For four decades, the Pine Island Art Show has always taken place on the weekend of or before Valentine's Day. This year will be no exception. The 40th Annual Pine Island Art Show takes place in historic Matlacha this weekend, Februay 11 & 12.
"The event will draw the largest crowds of the season," predicts the Pine Island Art Association, which organizes the show. "This is where pelicans and great blue herons circle above moored fishing boats, brightly painted galleries, and fresh fish markets."
This art festival features works created by more than 100 local artists who range in skill and experience from novice to expert. Some are students. A number are professionals with their own following and gallery representations. Almost all are members of the Pine Island Art Association who work tirelessly throughout the year to prepare wall art in a variety of mediums just for the festival.
"There will be watercolors, acrylics, oil and pastels painted by many talented and experienced artists,” reports Art Association member Phyllis Dowd. "At this year’s show, you will find a large selection of landscapes, seascapes, birds, flowers, fish and wildlife. The subject matter of these paintings and the warm colors used evoke the spirit of this laid back paradise, and paintings purchased at the show become treasured possessions in homes and collections throughout the area.”
All of the works available for purchase are professionally framed and ready to hang.
To induce the very best work from participating artists, the Pine Island Art Association awards cash prizes to the Best in Show and first place winners in oil, acrylic, watercolors, pastels, mixed media, pen & ink and small or “mini” paintings. Last year, Pam Rossman’s California Dreamin received Best in Show honors, with Shirley Glenn taking first place for her pen & ink drawing Away From it All — Pine Island Sound Fish House. Brian Christiansen won the blue ribbon for his watercolor Between Runs, and Skip Weber earned first place for his small world painting, Fantasia.
Many festival goers combine the show with an excursion around the block to Matlacha’s gallery row. Newcomers are often surprised to learn that the tiny island has 8 art galleries: Bert’s Pine Bay Gallery, Bonnie’s Art Gallery, Frills (featuring bead and other craft jewelry), Island Visions (colorful Floridian paintings and prints), Julia’s Arts (Florida to modern paintings and prints as well as pottery and metal works), Lovegrove Gallery & Gardens (wide array of eccentric pieces, from paintings to painted furniture), Trader’s Hitching Post (Native American art and jewelry) and WildChild Art Gallery (serious to whimsical, beach scenes to wildlife and sea life motifs).
The festival takes place in the Community Building in Matlacha Park, which is on the south side of Pine Island Road, just over the Matlacha Bridge (nicknamed the fishingest bridge in the world because of all the people who wet a line from its span). Whereas all the other art fairs and festivals in southwest Florida take place outdoors, the Pine Island Art Festival is an indoor event. With rain predicted for Saturday and cool temperatures on Sunday, this indoor show guarantees a comfortable viewing environment.
Admission and parking are both free.
For more information, please telephone 239-283-4432 or visit the Pine Island Art Association online at http://www.pineislandart.com/artshow.html.
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