Artis—Naples Embraces the Holidays

As the year draws to a close and the holiday season commences, the magic of this festive time of year comes to life through a dazzling array of visual and performing arts offerings to enchant and inspire the Southwest Florida community. From the harmonious melodies of the Naples Philharmonic and star-studded guest artists to the captivating exhibitions at The Baker Museum, December at Artis—Naples promises a rich and diverse celebration of the arts.

The Naples Philharmonic takes center stage this December, treating audiences to a symphonic spread that embraces the spirit of the season. Joining Associate Conductor Radu Paponiu and the orchestra on December 14-17 for their annual Holiday Pops program, American Idol alum Clay Aiken lends his crystalline voice and magnetic stage presence to ring in the season, along with the Naples Philharmonic Chorus and Naples Philharmonic Youth Chorus. And the holidays simply would not be the same without the magical story of The Nutcracker. Taking place December 20-22, Naples Ballet brings the timeless ballet to life, uniting the beauty of dance with Tchaikovsky’s enchanting score. Other orchestral highlights in December include a Masterworks program featuring renowned violinist Vadim Gluzman performing Tchaikovsky’s exquisite Violin Concerto December 1-2, and the breathtaking multimedia presentation America’s Wonders in 3D on December 5, taking the audience on an audiovisual tour of America’s most wondrous sights.

At The Baker Museum, visitors this month have the opportunity to explore an array of compelling exhibitions. In Tamara Kostianovsky: Botanical Revolution, Argentine-American artist Tamara Kostianovsky utilizes repurposed clothing and textiles to create dynamic works of sculpture to reference humanity’s connections to nature by echoing the forms of birds, tree stumps, plants and even cow carcasses. The annual exhibition Florida Contemporary presents a select group of notable visual artists currently practicing in Florida—this year featuring works by Yanira Collado, Mernet Larsen and Pepe Mar—highlighting the vibrant art scene of the Sunshine State. Now in its last full month on view, Frank Stewart’s Nexus: An American Photographer’s Journey, 1960s to the Present shares the intimate and empathetic photography of Frank Stewart, longtime senior staff photographer for the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra. And the recently opened exhibitions The Art of Food: From the Collections of Jordan D. Schnitzer and His Family Foundation and The Face of Immokalee bring into focus the many ways that food—and the people who provide it—are integral to our communities.

Artis—Naples also sparkles this month with a variety of guest appearances that promise to be the icing on the holiday cake. Multi-instrumentalist Dave Bennett is sure to dazzle audiences with his virtuosity and versatility from December 7-8, and superstar soprano Sarah Brightman will enchant listeners with A Christmas Symphony on December 10, a holiday treat that combines classic and contemporary Christmas melodies. And closing out the year December 26-31, Broadway’s revival of Funny Girl brings the glitz and glamour of Broadway to Naples, making it a must-see for theater enthusiasts.

Tickets and additional details can be found at ArtisNaples.org.