Art League of Bonita's summer programs

Celebrate Summer

Clyde Butcher On Friday, July 6 awards will be given for the Celebrate Summer Exhibition. This all artist, all media exhibition showcases artwork by artists from Southwest Florida. The collection is sure to be a hit with area art lovers. Most works are for sale. The opening reception is from 6-8 p.m. and is open to the public. The Celebrate Summer Exhibition will remain on display through July 27.

Regional artists

An opportunity for visitors to see the high caliber artwork produced by Southwest Florida artists, Regional Artists I, opens with a reception on Friday, August 3. The exhibit runs through Sept. 7. Artworks range from sophisticated wooden vessels to oil, watercolor and pastel paintings and from photography to fused glass. This show has something for everyone.

Postcards

Beginning Aug. 10, the Art League will display a gallery of postcards. Picture postcards were introduced in the early to mid-1800s and became very popular by the beginning of the 20th Century. Their "American Golden Age" came between 1905 and 1915. Storytelling Through the Mail: Tall Tale Postcards showcases some of the more unique and innovative of those postcards…the ones that tell little lies with early manipulated photos. All in fun, of course.

F.D. Conard was known for postcards depicting grasshoppers larger than men and giant jackrabbits. William H. Martin, the most well know of all tall tale postcard photographers, created black & white images of gigantic corn, rabbits, cabbages, and more. His cards were wildly popular and underwent multiple printings and several were even plagiarized. The work of these trick photographers will leave visitors smiling.

While the bulk of the collection dates to the early 1900s, there are more recent postcards as well. The entire exhibition is a trip through the looking glass where things just aren't quite normal…but this trip through the gallery is definitely fun.

The exhibit runs through Sept. 15.

Clyde Butcher

Clyde Butcher is often called the "Ansel Adams of Florida". His photography records the undisturbed paradise that is fast disappearing here in Southwest Florida. This extraordinary artist gives a look at areas seldom seen by tourists or even longtime residents. Visions of Florida: The Photographic Art of Clyde Butcher will run from Sept. 14 through Oct. 27. An opening reception will be held Friday, Sept. 28.

2D/3D

Southwest Florida artists offer gallery visitors a variety of both 2D and 3D artworks. Paintings, photography, sculpture, clay, glass, textiles…wonderfully diverse, 2D & 3D Fall Exhibition begins Sept. 28 and runs through Oct. 25.

The Art League of Bonita Springs and the Center for the Arts, 26100 Old 41 Road, Bonita Springs. Gallery hours are Monday-Friday, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. and Saturdays, Noon-5 p.m. All Art League exhibitions are free to the public. For further information call 495-8989 or online at www.artcenterbonita.org