Creative Coast weekend will be for lovers
Grab your sweetheart and travel throughout Matlacha and Pine Island for the February Creative Coast weekend. Island galleries have scheduled special events to commemorate Valentine’s Day on Friday, Feb. 13, and Saturday, Feb. 14.
Beginning Friday evening, the Sea Star Gallery in Matlacha will feature local artist Mary Murphy, who will debut her collection of paintings titled “Pine Island Mangroves.” A nature enthusiast, Murphy uses brilliant colors and bold designs which make her work unique and expressive. Her art will be on display at Sea Star Gallery for the next several weeks.
Then on Saturday, Feb. 14, Sea Star will host a Valentine’s Day for “Tea Lovers Only” in Daphne’s Tea Room at the gallery. Festivities will take place all day and visitors to the gallery can sample free tea along with registering for door prizes and witness free demonstrations by local artisans.
Also in Matlacha, those stopping in at the Seaweed Gallery can take in the beauty of the “Glass Menagerie” by Sue Brenner. A self-taught accomplished artist, Brenner was initially inspired by sand sculptors on the banks of the Flint River. Currently, Brenner’s creations include fused glass, sterling silver wire wrapped jewelry, stained glass mosaic mirrors and trays and painted fused glass art.
Also Friday evening, Seaweed Gallery will show the works of Marsha Bisson with her whimsical Key West glass wall hangings and jewelry. All are welcome to join the folks at Seaweed for chocolate-covered strawberries and live music. Then on Saturday, artists will move outdoors at Seaweed where Mike “Tin Fins” will show his nautical sealife creations in metal.
On Friday, from 6 to 10 p.m., Leoma Lovegrove from Lovegrove Gallery and Garden will venture into new territory as she paints live during a bluegrass concert at the Olde Fish House on Pine Island Road in Matlacha. Backing her up will be Marc Bolen, master banjo picker from Virginia, Pat McCune from Nashville and Pine Island’s own Kip Lawrence. The concert at Olde Fish House is free of charge and lawn chairs and coolers will be permitted.
Out in Bokeelia, Koucky Gallery and Gardens will host “Love Fest 2009” Friday from 4 to 8 p.m., and again on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. This will be a celebration of the art of tie-dye and all are welcome to bring a shirt to dye or buy a commemorative Love Fest 2009 shirt from Koucky’s. Instructions for tie-dye will be provided by Michigan textile artist Nancy Carey, who will be on hand beginning at 6:30 p.m. on Friday and again on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. The fee for dying a shirt is $5 each or purchase a Love Fest 2009 shirt for $12 with a portion of the proceeds benefitting Fellow Islanders Sending Help (FISH). Also on Friday, live music from the ’70s will be provided by Michael Mahan and on Saturday by Bart Alan Ream at Koucky’s. Cookies and beverages also will be served on both days. The featured artist for the Creative Coast weekend festivities at Koucky’s will be Susan Carpenter, who will introduce her “Tropical Painting Pages,” a new coloring book created specifically for Pine Island. Koucky’s Gallery and Gardens is located on Stringfellow Road in Bokeelia.
For more information about the participating galleries during the February Creative Coast weekend, visit artnightonpineisland.com