Estero show features top artists, live entertainment

COURTESY PHOTO Alfredo DeCurtis painting The third bi-annual Estero Fine Art Show on April 4 and 5 brings juried artists from around the country and Canada to sell their art works at Miromar Outlets. The event happens on the southeast side of the mall, near the intersection of Corkscrew and Ben Hill Griffin roads.

In order to attract the best artists, $1,500 in Artist Awards is given away.

Hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. Both the event and parking are free. In addition to the great food, there is free live entertainment, including Michelet Innocent: French Music and Old-Time Favorites. Live art demonstrations will be happening throughout the weekend and children's art activities are on tap as well.

Lee Memorial Health System's Disabled Artist Program will help provide a venue at the Estero Fine Art Show for individuals with disabilities to showcase and sell their art work. Program founder and coordinator Sonia Arledge-Lomano and a local foot artist met at a local flea market in 1996. Together they had the vision to start a gallery that would serve the disabled community. After receiving support from hospital administration, the first art gallery opened at Lee Memorial Hospital in 1997. The galleries have now expanded throughout the system's other campuses.

"Promoting the creative spirits of those that are disabled helps to increase their self-confidence and express their creativity," said Arledge-Lomano. "It greatly contributes to our workplaces and communities, and it extinguishes old stereotypes regarding disability by highlighting the achievements of people with disabilities and reinforces their significant roles in society."

Any disabled artist is welcomed to participate in the program. For further information, contact Sonia Arledge-Lomano at 334-5633 or Art@LeeMemorial.org.