Gregory Van Kirk combines visual and performing arts as a grant recipient
The Uncommon Friends Foundation and Fort Myers Public Art Committee recently hosted the biennial individual artist grant recipient show at the historic Langford Kingston home in the Historic District in Fort Myers. The foundation awarded an annual grant, supporting visual and performing artists, to Pine Islander Gregory Van Kirk.
The show, which was supposed to have been held in May 2020 but was cancelled due to COVID, took place at the Langford Kingston home downtown Fort Myers during the month of November.
The two-story home was built in 1919 by Walter Langford, who also built the National Bank Building on the corner of Hendry and First streets, in the downtown Fort Myers.
According to Fort Myers’ Public Art Consultant Tom Hall, each artist involved in the show was afforded one of the rooms in the house, in which to display their work. Van Kirk was able to display his work in one of the upstairs bedrooms.
According to his biography, Van Kirk is an evolving fine art photographer. Relatively new to the field, he began experimenting with wide-angle panoramic or spherical photographs and video in 2019. He utilizes modern technology to capture, create and present his work to viewers, commonly in the form of an encompassing 360-degree circle, spherical view or tiny planet.
Today, he continues his quest to blend his years of experience as both a visual and performing artist with his passion to explore and expand his unique form of creative expression.
Van Kirk began his career as a musician, performing on stage with his brother, Warren, in the American rock band Strange Arrangement. The Brothers recently performed at the Pine Island Fishing Derby in Matlacha. Gregory plays his Fender Zone bass; Warren supplies lead and rhythm on his Godin guitar. Together, they offer an innovative, refreshingly original and emotional sound.
Depending on the venue and its size, the brothers may add additional musicians to their group, expanding to a full funk orchestra with drums, horns, strings and keyboard.