Paint the Beach Gala yields awards

1 / 2

BOB PETCHER Kathryn McMahon, a member of the Fort Myers Beach Art Association, participated in the first annual plein air festival on Fort Myers Beach entitled Paint the Beach...Sandcastles to Shrimpboats. Her painting of a Beach canal, viewed from on top of Matanzas Bridge, was one hour old when the photo was taken.

2 / 2

BOB PETCHER Sal Sidner of Miami won top honors for his painting called “Ft. Myers Beach” at the gala for Paint the Beach...Sandcastles to Shrimpboats, a plein air festival. His art was hung in the festival tent in Santini Marina Plaza on Fort Myers Beach.

[expand]

close

A festive occasion was enjoyed by all at the Friday evening gala for Paint the Beach…Sandcastles to Shrimpboats, a plein air festival, under the staged festival tent in Santini Marina Plaza on Fort Myers Beach

More than 40 outdoor or “plein air” painters had their paintings hung inside the tents. The artists, who worked with watercolor, pastel, oils or another medium of their choosing, were busily painting at locations of their choice on Estero Island throughout last week.

Judged by Greg Biolchini, the event produced several winners whose art was viewed by several members of the community, the artists themselves, dignitaries and sponsors of the gala. Host Al Durrett provided hors d’oeuvres and music by the Naples Philharmonic String Quartet as well as a cash bar.

“This is not your typical party on Fort Myers Beach, and hopefully this is not the last time it happens,” he said. “I want to thank all the artists for participating in this. This shows how prominent the art association is on Fort Myers Beach.”

Students of Beach Elementary School also contributed to the cause with paintings. Principal Larry Wood thanked Durrett for the opportunity.

“We appreciate you involving our kids once again,” said Principal Larry Wood.

Many town officials and their significant others attended the gala, including Town Manager Terry Stewart, Mayor Larry Kiker and Councilmen Bob Raymond, Tom Babcock and Alan Mandel.

FMB Art Association member Mimi Little explained the importance of the Plein Air Festival.

“All the painting was done on site with no studio work,” she said. “What’s fun about this kind of event is that the public is able to watch the artist create the painting, and they get to talk to the artists as well.

“It’s great for the artists because creating a painting on site brings a certain vitality to the painting that sometimes is hard to recreate in the studio. It also brings a few problems which can be more challenging when wind, sun, rain, etc. often come into play.”

BOX, DAVID

Paint the Beach Awards

1. Sal Sidner, Miami – “Ft. Myers Beach

2. Brian Christensen, North Fort Myers – “Across the Bay”

3. Neil Walling, Bonita Springs – “Miz Shirley”

Spirit of the Beach Award: Carol McArdle, Fort Myers – “Sea Grape Frame”

Merit Award: Barb Valentine, Cape Coral – “Beach Vibes”

Merit Award: Mimi Little, Port Republic, Maryland – “Mangrove”,

Merit Award: John Bayalis, St. Petersburg – “Shrimp Boats”

Quick Draw Awards

1. Sal Sidner, Miami – “Fish Tale Marina”

2. Joan Reynolds, Sanibel – “Sand Castles”

3. Pricilla Coote, Naples – “The Observer”