Last Wednesday Art Walk, Please Step Forward Daily Painting by Everglades Artist Jo-Ann Sanborn

Please Step Forward

5x7, acrylic on board

$150

The Artist Colony at the Esplanade will present the Last Wednesday Art Walk in the studio galleries tonight from 5-8 p.m. You'll be offered a glass of wine or coffee, treats to munch on, and enjoy music in each of the three galleries while you visit with artists and see the new work produced this month.

Each of the three galleries will have new work to show and tell about. One of the joys of the Artist Colony is that it's fun to see what everyone else is producing. Ask the artists about the inspiration for a particular piece, or why they chose to portray something in a particular manner. We're all so different. Do you have a favorite yet?

It's been so cold that I haven't ventured too far out lately, but have found plenty of inspiration on the new Marsh Trail. I've got two new paintings from that area, and am working on a large piece. Stop in tonight, and see what's new!

National Wildlife Refuge Week, End of the Day daily painting by Everglades artist Jo-Ann Sanborn

End of the Day

7x5, acrylic on canvas

$150

I love a win-win partnership and that's just what's being celebrated in Collier County this week. It's National Refuge Week, and shared funding between the Florida Department of Transportation Enhancement Program, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Refuge Roads Program and the Southwest Florida Gulf Coast Refuge Complex has provided new access to the Marsh Trail at the north end of the 10,000 Islands Wildlife Refuge.

The improvements include a parking lot, an information kiosk, a boardwalk leading to the trail, a watercraft ramp. There will be a handicap accessible observation tower by the end of November. The new access will be of particular interest to kayakers, who can glide through the marsh grasses silently, really becoming part of the landscape.

There are over 550 National Wildlife Refuge System properties throughout the US with the primary mission of wildlife protection and preservation. The first refuge was established over 100 years ago by Teddy Roosevelt at Florida's Pelican Island to protect birds from plume hunters who nearly decimated the population because the feathers were used in such large numbers on women's hats.



No thoughts of feathery hats for these two. We were exhausted at the end of the first day for Artist Colony at the Esplanade, but filled with a great sense of satisfaction! Studio and gallery space has been cleansed with a sage smudge to get out any fail-store-cooties without triggering the fire alarms and we're welcoming friends old and new Wed-Sat. Hope you'll stop in!

Reality! Along a Stream daily painting by Everglades artist JoAnn Sanborn

Along a Stream

5x7, acrylic on board

$150, framed

Art Tabletalk, a group of professional artists who meet once a month to talk art, met yesterday and could talk of nothing else! Artists at the Esplanade is becoming a reality!

Marco Islands not-for-profit arts agencies, the Marco Island Center for the Arts and the Marco Island Foundation for the Arts have joined forces and graciously agreed to become leasees of vacant retail space in Marco Island's Esplanade. The artists involved will be required to maintain memberships in both organizations.

The two organizations will jointly sublease three storefronts. Two will be for seven artists who will open studio galleries in shared space. The third will be reserved for a group artist cooperative gallery where there will be working and display space, provided they can organize in an acceptable way.

The agreement is temporary, and we'll have to be flexible as time passes. Each party can cancel with a 30-day notice. The Esplanade will be looking for paying tenants once the economy approves. Artists traditionally have improved an area until they are priced out. We're used to this, and will just have to move on when the time comes. In the meantime, we'll be paint some fabulous paintings, having some fun, and make new friends in the community.

We'll start to move in some time around October 1, with perhaps a Grand Opening in November as part of the United Arts Council's Celebrate the Arts! Stop by and say hello!

Artists at the Esplanade, Lovely Morning daily painting by Everglades artist JoAnn Sanborn

Lovely Morning

5x7 Acrylic on Canvas

$150 framed

It is a lovely morning today, with only a few clouds on the horizon as the sun comes up, both in today's painting and on Marco. But many artists on Marco Island, involved in the potential use of provided studio space at the Esplanade, are holding their breath and crossing their fingers rather than enjoying the view.

We haven't had a good nights sleep in a month! There are eighteen of us so far, Nine looking for studio space and another nine hoping for group gallery, or co-op space. It's expected that the gallery space will draw many other Marco artists as the plan becomes reality.

In order for the proposal to the benefit Esplanade management, the boards of Marco's two non-profit art agencies, the Marco Island Center for the Arts and the Marco Island Foundation for the Arts must agree to lease the space from them and then sub-lease it to the artists. And the devil is always in the details.

These community organizations are doing a terrific job of trying to keep the idea alive while struggling through the necessary nitty-gritty to make it work. Leases are being review by lawyers and insurance issues are being investigated to ensure the protection of the non-profits. Potential costs are being considered, and everyone agrees it shouldn't cost the non-profits. The boards of both organizations will be meeting this week to determine whether or not they want to participate.

In any case, should one or both step up, the artists of this community will owe them a a huge debt of gratitude. They chose to be innovative, progressive, excited and open to the idea, and now are doing the hard work and critical thinking necessary to make it. Artists at the Esplanade can and should work to the benefit of all.

We should have answers by the end of the week. However you work for the best, prayers, lucky charms, positive thinking, energy flow, now is the time!