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Learn a new art form during Creative Coast Weekend

By Staff | Feb 8, 2011

Treat your Valentine to a weekend of color, texture, music and imagination during the February Creative Coast Weekend. Kicking off activities will be the WildChild Gallery in Matlacha which will host the three-day event, Art in the Heart of Matlacha.

“This is our 10th year presenting Art in the Heart and it is a wonderful opportunity for visitors to see what our artists do best, create,” said gallery owner and metal artist Peggy McTeague. “Those stopping in at the gallery garden over the weekend can also spend time talking with the artists, getting to know them and their work and maybe even pick up a creative tip or two.”

The Art in the Heart event will take place on Friday, Feb. 11, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. and on Saturday, Feb. 12, and Sunday, Feb. 13, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Visitors to the gallery will watch as approximately 20 artists create works in oils, pastels, watercolor, fabric, wood, beads, stained glass and more. Among the artists to participate during this year’s Art in the Heart of Matlacha will be Treasure Wollin with card making, Jon Ferrentino working in oils, Annie Harrison watercolor artist, Jeanne Workman with fabric art, Tom Werdin working in pastels, Pat Rini jewelry making, Linda Kownig with beading, Ann Schroeder doll maker, Pam Haddaway with jewelry, Heather Fortner with gyotaku, Karen Weeks working in acrylic, Galen Aune with sterling silver jewelry, Peter Humeniuk watercolors, Pauline Horricks working with plaster, Lynne Kemper with woodcarving, Ron Kemper’s photography, Vladimir Skuskin with stained glass, Joyce Reed with computer sculptures and Nancy Cummingham with painted silk.

No Creative Coast weekend would be complete without music. Presenting the Creative Coast Concert once again on Friday, Feb. 11, will be the Yard Dogs featuring Michelle Bundy. Staged at the Olde Fish House in Matlacha, this free concert will take place from 6 to 9 p.m. Everyone is welcome to bring a lawn chair and a cooler to enjoy an evening of music provided by some of the island’s best local performers. Fresh local seafood meals also will be available for purchase from Olde Fish House.

Also joining the Creative Coast festivities will be newcomers, Harborside Gallery and More located in the Matlacha Post Office complex. Featuring consigners from furniture to original artwork, Harborside will also feature several local artists during the weekend-long event. Providing demonstrations will be Susan Corbin with collage designs, Kathy Harmon will demonstrate the making of sea glass jewelry and Louie Haemelinck will answer questions and help new artists with design styles. Haemelinck also is a noted for his pet portraits as well. New to the Harborside Gallery is “Hooker Gear”. During the Creative Coast weekend, members of the Matlacha Hookers will be on hand to answer questions about their organization and to sell Hooker mementos with proceeds from sales benefitting local charities.

Creative Coast Weekend does not end on the outskirts of Matlacha and those venturing out will find activities in Bokeelia as well. Koucky Gallery and Garden on Stringfellow Road in Bokeelia, will be celebrating Valentines Day and the art of Tie-Dying on Saturday, Feb. 12, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Everyone is welcome to bring a favorite light-colored cotton shirt to dye or purchase one on site. The fee for dying a shirt will be $5 or pre-dyed creations will be available for purchase for those who prefer ready-made. Assisting in the dying process will be gallery owners, Chuck and Nancy Koucky. The Kouckys also recommend that parents bring their children to dye a shirt and stick around for a unique storytelling experience. Also on Saturday, Wilson Hawthorne, author of “The Last Pirate” will relate the tale of Harley Cooper and his dog Hammerhead. The story is set on Pine Island the the surrounding islands and waters and is a modern-day tale based on the legends of the notorious pirate, Gasparilla.

For more information about the February Creative Coast Weekend activities, and other participating galleries and gift shops, visit floridascreativecoast.com