Marco art center season includes Irish, world music, comic art and small masterpieces

Marco Island Center for the Arts blends visual and performance into its season, and the coming one promises everything from world music to miniature masterpieces to the Son of "Artini" Party. 

The center last week announced the bulk of its season through September 2019. It's hard to get Executive Director Hyla Crane to choose a favorite exhibition — "They're all your children," she said — but she's especially excited about a Florida State University alumni exhibition.

The curated exhibition comes with its own catalog. It culls work from former MFA graduates who are still working in the Sunshine State: "I think we're going to see some exciting things," she said. 

Its "Comic Relief' exhibition in January, Crane predicted, "is going to be pure fun." The center is even working on a January session with Marco gemologist Ari Kathein about the creation of his super-hero-inspired jewelry with licensing from Marvel comics. 

Another major event is the Southwest Florida Pastel Society show, which blends bothe the familiar sunny topics and some color-forward, edgier works. 

Dates are still being finalized for ArtFlicks and artists' talks. The center has already scheduled its Musical Interludes series, a monthly series of concerts that bring in jazz, pop and vocals that run from 5:30 to 7 p.m. They have become extremely popular, bringing in both local talent, new sounds and favorites like the Peter and Will Anderson Jazz Trio from New York.

The cocktail hour formula seems to work: "It's bite-sized. People can have a glass of wine, enjoy the music, and then still go to dinner afterward," she said.

Devotees of another monthly staple, the Second Tuesday exhibition reception, will see it again this season.

The center has kept its offerings to the same number as last year, Crane said. The season after this may be different, however, she added: In 2019-20 the center celebrates its 50th anniversary.

The organization also has announced summer events for next year, which will be online, and will add other events as they are finalized; check

• Online at marcoislandart.org
• By phone at 239-394-4221

All events are at the Marco Island Center for the Arts, 1010 Winterberry Drive, Marco Island, unless otherwise noted.

2018-19 season

Exhibitions/shows

All events are free unless otherwise noted.

Oct. 1-30: "Opposites Attract," main galleries; Marco Island Academy La Petite Galerie 

Oct. 9: Second Tuesday exhibition reception

Oct. 21: Art Show with Marco Island Foundation for the Arts 

Nov. 4: Art Show with Marco Island Foundation for the Arts

Nov. 5- 20: "By Virtue of Place" FSU MFA alumni exhibition, main galleries; Cheryl Sachs, La Petite Galerie 

Nov. 13: Second Tuesday exhibition reception

Nov. 27-29: Festival of Trees; silent auction

Dec. 2: Art Show with Marco Island Foundation for the Arts

Dec. 3-20: "Art of Clay: Faces, Figures and Fantasies,"  main galleries; 5- by 7-inch mini-masters, La Petite Galerie 

Dec. 11: Second Tuesday exhibition reception with auction of mini-masters

Dec. 31-Jan. 29: "Comic Relief" exhibition, main galleries; Don Angello, La Petite Galerie 

Jan. 5:  Jan. 6 Art/Craft show

Jan. 8: Second Tuesday exhibition reception

Feb. 2-3: Art/craft show

Feb. 4-22: Members-only art show, main galleries; Jarod Boutal, La Petite Galerie 

Feb. 12: Second Tuesday exhibition reception

Mar. 4-26: Pastel Society of Southwest Florida Show, main galleries; Wanda Coady, La Petit Galerie

Mar. 2-3: Art/craft show

Mar. 12: Second Tuesday exhibition reception

Mar. 30: "Cars as Art"; suggested donation 

Apr. 1-17: Adult Student Show, main galleries; Marco Island Academy art, La Petite Galerie 

April 6: Chalk Art public event

Apr. 9: Second Tuesday exhibition reception 

Apr. 22-26: Collier County High School Art Show 

Apr. 14: Art Show with Marco Island Foundation for the Arts

May 1-28: "I See You" exhibition, main galleries; Jim Freeman, La Petite Galerie 

May 14: Second Tuesday exhibition reception

Events

There is an admission fee unless noted and reservations are required

Oct. 27: Annual golf tournament, Hammock Bay Golf & Country Club

Nov. 15: "Christmas in the Netherlands"

Nov. 27: Gingerbread House Party

Dec. 7: Beaux Art Holiday Tea with Jacquelyn Pierce; free but by reservation

Jan. 27: Winterfest artists workshop with Dillman’s Creative Arts Foundation of Lac du Flambeau, Wisconsin

Feb. 16: Gala: "Celebrate Art by the Sea" at Island Country Club

Mar. 2: Calusa Garden Club program and demonstration

Apr. 17: ARTINI on Marco party; craft martinis, music, dancing, food

Musical Interludes

There is an admission fee and reservations are suggested. 

Oct. 11: Folk singer Penn Johnson

Nov. 8: Latin Jazz with Fernando Ferrarone

Jan. 15: Jebry and Friends 

Jan. 29: Peter and Will Anderson Jazz Trio 

Feb. 10: Guitarist Glenn Roth

Mar. 5: West of Galway 

Mar. 20: "Around the World" with singer Anastasia Gera

Apr. 11: "Singing Through the Decades" with Susan Doyle 

Apr. 25: Gulfshore Opera presents art songs