ART NEWS

COURTESY PHOTO Joan Rivers auctioning a Robert Rauschenberg print at last years Arts for ACT event. BIG ARTS Family Day

BIG ARTS 3rd Annual Family Day will be held at 3:30 p.m. on Sunday, May 4, 3:30 p.m. at 900 Dunlop Road in Sanibel. Admission is free.

Jason Huneke, known nationwide for his juggling, dance routines and wit, will kick off the day. A high-energy, interactive performance, Huneke's juggling is so complex that it borders on dangerous, and his Michael Jacksoninspired dance moves ensure his place as an audience favorite. Also featured are the Sanibel School Performing Arts and the Performing Arts Juniors.

A luau in the Boler Garden will go on after the show; while The Sanibel School Steel Drum Band plays, listeners can enjoy food and beverages. Additionally, visitors can view children's artwork in the BIG ARTS Founders and Phillips galleries, including BIG ARTS Recyclable Student Art Exhibit in Phillips and Ralph Bigletti's Open Doors: Great Expectations XVIII in Founders, which features sculptures from Ralph Bigletti as well as pieces from children.

For further information about this event, to sign up for workshops, or to become a member, stop by BIG ARTS, 900 Dunlop Road Sanibel, call (239) 395-0900, e-mail info@BIGARTS.org, or log on to www. BIGARTS.org.

Arts for ACT fine art auction

The 20th Arts for ACT fine art auction will be held on Saturday, Aug. 16 at the Hyatt Regency Coconut Pointe Resort in Bonita Springs. The event will benefit Abuse Counseling and Treatment, the center for domestic violence and sexual assault that serves Lee County.

Tickets on sale now at the reduced presale price of $125 and rooms are available at a special rate of $149.

Bid on an original piece of artwork donated by world-renowned artist Robert Rauschenberg or Darryl Pottorf. Also of interest to art collectors is a piece from Tony Bennett.

There are only a limited number of tickets available for the live art auction dinner.

Sponsors are also needed. For more information, please contact Abuse Counseling and Treatment, Inc. at 939-2553 or e-mail cgoode@actabuse.com

Lexington Art Guild holds show

The Lexington Art Guild celebrated its 8th Annual Art Show in the Vista Room at the Lexington Country Club on March 31. The event was attended by several hundred members and guests and was sponsored by Ironstone Bank.

More than 35 guild members displayed their artistic skills in painting, sculpture, jewelry and crafts. Attendees enjoyed food and wine while viewing over 100 pieces of arts and crafts.

The Best of Show Award went to Lew Whipple for his bronze casting of "Soccer Boy".

The guild unveiled a large collaborative mural project that was created this past season by 24 members of the organization. The mural, depicting a Florida wading bird was created by 40 individual paintings from members of the guild assembled into a 10 foot image.