As I
walked through Downtown Fort Myers, I happened upon a parking garage. Like most
people, I do not associate parking garages with art and culture, but here I
was—standing in front of the Art League of Fort Myers.
The
Art League was founded in 1956 on the principle of promoting art appreciation in the community. The
League accomplishes this mission through its own art exhibitions, programs, classes,
and also by providing local artists a gallery venue for their works. The Art
League also has educational outreach programs and collaborates with other organizations
to provide art-enriching experiences for the community.
Prior to being housed in the Heart of
the River District parking garage, the Art League of Fort Myers was located on
Crawford Street from 1957 to 1992. In September of 1992, the Art League of Fort
Myers moved to a location on the corner of Colonial and McGregor and resided as
a studio gallery space until the building was demolished, pending the
construction of the Midpoint Bridge.
The Art League was then housed in the
Edwards Building (the current home of the Lee County Alliance of the Arts) until
2003 when it moved to its current location at the intersection of Bay and First
Streets at 1451 Monroe Street.
As I walked into its current
location, I noticed the space that houses the workshop and gallery areas was
neither very trendy nor aesthetically modern, unlike the art galleries shown in
the movies and television. The walls were reminiscent of a 1980s office.
The décor was in sharp contrast to
the art being displayed. There were paintings featuring a multitude of art
styles and subject matters. This was definitely a place where art thrives. The
Art League features several workshops and classes for a fee, the most popular
of these being acrylic and watercolor painting. Despite an industrial,
utilitarian location, there is plenty of art to be discovered at the Art
League. The Art League of Fort Myers is open Tuesday-Saturday 11 a.m.-3 p.m.
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