Naples Museum of Art holds studio tour

NAPLES MUSEUM OF ART Tammra Sigler, Red Tipped Yellow Roses on Wasabe Green, 2007, oil and mixed media on paper The 13th annual Artists' Studio Tour, presented by the Friends of Art at the Naples Museum of Art, will present a delicious feast of fine art - along with food and conversation - featuring the work of eight internationally recognized artists. The tour includes visits to the artists' homes and studios and will be held over two days - Sunday, March 2, from 1 to 5 p.m., and Monday, March 3, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The artists who will be participating include:

Carmelo Blandino takes the most time-honored subjects of painting - landscapes, florals and the human figure - and makes them seem fresh and daring. His encaustic paintings are often large-scale and meditative, conveying the rich mysteries of nature.

Betsy Ross Koller's delightful paintings reflect her love of nature, animals and the simple, honest virtues of rural life. Influenced by Swiss primitive art, her colorful paintings give viewers both a step backward and forward.

Jim Krieger creates captivating mixed media sculptures from found objects, welded together so that they become an integral whole. His use of abstract and figurative cues often refers to classic or archetypal imagery.

Nili Leichter begins with the natural shape of wood and transforms it into sensuous forms that both intrigue and delight us. Her art explores the uniqueness of her material - color, texture, imperfections, etc. - as a metaphor for the uniqueness of every individual.

Ysabel Le May's vibrant paintings lead us to the edge of the Earth with evocations of sunrises and sunsets - then bring us back with wide metal frames of rust and gloss. Her work is both expressive and contemplative, leaving the viewer room for interpretation.

Jo-Ann Lizio takes us on more than just flights of fancy in her art, asking us to join in her fascination with flying. Her compelling paintings depict views of above; interpretations of flight motion; and abstract representations of flight structures, transporting the viewer.

PHOTO CREDIT Jo-Ann Lizio, Queen, Flights of Fancy series, 2006, oil on canvas and Joan Brechin Sonnenberg, Footloose, 2007, mixed media Beth Schroeder's paintings are inspired by meditation and often convey the spiritual lushness of nature. Her delicate, yet bold, brushstrokes reveal to us the power of ourselves and the wonders she creates.

Tammra Sigler explores order and chaos in her paintings, conveying the complex stimuli that make up each moment of our lives. The various elements of her art - color, line, form, shapes - come together in magical, unexpected ways.

Joan Brechin Sonnenberg explores a variety of styles in her dynamic, large-scale paintings. Her imaginative work embodies realism in abstraction and abstraction in realism - transcending and encompassing these doctrines.

The Artists' Studio Tour is presented by Friends of Art at the Naples Museum of Art. Proceeds benefit the Naples Museum of Art, including transportation of schoolchildren, acquisition of art and underwriting gallery exhibitions. The Artists' Studio Tour is partially underwritten by The Masterson Team/Merrill Lynch Wealth Management.

Tickets are $40 for Sunday (includes refreshments) and $50 for Monday (includes lunch). A Patron's ticket is $100 for either day with special recognition given to these contributors. Carpooling is encouraged - as are comfortable walking shoes. To purchase tickets, visit www.thephil.org or call 597-1900 or (800) 597-1900.

if you go

>> What: The 13th annual Artists' Studio Tour

When: Sunday, March 2, from 1 to 5 p.m., and Monday, March 3, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

>> Where: Pick up tickets at the Phil box office and receive a tour map.

>> Cost: Tickets are $40 for Sunday (includes refreshments) and $50 for Monday (includes lunch). A Patron's ticket is $100 for either day with special recognition given to these contributors.

>> Information: To purchase tickets visit www.thephil.org or call 597-1900 or (800) 597-1900.