ISLAND REPORTER ISLAND LIVING DECEMBER 4,2008 Fallin great Fall Arts Festival held at City Hall for the first time ByJEFFLYSIAK [email protected] The grounds surrounding Sanibel's City Hall never looked more beautiful, thanks to the showcase presented by dozens of artists from across Southwest Florida who" took part in this year's Fall Art Festival. Relocated from its previous home at nearby BIG ARTS, the annual exhibit and sale offered everything an art lovers heart could desire -— oil and acrylic paintings, watcrcolors, photogra- phy, sculpture, textiles, fabrics and mixed media artwork — along with vendors selling snacks, sodas, sweets and everything in between. "It looks like there's a pretty good crowd coming in already," said Sissi Janku, an artist who has resided on Sanibel for the past 10 years. "There's a lot of movement going on, people inquiring.about my work. I'm lucky because I have a pretty good follow- * ing on the island, so I'm expecting a good turnout this weekend." Janku, who is currently showing her works at Island Style Gallery, brought several kinds of artwork lo the two-day show, including her trademark hand-painted win- dow frames. "I'm doing some more furniture pieces now," she said, point- ing to a desk which had been adorned with her tropical land- JEFF LYS1AK scape-inspired paintings. "It seems that people are drawn to Lisa Gould, left, shows off some of her fused-glass bellydancers — called "Sanibellies" — to Fall these more and more, I think, because they're a little more Arts Festival visitors Jessica, Rachel and Jacob Saunders from Albany, Ga. unique." machine, so everything you see here is hand- "People are stopping to ask us about BIG ARTS Fellow craflswoman Katie Gardenia, who traveled from programs, and we're asking them if they're BIG Matlacha to display her fiber artistry at the Fall Arts Festival, stitched. It's my meditation... I just go into this other world, which these days is a pretty good thing." ' ARTS members," said Mickie Kaplan, who was sta- also brought a long history of familiarity with the islands. In tioned at the booth with her husband Al and fellow 1979, Gardenia opened The Bubble Room on Captiva. Along with a plethora of artwork and food ven- dors, the festival also featured a few information arts enthusiasts David and Karen Searles. "Some of Now a full-time artist, she showcased some of her homemade booths. Among them was a spot where passers.by the people say 'Of course we're BIG ARTS mem- dolls as well as other creative wares. could get information about BTG ARTS, CROW arid bers!' but some tell us that they're not from the area. "This is all that 1 do, day and night" said Gardenia, who sold the environmental-friendly SmartCar. her interest in The Bubble Room in 1989. "I don't own a sewing See FESTIVAL, page 3B WHAT'S INSIDE Sail & Power Squadron to conduct a Public Safe Ballet time Boating Course this month The Nutcracker' Submitted by MARY PAIGE ABBOTT returns to BIG The Sanibel-Captiva Sail & Power Squadron ARTS next Public Safe Boating Course, which includes two classroom sessions, an educational cruise and an weekend with ^ exam, will be held on three consecutive Saturdays two shows / B2 — Dec. 6, 13 and 20 — at St. Michael's & All Angels Episcopal Church from 9 a.m. td 1 p.m. This introductory course teaches the basics of Even more artists safe boating. Topics include boat handling, types of boats, use of marine radios; elementary sea- manship, knots and lines, governmental regula- More pictures from tions, basic weather, understanding charts, aids to the Fall Art Festival navigation, engine troubleshooting, basic piloting, determining position, boat trailering, and Florida are featured in and local laws.. Graduates receive the Florida Island Faces / B7 Boater Certificate and qualify for NASBLA- A three-part class on Public Safe Boating will be offered over the next three weeks by The Sanibel-Captiva Sail & See BOATING, page 3B Power Squadron. Celebrate the season with 'The Nutcracker' at BIG ARTS 5 Submitted by CATHY PAUS 9 Schein Performance Hall at BIG ARTS will be a-glitter with the Sugar Plum Fairy, the dancing sweets and waltzing flowers! Yes, it's Nutcracker time again, and the £ world's best-loved holiday ballet is return- ing to Sanibel on Saturday, Dec. 13 with u both a matinee and an evening performance. Q Both performances will feature Houston Ballet principal dancers Simon Ball and Mireille Hassenboehler in the roles of the Sugar Plum Fairy and her Cavalier. The 4 p.m. matinee performance is free for all children under the age of 16, courtesy CM of a grant from the Southwest Florida o Community Foundation. Tickets for adults BIG ARTS for the matinee are $10. Tickets for the 7 p.m. evening perform- Members of the Gulfshore Ballet performing "The Nutcracker." ance and "Nutcracker Sweets" reception are $10 for children and $15 adults. BIG ARTS Band and Chorus Holiday Concert For further information about concerts at BIG ARTS, to purchase tickets, to sign up . The season wouldn't be complete with- it Snow, A Marshmallow World, and Frosty for workshops or to become a member, stop out festive holiday music. And this year is the Snowman) by BIG ARTS, located at 900 Dunlop Road no exception, with the BIG ARTS Holiday • A Christmas Festival by Leroy in Sanibel, call 395-0900, e-mail Concert scheduled for Tuesday, Dec. 9 Anderson [email protected] or log on to Principal dancers from the Houston beginning at 7:30 p.m. The band will also play favorite music www.BIGARTS.org. Ballet. The concert, performed by the BIG from Ringling Bros, and Barnum and ARTS Community Band led by director Bailey's Circus. Don Knowland, and the BIG ARTS Chorus Tickets are $5, the concert will be per- Luzerne Trio to perform on Dec. 14 directed by Steven Cramer, will cover an formed in Schein Hall. o assortment of well-known favorites that BIG ARTS Community Band and Submitted by CATHY PAUS the Luzerne Trio for the BIG ARTS concert. a capture the light-hearted, lively spirit of this Chorus focus on high-caliber, well- The Luzerne Trio performs at BIG Braun has enjoyed performing on many g time of year. rehearsed concerts, and welcome the mem- ARTS Phillips Gallery on Sunday, Dec. 14 of the world's finest stages including Teatro A sampling of other songs which are bership of anyone with the love of making at 3 p.m. Tickets are $31, and can be pur- Colon (Buenos Aires), Carnegie Hall, the scheduled for performance: music. chased at BIG ARTS Marks Box Office. Library of Congress, Severance Hall and • It's the Most Wonderful Time of the For further information about this per- This is chamber music at its very best, Alice Tully Hall in Lincoln Center. Year by Eddie Pola and George Wyle formance and events at BIG ARTS, to pur- performed by three gifted musicians whose Their program includes: • Patapan — a new arrangement by chase tickets, to sign up for workshops or to near symbiosis is glorious to hear and to • BEETHOVEN — Trio in E-flat major, David Mennicke which features flute, hand become a member, stop by BIG ARTS, experience. Their technical mastery, integri- Op. l,No. 1 drum, triangle, and tambourine located at 900 Dunlop Road in Sanibel, call ty of performance and depth of understand- Allegro, Adagio cantabile • Here Comes Santa Claus by. Gene 395-0900, e-mail [email protected] or ing of the music bring warmth, sophistica- Scherzo: Allegro assai Autry and Oakley Haldeman log on to www.BIGARTS.org. tion, charm and excitement to every per- Finale: Presto . u • Let It Ring, Let It Swing, Let It Snow formance. • PIAZZOLLA — The Four Seasons (a medley of the Ukrainian Bell Carol, Let Source: BIG ARTS The Chronicle of Glen Falls, N.Y. wrote, Spring i "The precision, tonal refinement and atten- Summer a tion to shape brought out the three musi- Autumn cian's almost uncanny sense of communica- Winter tion." • BRAHMS —»Trio in C major, Op. 87 88 'Holiday Magic' coming to the Pianist Toby Blumenthal is a Steinway Allegro artist who has appeared as a soloist with the Andante con moto Chicago and Houston symphonies and pre- Scherzo: Presto Community House on Friday sented recitals in many venues in the United Finale: Allegro giocoso States and abroad, including Alice Tully Classical Afternoons' Patron Sponsor is Submitted by GLORIA BAKER and Carnegie recital halls. Deborah and John La Gorce. This Friday night, Dec. 5, the Sanibel Community House is once again going to Raymond Gniewek was the youngest For further information about concerts at invite the community to their After Luminary song and dance show, "Holiday and first American-born violinist to win the BIG ARTS, to purchase tickets, to sign up Magic." This isn't going to be the kind of magic show of Siegfried and Roy. but position of concertmaster of the for workshops or to become a member, stop rather is a story about the magic of the season. Metropolitan Opera Orchestra. by BIG ARTS, located at 900 Dunlop Road "Holiday Magic" is going be a song and dance show that borrows from the clas- Bert Phillips, the trio's talented cello in Sanibel, call 395-0900, e-mail sic movie "Holiday Inn," steals a bit from "The Nutcracker" and has just enough player, passed away on Oct. 8 and will be [email protected] or log on to Disney magic to make you think that even snow is possible in Sanibel! sorely missed by the community.