There’s nothing more spectacular than the richness of the botanical world, especially what can be found throughout Southwest Florida. Using intense colors, Merritt Island-based painter, Susan Martin brings this into more extraordinary view during her exhibit Into the Green: Botanical Insights by Susan Martin, from August 4-28, 2023, at the Alliance for the Arts in Fort Myers.

Martin’s closely cropped compositions focus on the essential elements and paired down subject matter. 

Image courtesy of Susan Martin

“Though her subject matter is recognizable, her paintings are conceived and painted as abstracts. All the parts: foreground and background, positive and negative spaces are treated as equally important,” explains Jennifer Falk, Marketing & Development Manager. 

Martin’s works in competitive and invitational settings have been exhibited in museums and galleries throughout Florida.

The public is invited to the opening reception on August 4 from 5 to 7 p.m. Light refreshments will be served.

More at Alliance for the Arts

In the Theatre Lobby Gallery, visual artist Jade Griffin offers narrative-driven oil painting collection for her exhibit, “The First Theatre Production” (2023), all created over this calendar year.

Covering the Member Gallery walls will be artwork from the Summer Arts Camps participants for grades 1-6, where children created their masterpieces.

On Tuesday, August 9, from 5-8 p.m., the Wednesday Night Market features fresh produce, art, live music, food trucks, beer, and wine. This pop-up market occurs on the 2nd Wednesday of the month and is a great way to get out and enjoy fun during the cooler evening times.

Plus, if you are looking for a painting class with beloved instructor and painter Terry Lynn; a beginning belly dancing with Middle Eastern and Mediterranean Danse Orientale Award recipient Sherry Coffey; or a private auditioning prep class with Carmen Crussard, co-founder of the Alliance for the Arts Youth Theatre Program, the Alliance for the Arts offers all of this and more.

For further information, check artinlee.org/calendar. The campus and galleries are open to the public from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturdays. The Alliance for the Arts, 10091 McGregor Boulevard, Fort Myers, 239-939-2787, ArtInLee.org.

Ann Marie O’Phelan is a SW Florida resident and a regular contributor to TOTI Media.