Arts, cars and crafts at American Legion
Those searching for clues for a return to normal could take solace in the sight of classic cars, surrounded by artwork and handcrafts on a sunny day at the American Legion Post 274 on Fort Myers Beach this past Wednesday.
The back parking lot to the hall off Buttonwood Road was full of cars – both new ones and classics. Dozens of people were on hand to see the flashy sports cars and old collector’s items as well as enjoy the arts and crafts inside and outside the legion hall.
Corvettes ranging from the 1960’s to the present were on display while the top prize in the car show went to a 1955 Chevy truck and second place was awarded to a 1957 Chevy Bel Air.
Mick Roberts, owner of the runner-up, said he bought the restored 1957 Chevy Bel Air convertible 33 years ago.
A native of Minnesota with a home in Fort Myers, Roberts said he liked “everything” about the car.
“I was just a junior on high school in 1957,” he said. “It was top of the line,” he said of his model. According to Classic Industries News, there were an estimated 48,068 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air convertibles made out of more than 700,000 other Bel Air types.
Roberts said the body of the vehicle had to be taken off for the full restoration of his car, including a reproduced interior.
Roberts said he will drive the Bel Air as far north as Orlando and down to the Keys. On the highway, he keeps the pedal down to about 60 mph.
“It drives like a million dollars,” Roberts said.
A few 1930’s vehicles looking like they were picked out of the movie “Dick Tracy” were also on hand, as well as muscle cars like a 1969 red Pontiac Le Mans and 1973 Plymouth.
Paul Thibodeau brought out his 1951 Mercury Monterey, which he bought a couple of months ago after spitting it on Facebook. “I always wanted one and I went out and got it. It took me 70 years to get a nice one,” he said.
Originally from New Hampshire, Thibodeau said he added some parts to the engine. “It’s the first car I can hear barking in the back,” he said.
Some of the other standouts at the show included a 1939 Chevy Bel Air and 1957 Oldsmobile Super 88 J2 Holiday Coupe.
Inside the hall were artists and craft vendors including Linda Hartz and her diamond-dot beads with a Christmas theme. Hartz said the crafts are her “stress relief.” She picked up the hobby a couple years ago. “It’s very part-time work,” Hartz said.
Tim and Barb Hurley, retirees from Illinois, showcased their oil, acrylic and alcohol-ink portraits of everything from nature to wine bottles and a jazz musician.
“This is the first show we’ve done since we moved here in June,” Mrs. Hurley said. While she concentrates on doing alcohol-ink and acrylic pieces, her husband works mostly with oils and also does prints. Mr. Hurley said a lot of the work he has done has been commissioned by people who want an artwork of their favorite wine or drink.
Rickie Carver, of South Fort Myers, had a wide array of portraits of familiar Fort Myers Beach scenes such as the Fort Myers Beach Pier, shrimp boats and Bonita Bill’s Waterfront Cafe & Tiki Bar.
“People seem to like places (in art) that they’ve been,” Carver said. Carver has been painting for about 60 years, she said. She brings her works to yard sales at Bonita Bill’s on the third Sunday of the month and also posts her work for sale on Facebook.
Bonnie Walker had a table full of handmade stainless steel jewelry. Walker said she just started taking her goods to local craft shows recently.
She said she “enjoys having an idea and being able to make it.”