Love Is In The Air at Artis – Naples

February may be the shortest month of the year, yet there is no shortage of visual and performing art offerings at Artis—Naples. The relatively cooler weather in February encourages us to seek the warm comfort of camaraderie and shared experiences with our friends and loved ones, and the opportunity for those experiences abound at Artis—Naples during the month of love.

For the last five months, visitors to The Baker Museum have had the opportunity to witness our first museum exhibition ever dedicated to the late works of iconic American artist Helen Frankenthaler. February marks the conclusion of Helen Frankenthaler: Late Works, 1990-2003, but as they say, every ending is a new beginning. Opening this month is the highly anticipated and groundbreaking exhibition Love Stories from the National Portrait Gallery, London, presenting masterpieces to explore the argument that portraiture is intertwined with ideas of love. In conjunction with the exhibition’s opening on February 4, curator Lucy Peltz, Ph.D., head of collection displays and senior curator at the National Portrait Gallery, London, presents an introductory lecture on Love Stories on February 9. February is also the final full month for visitors to walk through the haunting exhibition Envisioning Evil: “The Nazi Drawings” by Mauricio Lasansky before it closes in early March.

Angelica Kauffmann (British,
1741-1807). Anna Maria Jenkins;
Thomas Jenkins, 1790. Oil on
canvas, 51 x 37 1/4 in. National
Portrait Gallery, London.
Purchased, 1975. © National
Portrait Gallery, London

The Naples Philharmonic has plenty of love to share this February, bookending the month with two Pops programs: An Evening with Kelli O’Hara, featuring Tony Award winning
Broadway, television and film star Kelli O’Hara  (January 31-February 4) and Unforgettable: Nat and Natalie, led by guest conductor Stuart Chafetz and featuring celebrated jazz vocalists Dee Daniels and Denzal Sinclaire (February 21-25). The Naples Philharmonic is also joined by eminent soprano Renée Fleming and baritone Rod Gilfry on February 16 and 18 to perform Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Kevin Puts’ Georgia O’Keeffe and the Brightness of Light, a work co-commissioned by Artis—Naples that pays homage to the romantic exchange of love letters between American artist Georgia O’Keeffe and innovative photographer Alfred Stieglitz. The orchestra closes out February with a Miami City Ballet program that features the company’s first-ever performance of a work by storied modern dance choreographer Martha Graham, Diversion of Angels, plus a celebration of influential choreographer José Limón and his work The Moor’s Pavane  on February 28.

On Your Feet! The Story of Emilio and Gloria Estefan.
Photo: DJ Corey

And should anyone be feeling down during the winter doldrums, Broadway can always be counted on to lift our spirits! Tony-nominated musical On Your Feet! The Story of Emilio and Gloria Estefan brings the inspiring true story of 26 time Grammy Award winning husband-and-wife duo Emilio and Gloria Estefan in an all new and exhilarating original musical that is sure to win the hearts of Naples audiences, February 7-12. Patrons in need of a laugh may also enjoy Late Nite Catechism, which teleports audiences back into the classroom for an evening of the best medicine on February 20-21. Finally, on February 26, Artis—Naples welcomes back American icons The Beach Boys for two performances of their greatest hits—Surfin’ USA, Help Me Rhonda, Good Vibrations and more—and that signature California sound.

Featured Photo: Miami City Ballet Nicole Stalker, Adrienne Carter and  Mayumi Enokibara in Diversion of Angels. @Gary James