Southwest Florida Fine Craft Expo opens today
A decades-long expo giving Southwest Floridians the chance to learn and explore various aspects of art, while fundraising for a non-profit, takes place over two days starting today.
The 25th annual Southwest Florida Fine Craft Expo, brought to the community by the Southwest Florida Fine Craft Guild in partnership with the Cape Coral Art Center, provides a weekend featuring make-and-take workshops, an artwork raffle fundraiser, and a reception for the annual “Expression” exhibition.
The Southwest Florida Fine Craft Guild is a non-profit artist collective. All proceeds from the raffle go towards supporting young artists through scholarships, providing local youth with free camp registration at the Cape Coral Art Center.
The expo kicks off Friday night with a free reception for the exhibit from 5 to 7 p.m. at the center.
“Southwest Florida Fine Craft Guilt has been exhibiting at the art center for over 20 years,” said Recreation Program Supervisor at the Cape Coral Art Center, Samantha Ellis. “They have an exhibit in the main gallery every February called ‘Expressions.’ The current exhibit has fifty-eight works by twenty-three artists.”
The Expressions exhibit is open from Feb. 7 through 27, and is free to view. Tickets for Saturday’s raffle can also be purchased during the reception on Friday evening.
On Saturday, the expo will offer 11 different workshops in varying realms of art. Workshops take place from 9 a.m. until noon, and from 1 to 4 p.m. Participants will have the opportunity to learn from experts and take home their creations.
“It gives a very diverse array of types of mediums that people can try out,” Ellis said. “All of the workshops — you get to make-and-take your item with you that day. We have a lot of talented instructors that are all volunteers from the craft guild teaching these classes, and a lot of them are actually teachers from our regular classes at the art center year-round. It’s a great way to try out a class. If you like the one-day workshop, you can always come back and return for ongoing classes as well.”
Workshop from 9 a.m. to noon and its instructors include:
• Clay Raku – Louis Ford
• Fused Glass Plant Stakes – Laura Greeno
• Wire Jewelry – Val Jewell
• Paper Bread Jewelry – Judy Van Inwegen
• Dry Needle Felting – Tori Antweiler
Workshop from 1 to 4 p.m. and its instructors include:
• Clay Raku – Louis Ford
• Stained Glass – Deborah Kramer
• Cold Connections Jewelry – Chancellor Wilcox
• Polymer Clay – Janet Slater
• Paper Quilling – Laura Greeno
“It’s a great way for people to dip their toe into a new art form if they haven’t tried it yet,” Ellis added. “We do have examples on view at the art center in building two in the supply store, and those will be up until Saturday morning to view so that people can figure out what they want to take and see the actual projects they’ll leave with.”
Workshops are $35, plus $20 for the supply kit,
At 2 p.m. on Saturday, the art raffle will be drawn.
All of the proceeds from the fine art raffle and art panels being sold will go towards supporting young artists in the community.
The Southwest Florida Fine Craft Guild partners with Florida Gulf Coast University and Cape Coral Art Center to provide scholarships directly to students. Over the summer, the Cape Coral Art Center puts on Creativity Camps. Proceeds from the expo will assist youth ages 7 to 13 in paying for their registration and materials.
Fabulous Florida art panels will be on sale for $30 each, and will be sold throughout the weekend. The art raffle will see tickets drawn at random for various pieces. Tickets are $5 for one entry and $10 for three entries, and can be purchased Friday and Saturday. Winners do not have to be present.
The Southwest Florida Fine Craft Guild is a collective of artisans, explorers, and creators dedicated to the art of fine Craig. Since 1971, the guild has fostered, connected and inspired creativity, encouraging artisans to push their boundaries and explore new territories in their craft.
The Cape Coral Art Center has been an artist community resource in Southwest Florida since 1977. Located in Rubicond Park on Coronado Parkway in the Southeast Cape, the center offers year-round classes and workshops for those of all ages and skill levels. No membership is required for participation. Featuring 15,000 square feet of well-equipped studios, speciality art supplies store, gift shop and art galleries, the center has something for regulars to casual visitors.
To register for a workshop (or workshops), call 239-574-0802, visit the center, or do so online.
For more information, visit capeparks.com and find the Cape Coral Art Center under the “Recreation Facilities” tab.
To reach CJ HADDAD, please email cjhaddad@breezenewspapers.com