THE GIVING TRADITION – Naples Art Association

REYNIER LLANES – BACCHANALIA

The Naples Art Association (Naples Art) exists for the love of art. For well over 60 years, Naples Art has doggedly committed itself to local art and artists. Naples Art coordinates three program sets: exhibitions, festivals, and education, that work in synergy to advance and promote interest, education and participation in the visual arts. Naples Art’s 2015-2016 season is bursting with inspiring, fantastic opportunities to get involved including 14 exhibitions, three weekend-long outdoor art shows in downtown Naples, five Art in the Park art shows, four Dinners with Artists, For the Love of Art: NAA’s Annual Art Celebration Fundraiser, Goddess Night, over 100 classes and workshops, ARTScool summer art program for kids, and a myriad of collaborative outreach programs.

Creating and implementing all of the exciting programming available through Naples Art is not simple or easy. Each year, people from throughout the community come together to create a membership of artists and art advocates who support art in Naples via The Naples Art Association. Without this support, Naples Art could not be a sustainable organization. The Naples Art Association is truly grateful for the contribution each member of the artistic Naples community makes in support of their mission. Naples Art knows that we are all in it for the same reason: for the love of art.

SHELLEY LAKE – UP

Thanksgiving inspires reflection on gratitude, togetherness and ritual. December is a unique time around the country. The holidays bring us together in love and appreciation for each other. In some way, each of us returns to the spirit of giving and receiving. We give and receive love, presents and support. During this year, as you are reflecting on gratitude, togetherness and ritual, consider supporting a nonprofit organization whose niche ideals are in line with one of your greater passions. By supporting a nonprofit organization such as The Naples Art Association, you are advocating for the importance of its mission within your own community. Therefore, you are leveraging your personal resources against the resources of an organization to execute real change in your community. Standing alone, it is difficult to change the world. But, gathering together with like-minded people allows each member of an organization the opportunity to support real change. For over sixty years, The Naples Art Association has been supported by a membership of artistically minded people who have guided a sleepy fishing village to become a cultural center of Florida. Naples Art is making a name for itself thanks to the support of each guest, member, visitor and artist.

Take a moment now to visit NaplesArt.org and donate or become a member empowers you to help make artistic change in our community. The Naples Art Association will leverage your commitment to the arts to help make a real difference in the lives of you, your loved ones and other individuals who might not otherwise have the opportunity to engage in high quality artistic experiences.

REFLECTING ON ARTISTIC TRADITION, INSPIRING ARTISTIC CHANGE

Art enjoys a historic tradition of positively impacting lives. The Naples Art Association works hard to further that tradition. In November, The Naples Art Association funded, organized and hosted a collaboration with the 100 Cameras Project and the Foundation for the Developmentally Disabled that brought cameras into the hands of developmentally disabled individuals. The program is designed to help bring high-quality artistic experiences and creative opportunities to members of our community who might not otherwise have the  opportunity. By empowering these people to take photographs and consider their photography art, new pathways to self-expression are opened. Beyond the impact to participants, the greater Naples artistic community is afforded the opportunity to view the world through each participating photographer’s unique perspective.

Art in the Park, one of the oldest artistic traditions of Naples and the oldest outdoor art show, continues its 58th season on Saturday, December 5th from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. Throughout the season, Art in the Park provides the perfect opportunity to get out and enjoy the beautiful Florida weather while you shop for unique art by local artists. Stroll down Park Street and enjoy the oldest outdoor art festival in Naples.

Throughout the month of December, join your artistic community for three fantastic exhibitions: Selfies/All Media, Members’ Gallery: Face the Possibilities and Call Up the Figure. Call Up the Figure features a wide range of artistic approaches and styles depicting the human figure.

Representing the human figure is a mainstay of art in the Western World and a long held Naples Art tradition. Exhibiting artists include José María Castillo, Rainer Lagemann, Reynier Llanes, Richard Segalman, Shelley Lake and John Wesley Simms, Jr. Face the Possibilities calls on artists to expand their horizons and body of work by embracing their artistic potential and discovering new media, techniques and subject matter. And, Selfies/All-Media is a themed-juried exhibition of work by NAA Members that plays on the current obsession with self-portraits and our use of them for communicating our whereabouts, emotions and social status.

For the holidays, The Naples Art Association’s gift shop, Originals, will expand its inventory and present a great selection of hand-made in the USA, unique and gorgeous holiday gifts: everything from ornaments to jewelry and more. The Sugar Plum shop will be open during gallery hours from November 13th through January 2nd. Purchasing handmade-in-the-USA gifts
is a high-quality way to enjoy the tradition of giving in a socially conscious and sentimentally rich way.

DINNER WITH ARTISTS

CHEF BRIAN ROLAND

Art feeds the creative soul and Dinner with Artists, sponsored by PNC Wealth Management, will delight your senses. Feast with your eyes and palate at this spectacular series hosted by the Naples Art Association. Join renowned artists paired with executive chefs who collaborate on creating and presenting original works of art and culinary masterpieces. Dinner with Artists is an interactive artistic experience in an intimate and engaging setting. Each event includes a multi-course gourmet meal and wine.

This year’s Dinner with Artists series is comprised of four evenings held in two locations: the elegant Veranda E at The Escalante and right here at our beautiful von Liebig Art Center. Each location brings with it unique and intimate ambiances that provide excellent backdrops for an event that buzzes with creativity and artistic style.

JUAN AND AIMEE

On December 10th, starting at 5:30 p.m., The Naples Art Association at the von Liebig Art Center will transform into a five star restaurant and serve up the richly narrative and transforming works of Juan Diaz combined with the world-class talents of Chef Brian Roland who considers himself an artist whose medium is food.

Juan Diaz’s work has been included in important exhibitions at The Baker Museum, The Naples Depot Museum and Florida Gulf Coast University, as well as the Alliance for the Arts. His light performance art series has been treasured by the Holocaust Museum of Southwest Florida, The Naples Art Association at the von Liebig Art Center, The Sidney & Berne Davies Art Center and the Naples Film Festival.

FOR THE LOVE OF ART

On the eve of Valentine’s Day, The Naples Art Association will host a magical art extravaganza like no other at the von Liebig Art Center – For the Love of Art. A night to celebrate the arts! On February 13th, beginning at 6 p.m., attendees to the event will call upon the four elements: earth, wind, fire and water to herald forth another era of creative magnificence.

We are all tired of galas, although we are committed to supporting the nonprofits who represent our core values and important passions. Endless single choice dinners served in staid country club halls dressed in black-tie formality have held us all captive one too many times.

For that reason, The Naples Art Association partnered with Artistic Science to call upon the power of the elements to bring forth a new technique in nonprofit fundraising – we like to think of our For the Love of Art celebration as an ultimate artistic party, a sort of anti-gala.

BEING A MEMBER

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.

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 in creativity offered by NAA: enjoy one day workshops and art fusion events, 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 arts and our community. 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!