ART NEWS

Last 'Art in the Park' this season in Naples

The Naples Art Association at The von Liebig Art Center concludes the 51st season of its Art in the Park series with a festival from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, April 5 on Park St. alongside The von Liebig Art Center. Naples' oldest outdoor art festival showcases artwork from Naples Art Association in this juried show spotlighting over 100 artists. Admission is free.

April's Featured Artist is Ron Berry, who since 2002 has drawn in color and graphic pencil. "It is pure excitement to watch the image begin to come to life as I work with my pencils," he says. "My intent is to produce a rendering of an image that is realistic, detailed and accurate. I choose subjects because I have some emotional connection to them. I simply want the viewer to experience the impact of the scene, the structure or the figure." Berry has had a life-long love of pencil renderings on paper but little formal art training. However, as his artistic process matures, the realism, detail and accuracy of the images continue to develop as well.

Before moving to Naples, Berry starting out as a chemical engineer at E. I. DuPont and then served for 25 years as a U.S. Army Field Artillery officer. His military service included a combat tour in Viet Nam, commanding a cannon battery in the 4th Infantry Division, as well as many years in Germany. Eventually, he transitioned into the information technology field as the Chief Automation Officer of V Corps. After completing military service in 1990, he worked in the Washington, DC area, as a Program/Technical Manager for defense contractors. 23rd Annual craft exhibit on Sanibel

The Southwest Florida Craft Guild returns to the Phillips Gallery for its 23rd annual Exhibit of Excellence.

The last show of the season for the Guild is the biggest. This show stopping juried event opens on Saturday, April 5 with a reception and presentation of prizes, from 5:30-7 pm. Thought provoking sculpture, gold and silversmithing, wood working, elegant basketry, batik, fused glass, raku and smoke fired pottery are just some of the superior craft that will be on display.

Cheri Dunnigan will be the judge for this show.

Originally from Boston, Cheri earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree from the Cleveland Institute of Art in 1978.

The show will be on display until April 26. For gallery times and directions, please call 395-0900.

'Funny Money' at Schoolhouse Theater

The Schoolhouse Theater presents "Funny Money" beginning Thursday, April 3. The hilarious farce was written by Ray Cooney (author of "Run for Your Wife").

Henry Perkins' world is turned upside down when he mistakenly picks up the wrong briefcase on the subway. Instead of his office papers, he finds £735,000 (over $1 million). Henry tells his unsuspecting wife of their new-found fortune and his plan to immediately fly First Class to Barcelona and start a new life. But she doesn't embrace it as well as he does... What ensues is a roller coaster of antics, deceit, and treachery.

The cast features Schoolhouse newcomers Robbie Gay, Katherine Proctor, and Victor Roldan, as well as Island favorites Miguel Cintron, Marcus Kiehl, Victor Legarreta, Mindy Montavon, and Dave Yudowitz.

Performances run through May 3 on Tuesday through Saturday at 8 p.m. For more information and tickets, call the Box Office at 472-6862 or online at www. theschoolhousetheater.com.