Naples Art Association offers Art for the Holidays

by Laurel Meny

For some people, the holidays can be the most stressful time of the year. Don’t let the pressure of the season get to you. The Naples Art Association (NAA) has got the solution to all of your holiday woes. Are you looking for a way to get together with your friends before the holidays, but don’t want the hassle of hosting? Try a workshop!

From December 20 to December 22, the NAA will host a Wet N Wild Mixed Media Collage workshop that is the perfect way to be creative and unwind with friends. Instructor, Genie Kell, will demonstrate and teach students how to combine all the wild, new, shiny, iridescent paints with responsive papers. You and your friends will discover over 20 innovative techniques to pour, print, drip, spatter, spray, pool, and puddle color. Oh, and leave with a masterpiece to display at your Christmas dinner.

Does “Santa” need a morning – or afternoon – to finish up shopping for your kids? Do you need a break to clean up the house after the gift wrap goes flying? Why not drop your children or grandchildren off at the NAA’s popular Holiday Youth Art Program? This entertaining, educational program gives children ages five to 14-years-old the opportunity to engage in educational art experiences while having fun.

Courses run from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. on December 22 and December 27 through 29 in subjects including Whimsical Angel, Rustic Ornaments, Origami, Art-bots, Printmaking, Collage, Hoop Art, and more.

Do you need a date night with your spouse before the holiday madness is in full swing? How does a delicious, chef-prepared meal served on a gorgeous, holiday-inspired tablescape accompanied by a live, interactive art experience sound? On Tuesday, December 14, executive chef Bob Schultz of Creative Catering Naples, Steven Bowles of Steven Bowles Creative, and artist Michael Monroe will collaborate to create and present original works of art and a multi-course gourmet meal and wine at the NAA’s Dinner with Artists. Tickets sell fast for this experience, so purchase your date night soon!

Do you need a break from the hustle and bustle of shopping? Visit the NAA, located in the heart of downtown Naples, throughout the month of December and take in several ongoing exhibitions for a few minutes of calm. The Telling a Story: Narrative Art” juried exhibition will feature works of art that illustrate or tell a story of daily life or those drawn from
a text or well-known folk tale or myth. This form of art is central to the history of visual art and appears in every culture and historical time period. “The Great Outdoors” exhibition will allow artists to explore nature and use it as their muse. And, animals will be explored at the “Animals Fact and Fable” exhibition. All exhibitions are free-of-charge, so stop in any time during gallery hours.

And, the final piece to the holiday puzzle is shopping for the perfect gift. There truly is no place better to find the perfect, oneof-a-kind gift for each person on your holiday list than the NAA’s gift shop, Originals. During the month of December, it will be transformed into the famous Sugar Plum Shop and will feature an unparalleled selection of handcrafted ornaments, paintings, sculptures, accessories, decorations, and much more.

Support small business – and local artists – by purchasing from the NAA. Most importantly, the NAA staff and board of directors wish you and your family a very creative and happy holiday season.

For more information about the Naples Art Association and its many programs, please visit www.NaplesArt.org.
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