An Exciting Season for Naples Art Association

CHANGING COMMUNITY

The form and function of community is changing. In today’s world, there is less emphasis on geographic community. Gone are the days of barn raisings and neighborhood picnics. While the era of communities built by neighbors wanes, a new era of social communities is emerging.

Social media websites like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest empower a new wave of community built around commonalities and interests. In this context of changes to the fundamental ways we experience community, The Naples Art Association and similar interestbased, regional, non-profits are able to offer a unique community
experience defined by common interests and cemented by shared space and geography. Becoming a part of The Naples Art Association allows an individual to express and cultivate their creativity while pursuing professional development in the visual arts.

Perhaps more importantly, being a member of The Naples Art Association allows you to leverage your contribution to our artistic community through an organization with over 60 years of experience enriching and facilitating art and the community in Southwest Florida by building connections to support development and innovation and the visual arts.

AN ENGAGING NEW SEASON

The Naples Art Association’s 2014-15 schedule presents many of your favorite artistic activities that have become traditions within the Naples community and includes great new activities and programming as well. A fresh line-up of exhibitions, including a fantastic series of exhibitions of artwork by local NAA member artists, is sure to inspire and educate guests. The fantastic Art Connects lecture series continues with eight speakers and a film viewing, covering everything from The Immortal Fountain of Youth in Florida’s History, Mythology and Art to Florida’s Self-Taught Renegade Artists.

Three major art festivals will bring artists from all over the nation to exhibit the newest in fine arts and crafts.

The 57th season of Art in the Park gives locals and visitors alike continued access to their favorite local artists and artwork on the first Saturday of each month from November through April. A new holiday gift shop, Sugar Plum Originals, will collect amazing hand-made and unique gifts, made in the USA, for guests of the von Liebig Art Center to browse and shop. Classes and workshops continue with high-engagement classes taught by professional artists and art instructors and aimed at artists of all skill levels.

A couple new additions to this season include many one day workshops on useable art such as Papermaking, Beach Bags and Spa Sets, a comprehensive video course called “Shooting Video with Your Digital SLR Camera,” “Intuitive Art & Yoga” and the return of a community favorite: “Wine & Dezine.” Programming for kids is expanding with Saturday classes offered throughout season to introduce or refine your child’s skills in clay working or design. “Creative Expressions,” NAA’s program aimed at bringing the healing and expressive powers of art to those who might benefit, has expanded.

Now in addition to serving individuals with Alzheimer’s, the program allows youth at David Lawrence Center an outlet for creative development and expression. The Southwest Florida community should feel proud of The Naples Art Association and the von Liebig Art Center. The positive contributions made to individuals at all stages of life and to the artistic and creative sides of Southwest Florida, brought to each of us through the generosity of the greater Southwest Florida community. For the first time on December 2nd, 2014, The NAA will participate in #GivingTuesday, a global day for giving back. The Naples Art Association has a lot of room to grow and a wealth of ideas for
increasing the quality and quantity of programming and they need your help to raise funds to ensure a sustainable future.

After Thanksgiving, consider giving back to one of the most important arts organizations in the area, The Naples Art Association. With so many activities presented by The Naples Art Association, it is easy to see the personal benefits to getting involved. Becoming a member, volunteering, or attending events are all fine ways to get more involved with art and become engaged with other people who enjoy creativity. Thanks to the fact that The Naples Art Association is a non-profit organization, many of the activities are offered free or at a significant discount to the cost of producing them. However, the greatest benefit to membership is being a part of a group of creative people who have joined together for the purpose of making a significant, creative and positive impact in Southwest Florida.

The coming season of exhibitions features fresh and exciting artwork from around Southwest Florida, the United States and beyond. Upcoming exhibitions include My Life: Artists Reveal Themselves in Their Work, featuring the work of three fantastic local artists: Kim Marhoefer Willis, Rand Adler and Renée Rey.

Visit NaplesArt.org for images of each of these artists’ works. Hanging concurrently, This is My Life 2: An Exhibition of NAA Member Artists features work that seeks to reveal the inner workings of each artist’s life work or inspirations and Members’ Gallery Roots explores origins, beginnings and foundations.

If you are an artist interested in exhibiting, entering the Members’ Gallery is a great way to become acclimated with exhibition and the jury process. Come out and engage in your social art community by attending the preview reception for these three exhibitions on November 21st. Preview receptions are a fantastic opportunity to meet the artists while browsing and shopping fine art. Bring a date! Entrance is free for Naples Art Association members and $10 for non-members.

With over 60 workshops and approximately 100 classes offered throughout the season, The Naples Art Association continues to be a leader in art education and professional development. New offerings this year broaden the appeal and variety of classes offered. The brochure for the 2014-15 season is available at the von Liebig Art Center or online at NaplesArt.org. Taking a class is a fantastic way to meet and socialize with other like minded individuals.

The high caliber instructors, superior supplies and beautiful location make classes and workshops at the von Liebig Art Center a highly rewarding experience.

Beyond classes and workshops, The Art Connects Lecture Series provides engaging and very affordable (sometimes free) lectures. The next upcoming lecture features Mallory O’Conner discussing The Immortal Fountain of Youth in Florida’s History, Mythology and Art on December 11th beginning at 5:30 p.m. That lecture is free of charge thanks to a grant from the Florida Humanities Council. The normal cost for Art Connects Lectures is $10 for members and $15 for non members. Whether you are looking for high-quality arts education or professional development for you or your children check out the wide range of educational opportunities hosted by The Naples Art Association.

IMPORTANT NEWS

Beginning in November, the von Liebig Art Center will be open additional hours: Thursday evenings until 8 and Saturdays from 10 until 4. Remember that admission during regular hours is free of charge. Visit the art center to discover new art, imagine your next creative endeavor and stay to create at one of the classes, workshops or in an open studio.

After Thanksgiving, when the pressing need to complete holiday shopping is upon us all, visit the von Liebig Art Center to browse through The Sugar Plum Originals Shop. The Naples Art Association’s gift shop, Originals, will expand its inventory and present a great selection of handmade in the US, unique and gorgeous holiday gifts: everything from ornaments to jewelry and more. The shop will be open during gallery hours from November 21st through January 2nd.

Appropriately scheduled for the Tuesday after Thanksgiving, #GivingTuesday is a day to respond to all that gratitude with positive action and paying it forward. Non-profits across the globe are joining together in support and accepting donations as part of a global effort to make a positive impact on this new and important day. For more
information on the global movement visit GivingTuesday.org.

AN INVITATION TO CONNECT

Come see why The Naples Art Association at The von Liebig Art Center has been voted one of the best galleries in Naples with more local art for sale by a wider variety of local artists than anywhere else in Naples. There are many ways to engage art offered by NAA: enjoy the second largest art resource library in Southwest Florida, take a class with a master instructor or find the perfect gift in our one of a kind gift shop. Admission is free and opens the door to a greater participation in community and the arts. Tour the galleries, shop, take a class or volunteer.

The Naples Art Association works to support your creative evolution. Visit Naplesart.org for information on upcoming events and schedule of classes and workshops. The
Naples Art Association is built from the resources and passion of our community to serve the members of our community. Come be a part of the art: Imagine! Discover! Create!