Art Walk Friday features 9 galleries, new after party

Art Walk, downtown Fort Myers' monthly celebration of art, food and music, will be Friday, March 6, from 6 to 10 p.m.

March marks the sixth time for the new monthly Art Walk that debuted in October. Held the first Friday of every month, Art Walk showcases local and national artwork in the downtown art galleries of the Fort Myers River District.

The evening culminates with an after party at 10 p.m. This week, it's "Friday Night Fever Disco Dance Party" at Venu night club. It features a live performance by Fred Astaire dance professionals. For VIP table reservations, call Ryan at Venu, 770-8368. General admission is $5 and can be paid at the door.

Participants in March's monthly Art Walk include the Alliance for the Arts, Art League of Fort Myers, Arts for ACT Gallery and Boutique, The Butterfly Estates, daas Gallery, HOWL Gallery, La Casa Del Arte Gallery, Space 39 Gallery and The Oasis Luxury Condominiums.

Art Walk on March 6 will feature: . Art League of Fort Myers: Opening

of the Springtime Fine Arts Show with awards and reception

from 6-7:30 p.m.

. Arts for ACT Gallery: Opening reception for March's exhibit featuring artists Otto von Kotzebue, Gloria Audo, Patricia Mulko and Carol Siegel

. The Butterfly Estates: Exhibit featuring artists Larry Chance and John Schellenberg.

. daas Gallery: Opening reception for the first U.S. exhibition of Master Scottish painter Ronnie Ford.

. HOWL Gallery: Art walk premier at the new Broadway Avenue location next to Starbucks.

. La Casa Del Arte Gallery: Opening reception for a new show featuring seven Peruvian internationally renowned artists in "Simplemente Peru" (Simply Peru) with sculptor Marcelo Wong and painters Hernan Sosa, Eduardo Tokeshi, Victor Cadillo, Miguel Wetzel, Rosa Tello, and Joseph Firbas.

. The Oasis: Penthouse art exhibit courtesy of Robb & Stucky featuring the work of Juan Diaz.

. Space 39: A new exhibit called Blue featuring the work of Pavol Roskovensky.

. From 5-8 p.m. in the Patio de Leon, John Mooney will play slide guitar and originals.

. At about 9:30 p.m., watch fire dancing by Christar, courtesy of the Alliance for the Arts.

A free shuttle service is available with a pickup downtown in front of Enjewel on First Street. The shuttle takes patrons from downtown to The Butterfly Estates, La Casa del Arte and Oasis. Free parking is available for art walk patrons at the Harborside Event Center and The Butterfly Estates. A map of Art Walk, transportation, and parking will be distributed by participating galleries. For more information on Art Walk, participating galleries and links to gallery Web sites, visit www.fortmyersartwalk.com or call 478-6053.

Art Walk Galleries

1 - La Casa Del Arte 2 - Art League of Fort Myers 3 - HOWL Gallery 4 - daas Gallery 5 - Space 39 6 - Arts for ACT Gallery 7 - Art of the Olympians 8 - Sidney & Berne Davis Art Center 9 - The Oasis Luxury Condominiums

Added highlights of the evening are fire dancing by Christar, courtesy of the Alliance for the Arts, and John Mooney will play slide guitar at 9:30 p.m. in the Patio de Leon.