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Island galleries celebrate final Creative Coast weekend of the season

By Staff | Apr 7, 2009

The final Creative Coast Weekend of the season is sure to lure art lovers from near and far as the island galleries feature some of the areas top artists during the two-day gala.

The festivities will begin Friday, April 10, and continue through Saturday, April 11, with a host of musicians and artists, along with demonstrations and refreshments at each of the participating galleries.

At Julia’s Arts in Matlacha, the gallery will host an opening reception for the April Exhibition titled “Ellen Bianchi’s Paper” from 2 to 9 p.m. Attendees are welcome to meet the artist and watch as she demonstrates the creation of paper castings. Considered a “green” artist, Bianchi works with paper pulp, casting her images using recycled paper. Her technique is unique and the style is organic yet sophisticated.

Then on Saturday, beginning at 10 a.m., guests can enjoy refreshments and meet the April artist in residence, Mary Widmer, who produces works ranging from acrylic paintings on canvas to creations using feathers and gourds. Julia’s also will host live music from 1 to 5 p.m. by Miami singer/songwriter Grant Livingston.

Also joining in on the Creative Coast festivities will be Island Decor and More, which will host an Easter Hat Parade and Contest. Participants are asked to don their Easter bonnets will all the frills upon them to vie for the position of grandest in the Easter Parade. This event will take place Saturday, April 11, beginning at 1 p.m. Judges will be looking for the most creative with an “island” flare, and prizes will be awarded in five categories, including baby, kids, youth, adult and seniors.

No “creative” occasion would be complete without music and coming to the call will be Matlacha’s own Kip Lawrence, who will team up on Friday evening with Kraig Kenning for a special performance at the Olde Fish House in Matlacha. Joining the duo will be artist Leoma Lovegrove from Lovegrove Gallery and Garden, who will share the stage with the musical performers and create a painting while the music plays. The music and painting demonstration will begin at 6 p.m. and lawn chairs and coolers will be permitted.

Also in Matlacha, visitors will want to stop in at the WildChild Gallery on both Friday and Saturday to see the featured works of several area artists. In keeping with the Easter holiday, Joan Hall Bush will present her pisanki, dye over wax, polis and Ukranian Easter eggs. She will be joined by watercolor artist Hann Harrison, Marty Kendall with her works in mixed medium, Barbara Chole Murdock with her watercolors, acrylic artist Jon Ferrentino and coper designer T. Stardust.

Just down the road, Matlacha author Robert Macomber will host a wine and cheese book-signing at Bert’s Pine Bay Gallery. Just off the heels of his latest adventure in Haiti to research his next novel in the “Honor” series, Macomber will pause to meet and greet fans at Pine Bay from 5 to 7 p.m. on Friday, April 10. Macomber will share tales of his travels as well as sign copies of his sixth book, “The Honored Dead,” which debuted on book stands earlier this year. In addition, singer/songwriter Annie Wenz will perform during the event from 4 to 8 p.m.

At Island Visions, housed in the same building as the Seaweed Gallery and Great Licks Ice Cream, photographer Angie Chestnut will display her black and white images of local scenes beginning at 6:30 p.m. Friday. Music will be provided by Adam “Skunk Monkey” Friday night. Then on Saturday, Dr. Ed Guttery will show his gyotaku fish prints from 1 to 3 p.m.