Angels feted at annual arts celebration

FLORIDA WEEKLY PHOTO Terry Tincher, at podium, accepts the award as top Arts Organization of the Year for his gallery Space 39 at the 5th Annual Angels of the Arts Awards sponsored by the Alliance for the Arts on Sunday, April 13 at the Florida Repertory Theatre. On the left are Space 39's Tanya Daigle and presenter Fort Myers Mayor Jim Humphrey.

It wasn't quite the Tony awards but more than 400 artists, performers, spectators and well wishers crammed into the Florida Repertory Theatre last Sunday for the 2008 Angels of the Arts Awards.

Space 39 Gallery in downtown Fort Myers was named the Arts Organization of the Year. Headed by Terry Tincher, the gallery has been home to exhibits by international artists such as Marilyn Manson as well as local artists. Tincher's gallery was described as "…edgy and contemporary… and [it] helped put the art scene in Southwest Florida on the national map."

The top performance artist was Victor Legarreta, the artistic producer for Sanibel Island's Schoolhouse Theatre. The selection committee said "he has enhanced the community by offering family oriented entertainment, most of which he directs, writes and performs in."

FLORIDA WEEKLY PHOTO Jim Griffith was named Arts Organizational Leader of the Year.

Florida Weekly's Nancy Stetson was selected Arts Journalist of the Year. She was singled out for her "air of professionalism" and she "looked at art through an educated eye while reporting on Southwest Florida's art scene."

Florida Weekly, in just its second year of operation, earned the top Art Publication award among seven nominees.

Jim Griffith, who led the renovation of the old federal building downtown into the Sidney and Berne Davis Art Center, was named Arts Organizational Leader of the Year.

Sponsored by the Alliance of the Arts, the annual event recognizes the achievement of local artists, teachers, business sponsors and benefactors.

Other winners include:

Joe Pacheco - Literary Artist of the Year

Teri Aldred - Arts Teacher of the Year

Niels Miller and Gale Bennett - Lifetime Achievement

FLORIDA WEEKLY PHOTO Nancy Stetson was named Arts Journalist of the Year.

Bianca Russell - Young Artist of the Year

Peter Zell - New Artist of the Year

Jeffrey Scott Lewis - Visual Artist of the Year

Christine Johnson - Arts Benefactor of the Year

Edison-Ford Winter Estates/Chris Pendleton - Business Arts Sponsor of the Year

D.J. Lorentz and Natalie Pillion - Arts Volunteers of the Year