Finding Art in Unexpected Places
Claudia Polzin
Consultant to Nonprofits
One of the joys of our beloved Naples is that we have art and entertainment throughout the community and this author encourages you to look for all of these opportunities in unexpected places. So let’s get going and explore: Botanical Gardens, Cambier Park, United Church of Christ, Naples Depot, Norris Center, and North Naples Church.
Our beautiful Botanical Gardens are a place of peace and tranquility – but this season they are also home for a wonderful origami exhibition. If you have attempted to do some of the origami folds and create a crane, or a hat you can appreciate the intricacy of this art. Take the time and enjoy this beautiful art form on either March 1 or 8 at Origami After Dark. Return to the Gardens on March 12 for Jazz in the Garden – this concert features two amazing professionals that call Naples home – Dan Miller, trumpet and Lew Del Gatto, saxophone. March 17 – switch it up at the Gardens and enjoy a tribute to Chicago.
Cambier Park is very busy this month – one of the favorites begins the month on March 5 at 2 p.m. with a concert by the Naples Concert Band – the program is a very eclectic mix – Arabian Dances, Grieg’s Piano Concert in A Minor, King Kong Soundtrack, Broadway in the 90’s and Come Fly with Me – just to name a few. March 6 will find the Naples Big Band in concert at 7 p.m. – but if that date does not work for you come on March 26 at 2 p.m. and you can hear the Big Band performing the same concert. Naples Dixieland Jazz will be reverberating the walls of the bandshell at Cambier on March 12 at 2 p.m.
If you prefer indoors and a wide variety of musical treats – then you want to go to United Church of Christ on Crayton. Who doesn’t love the sound of the harp – well join Dickie Fleisher, principal harp for the Naples Philharmonic at 3 and 5 p.m. on March 5 as he presents a Harp Ensemble in a concert guaranteed to make you feel happy. March 9 at 7 p.m. again at UCC – a rare treat – Russian Choral Treasures presented by Seraphic Fire. Romantic masters Rachmaninoff and Tchaikovsky will be featured in this concert conducted by Elena Sharkova.
Nostalgia is what you will find at the Naples Depot Museum – I remember my first train ride – back from college in Illinois to home in Minnesota – stopping at every small town to pick up mail or milk. This exhibit of photographs by O. Winston Link features a portrait of America’s Last Great
Steam Engine. If grandchildren are visiting this is a great educational opportunity – trains are only a novelty as a mode of passenger transportation now – but at one time it was a way to cross the country and explore our great land. Explore it again at the Naples Depot Museum.
Bluegrass will be featured on March 14 at the Norris Center adjacent to Cambier Park – concert at 7 p.m. featuring David Parmley & Cardinal Tradition. Bluegrass is a form of American roots music and related in genre to country music. It was greatly influenced by the music of Appalachia, whose music was also influenced by British and Irish settlers in the 18th century. In bluegrass as in some forms of jazz one or more instruments takes a turn playing the melody and improvising around it. Another unique American musical form – Barbershop – will be presented on March 17 and 18 at North Naples Church – 7 p.m. concerts both dates and a matinee at 2 p.m. on March 18 – close harmonies and toe-tapping are the specialty of Barbershop.
So during March explore many arts opportunities in some unique spaces – indoors and outdoors. Enjoy the arts, enjoy Naples, learn about a new musical genre and invite your friends to join you in this exploration of the arts and Naples.
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