TwoGether

Saturday 2/4/12.      Today is perfect for Art Fest Fort Myers. 

 The temps are in the high 70s the humidly is up to 85% but the strong breeze makes it feel comfortable.  It’s just after 11A and the salon is filled with the aroma of fried onions and other mouthwatering treats.  Looking out the windshield I can see the crowds of people walking Edward Drive and the FOOD flag flapping in the breeze. 

We arrived at the Art Fest just before noon.  This is a HUGE event.  Over 225 vendors side by side and back to back covering four blocks of Edwards Drive, one block of Hendry Street, most of the waterfront park, plus side walk art covering a half block of Jackson Street.    There was art in every form imaginable. Paintings, Photos, Glass, Wood, Metal, Music, Embroidery, Leather, Pottery, and then some!

There are so many pictures I had to put many of them in the thumbnail format.  Click on any one to see larger images of them all.

 

This is Virginia McKinney. Her sculptures are hand crafted clay and steel.  She molds the clay and hammers and welds the steel.  She is delightful lady to meet and a very talented artist.   Check out more of her items at www.Virginiamckinney.com

More artisan delights

 

I had the privilege to meet Robert Alan Hyde, and see his metal sculptures.  He works in brass, copper and steel wire.  Each finely detailed piece is made of precisely hand cut and formed wire of different material and gauges.  I was so impressed with the craftsmanship of each item.  His work can be found at www.robertalanhyde.com

There was a whole section devoted to youth art.  There were visual and performing arts.  There was even a tent where youngsters (of all ages) could try their hand at playing different musical instruments

 

One of my favorites was the “Under 20” section.  This was art by talented teenagers. 

 

Back in the main stream of vendors we found an infinite variety of items.

Meet Wayne Francis.  Wayne’s contemporary wall sculptures capture the imagination.  You find yourself at peace while looking at the elegant line of each work of art.  To see what I mean, viait his website www.waynefrancisart.com

“I like your T shirts” became a familiar sound as Linda wore … “Stop Yelling At Me” and I wore “I’m Not Yelling”.  We also heard comments like “That sounds like our boat” and “You guys must be sailors”.  One lady, that was selling the official Art Fest T shirts, even said “I've got to have a picture of you two”.

 We took a break and went back to the boat and then sat on the riverside porch at the Yacht Basin Office.

Then we walked back to see how the sidewalk artist were coming along.  This is amazing to watch.  Many were high school students.  I even heard one veteran sidewalk artist comment some of these kids are really good.

 

As evening arrived we met up with Jim who has a houseboat on the other end of our dock. We were telling him about the beautiful things we saw at the Art Fest. He invited us to his boat and showed us two pictures his girlfriend did in pen and ink.  Wow…The more you study them the more hidden images you would find.  She is good!