Artist's Reception - 6th Annual Juried Group Show at HOWL Gallery/Tattoo in Fort Myers, Florida

 

Art of the Olympians Presents Shutter Speed by Olympian Artist Cameron Myler

Olympian Artist Cameron Myler with Father and Art

 On April 1, Art of the Olympians (AOTO) welcomed Olympian and Artist Cameron Myler to southwest Florida for the opening of Shutter Speed -a collection of more than 20 vivid photographic works.
Cameron Myler,  a four-time Olympian in the sport of luge, is the most successful American woman in luge history. She competed in the Olympic Winter Games in 1988 (Calgary, Canada), 1992 (Albertville, France), 1994 (Lillehammer, Norway), and 1998 (Nagano, Japan). Cameron holds seven U.S. National Championship titles and was named U.S. Luge Athlete of the Year nine times. She held more than 30 of 34 U.S. records at tracks around the world.
After retiring from Olympic competition, she became a lawyer,  practicing in New York City in the entertainment, sports, and media fields.

Her photography is unique, featuring her snippets and views of New York's streets, colored lights, nature, Rothko,water and flame. As one accustomed to moving at luge-speed, many exhibit a brash motion. Some are even captured with her phone-camera from a car while being driven.  Well worth a visit!

The exhibit of Shutter Speed started on Friday, April 1, and will continue  in the Cultural Art Gallery at the Art of the Olympians Al Oerter Center for Excellence at 1300 Hendry St., Fort Myers.

 Also see Larry Young's sinuous bronze sculptures. These could grace any museum or home. 

 At the opening, the very talented singers of Vocal Artistry performed.

 

The 24 voice professional chamber choir is associated with Fort Myers' First Baptist Church, and offers upbeat inspirational music under the direction of Joseph Caulkins, former director of the Southwest Florida Symphony Chorus.

 They will also present a Sunday Sunday for the Japan Earthquake and Tsunami Relief Concert 7 PM at the Unitarian Church, and several other concerts through Easter.Vocal Artistry partners with community groups to raise social awareness and sensitivity about the world's challenges today. Its first full concert, "Freedom Train," spotlighted the Holocaust Museum of Southwest Florida, After the Rain Half-Way House for Women, Working Hands Bicycle Ministry, and The Harry Chapin Food Bank, all of which help people to achieve freedom from oppression, addiction or hunger. I highly recommend that you hear them. Visit them at:  
http://www.facebook.com/VocalArtistry 

Myler’s creative energy  is captured through her photography.Soon, her artistry will encompass a line of hand crafted handbags that will soon debut under the Cameron Waulker brand. Her bags, which incorporate wool fabric that she has knitted and felted, are influenced by both her Scottish heritage and aspects of  modern design.

The Art of the Olympians building is a must see! It's a bright new jewel in the crown of Fort Myers, a modern two story building perched on the bank of the Caloosahatchee River at the north end of Hendry Street. Inside are the artistic creations of a couple dozen Olympians at any time. Their painting, sculpture, photography, drawing and poetry is as beautiful and world -class as their Olympic accomplishments.

 

by Emanuela Pierantozzi

 

Olympian Liston Bochette

 This jewel also welcomed Olympian HSH Prince Albert of Monaco on March 5th, 2011.

Gallery hours are Tuesday – Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Gallery is closed to on Sundays, Mondays and holidays.

For general Museum information, visit web site at www.artoftheolympians.com. Follow  on Twitter at www.twitter.com/artofolympians, fan them on Facebook at www.facebook.com/artoftheolympians or call 239-332-5055.

These and additional photographs may be purchased at:
http://ivanseligman.smugmug.com/Other/Art-of-the-Olympians-Cameron/16443412_BkKaN#1237048990_RH7Lj
     All profits go to Art of the Olympians.

Sidney & Berne Davis Art Center Evening of Tango

The Sidney & Berne Davis Art Center’s November 7th kick off event of the “Illuminating An Era of Art Dinner with Berne Davis” concluded with a standing ovation for the quartet of highly talented dancers and musicians. 

“An Evening of Tango”, the first of four Art Dinners, brought food, creative visual artists, dancers and musicians together, creating a wonderful candle lit evening in a regal setting in the historic stately columned building.

The evening opened with a silent auction in the Art Center, featuring works by well collected artists. Will George’s work is well known, and can be seen on line and at his Boca Raton Gallery.

Leoma Lovegrove, with a stunning white dress and sunburst sequined glasses, painted as the silent auction progressed.

 Other artists painted and embellished various “Door of Opportunity" using antique wooden doors as a canvas. Bruce Patch generously brought his Sonoma grown Wine Guerrilla wines for auction and for dining. Yes, the wine is delicious, and is sold at a good price point! Jamie and Jacob Catering supplied the evening’s opening cheese display and passed hors d’oeuvres, as well as the entrée and dessert.

Go and explore the Center’s ground floor. The Art Center’s 23,000 square feet of neoclassical architecture opened in 1933 as the Fort Myers Post Office, ensconced on a full city block.

Berne Davis and her then husband-to-be Sidney were at the 1933 opening! May you live to be as “sharp as a tack” and in as good health as this elegant lady! The unairconditioned building later hosted criminals and lawyers while a courthouse, before being abandoned from 1998 until 2003. Restoration is an ongoing process under the eye of CEO Jim Griffith, a Julliard-trained violist with the Naples Philharmonic. A dynamic renaissance awaits the Center’s 2nd floor, 3rd floor and roof top’s turn. The Center will be a gem; a sophisticated visual and performing arts magnet when complete.

Doors opened at 7 pm to the dining room’s darkness, lit by candles on the black tables ringing the central black stage.

Like a bullfight’s colors, the dancers and pianist wore red, and the violinist was clad in black. An eerie purple light bathed the dancers. The musicians were highlighted by overhead white light.
The tango collaboration melded the talents of two superb dancers with two electrifying musicians.

Dancer Tom Gold performing with his own dance company in Tel Aviv and Havana in the two weeks before th evening. He formerly was a soloist dancer with the New York City Ballet for 21 years. Abi Stafford is currently principal dancer with the New York City Ballet.

It always amazes me to see the power and grace of top ballet dancers in rehearsal, then to see the performance in which their practiced, precise partnering makes all look effortlessly fluid and often gravity defying. Pairing their bodies- their lithe instruments- with the musicians’ instruments, with the beat, never missing a beat, left the audience focused laser-like on their performance. The smaller stage was an artistic challenge that was ably met.

Whether whirling with fouettés en tournant.or leaping in grand jeté, the audience was amazed at the power of the dance interpretation and happy to be so close to the stage. I closed my eyes, and pictured a hundred tangueros regally paired at a Buenos Aires milonga, or tango studio, paced by Astor Piazzolla’s accordion-like bandoneón .

Pianist Maria Asteriadou trained at Julliard and is a faculty member at Manhattan School of Music.

Violinist Kurt Nikkanen debuted at Carnegie Hall at age 12, and travels the world with solo engagements.

 The music chosen was an assortment of pieces, with two different milongas from famed tango musician Piazzolla and pieces from Ravel, Kurt Weill , Micah Young and Waasserman. Bold, passionate and invigorating, the musicians and dancers brought fiery life to each musical bar. To quote the program, “ The violin and piano play for the dancers. The Violin and piano dance a tango with each other. The violin and piano dance with the violinist and the pianist.” Putting the dancer’s ballet talents to the musicians empassioned Argentinian tango music brought down the house with applause.
A ticket to each of the remaining Art Dinners is $175, and to this evening’s audience, was well worth it. What’s to follow?

Wednesday, December 1, will take you to Italy for “An Evening of Opera,” with rising stars from the Juilliard School and wonderful Italian cuisine by Chef and owner Carlo Rao of Mastello’s Restaurant and Touch of Italy.

On Valentine’s Day- February 14, 2011, experience the World Music of percussionist Aiyb Dieng and his Rhythm Band, along with the cuisine of Senegal, prepared by Chefs Eric Truglas and Ruth Cohen of French Bread Oven.

Saturday, May 7, 2011, will be a Kentucky Derby Celebration, with music by an authentic New Orleans Jazz Band and Cajun cuisine by Ruth’s Chris Steak House.

Each dinner will begin with a Champagne Reception at 6:00 pm and end with the Silent Auction Finale. (Note: May 7 dinner begins at 5:30 pm.) Tickets are $175 per person, or guests may choose from four levels of sponsorship which include dinner tickets. Terat yourself to a magical evening! Call 333-1933 for reservations at the Sidney & Berne Davis Art Center.