Welcome to this week's Creativity Crate.
Today, October 16, is National Dictionary Day, which celebrates and commemorates the birthday of Noah Webster. In 1806, Webster published his first dictionary, A Compendious Dictionary of the English Language; it took twenty-seven years to complete. To evaluate the etymology of words, Webster learned twenty-six languages, including Old English (Anglo-Saxon), German, Greek, Latin, Italian, Spanish, French, Hebrew, Arabic and Sanskrit.
On a day that's all about words, we invite you to submit a prompt, short story or poem so that we can share it back to our Creativity Crate Community.
October 22 • Usually you can only access our 99 Bottles of Beer on the Wall raffle at our annual fundraising event Arts On Tap in partnership with the best breweries in southwest Florida. But this year the ultimate raffle has gone virtual – enter to win an impressive, cherry-picked collection of 99 Bottles of Beer (and Wine) – just the thing to lift your holiday spirits, and you never even have to get out of your comfy pants! This raffle is sure to make the last two months of your 2020 a flavorful one! Get lucky with 1 ticket for $20 or 6 tickets for $100. On October 22, we’ll pull a random winner during our Facebook live event. Plus, feel good in more ways than one: 100% of ticket proceeds to right back to our community and the Alliance's mission
Tuesday, October 20 • Back by popular demand! Learn how to take high quality digital images of your artwork for applying to exhibitions, building a website, or creating an online portfolio. Students will be guided through an instructor-led demonstration of practical techniques from how to set up backdrops and have adequate lighting to saving and organizing your images with minimal editing!
Wednesdays, October 21 - November 18 • Free up your expression and sense of confining boundaries by focusing on color combinations and painting from the heart. Students will participate in critique sessions, one-on-one instruction and groups lessons in color and composition. Beginners are welcome and will be in a class with mixed skill levels.
Saturday, October 24 • Head to the Big Apple and (virtually) experience the iconic Metropolitan Museum of Art with your friends from the Alliance. This once-in-a-lifetime opportunity lets you spend intimate time with highlights from The Met’s permanent collection through a live, interactive and virtual tour. Let’s learn something new, get a look at how artists and art enthusiasts see the world and explore the museum together.
Performances now through October 18 • Live theatre returns – outdoors and with social distancing – at the Alliance! We’ve been hard at work to create an intimate, open-air venue where our neighbors can safely enjoy live entertainment. And what better backdrop for a performance than the gorgeous Florida sky? We begin this programming with a profoundly hilarious presentation of The Duck Variations, starring Jim Yarnes and Scott Thomson and directed by Bill Taylor. In the play, two old men discuss the ways of ducks and life, making observations that are profoundly hilarious.
Deadline: November 6 • This new exhibition opportunity, in partnership with The Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum, asks artists to dive into water - an essential component of life on our planet, environmentally, culturally and historically. Prizes will be awarded including $1,000 cash for Best In Show, $250 for 2nd place, $100 cash for 3rd place and Juror's Choice Award of $50.
Drop off: October 26 • We invite our current members to submit one work following the theme of gratitude. This exhibition is aimed at highlighting the little and big things that bring us joy and strength while reflecting on what we are thankful for.
The Alliance needs your help. Expense reductions and conservative budgeting only get us so far in making sure the Alliance remains a beacon of hope and connection for all in our community. If you're able to do so, please consider making a gift, of any amount, to support the future of the arts in southwest Florida.
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Alliance for the Arts • ArtInLee.org
239-939-2787 • 10091 McGregor Blvd, Fort Myers

Now celebrating 45 years of transforming lives
and improving our community through the arts
Membership • Donate • Classes • Exhibits • Theatre
Janet & Bruce Bunch · The Claiborne & Ned Foulds Foundation
Leigh Frizzell Hayes · Mary Lou & Richard Helms
Meisenberg Family Trust · Jon & Megan Romine · Arthur Zupko