of Creativity by students from Marco Island Academy. “The exhibit showcases the diverse talents, ideas, and voices of our student artists,” said art teacher Juliana Pisculli. “ Each piece in this exhibit represents a unique perspective, highlighting not only artistic skill but also imagination, experimentation, and personal expression. From digital designs to mixed media and traditional works, this collection celebrates the creative risks students took and the growth they achieved throughout the year. Together, these works remind us that creativity has no single path—it is as varied and dynamic as the artists themselves.”

Upcoming Art Center Events

April 14, 2026, is the Second Tuesday Gallery Reception from 5:30 – 7:00 PM for the new exhibit. Come and view this special art collection and meet the amazing students and teachers; you will come away very impressed with the collection for the Adult Student Show.

The Marco Island Center for the Arts invites the community to slow down, relax, and explore creativity during a special workshop, “Flow Into Calm (a Guided Meditation with Watercolors),” on Thursday, April 16, at 5:30 PM. Open to adults of all ages and abilities, the workshop emphasizes ease, curiosity, and presence rather than artistic skill. Participants will be encouraged to focus on the calming process of painting and mindfulness rather than the final product.

The workshop will be led by Linda Silva, a licensed mental health counselor with 18 years of experience counseling adults through trauma-informed, body-based therapeutic approaches. She is the founder of Abundant Living Therapeutic Services on Marco Island, where she helps individuals reduce stress, restore balance, and reconnect with their natural capacity for calm and resilience.

Through her workshops, Silva invites participants to step out of “doing” and into “being,” using gentle artmaking as a pathway to relaxation, presence, and emotional ease.

There is no charge to attend this workshop, however, an RSVP is required. Participation is limited to 20 people to ensure a comfortable, small-group experience and to allow adequate materials for each participant.

To reserve a spot, please call 239-394-4221 or visit marcoislandart.org.

The Marco Island Center for the Arts is located at 1010 Winterberry Drive, Marco Island, and continues to offer a diverse lineup of classes, exhibitions, and cultural events for the community.