Charlotte Arts
— January 15, 2021 —
Charlotte Arts and member events through January 29, 2021.
Please visit our website for further updates about Charlotte Arts news, member news, including changes to members' seasons, and opportunities for artists.
Local Diversions
All events are free unless otherwise noted. COVID-19 precautions remain in effect.
A fine arts and crafts event in Charlotte County!
Port Charlotte Town Center Mall
Saturday, March 6, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
This fine art and craft event will offer original paintings, drawings, pastels, photography, ceramics, clay, glass, sculpture, wood working and carvings, multi-media, fiber art and jewelry from the studios and workshops of artists from the area and from around the state. The artists or their representative will be in their booths to answer questions about their work. Live art demonstrations will also be offered. Participating artists will pay a booth fee. Admission will be free to the public.
Thursday through Saturday,
11 a.m. to 6 p.m. |
Sunday, Noon to 6 p.m.
Port Charlotte Town Center Mall |
1441 Tamiami Trail
(The gallery is located between J.C. Penney and Dillards.)

Narrow Escape by Mark Davern.


This Charlotte Arts Gallery exhibit is sponsored by
Valerie Guenther, Coldwell Banker Sunstar Realty.

Artists whose work will be on display at the Charlotte Arts Gallery from Jan. 7 to 24, 2021, include Mark Davern, Donna Dinneen, Marilyn Dorsey, Larry Palmer, Betty Teramo, and Tina Weida.

Some artists will have their art on sale during this show.
Due to COVID-19, there will be no reception.
Visit the website to see samples of their art.
Langdon Playhouse
(1182 Market Circle, Port Charlotte)

Erma Bombeck: At Whit's End
Jan. 7 to 17, 2021
Wednesday to Saturday, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday and Sunday, 2 p.m.
Discover the story behind America’s beloved humorist who championed women’s lives with wit that sprang from the most unexpected place of all – the truth. Cost: $22.

Bill Gladwell & Mind Games
Langdon Playhouse (1182 Market Circle, Port Charlotte)
Sunday, Jan. 31, 2 p.m.
During his 90-minute performance, Bill Gladwell will seemingly pull thoughts directly from your mind, predict what you’ll say before it comes out of your mouth, and read you like an open book. Cost: $22.

The Edwards Twins
Charlotte Harbor Event & Conference Center (75 Taylor St, Punta Gorda)
Monday and Tuesday, Feb. 1 and 2, 7:30 p.m.
These identical twin brothers put on a musical comedy show featuring magnificent impressions of famous entertainers from Neil Diamond, to Lady Gaga to Luciano Pavarotti! The show is great for all ages. Cost.
1200 West Retta Esplanade, Punta Gorda

Events at Fishermen's Village are weather permitting.

Enjoy Kat Orlando Duo on Jan. 15.

Kat Orlando Duo: Friday, Jan. 15, 5 to 9 p.m.
Enjoy variety music and jazz classics.
 
Kraig Kenning: Saturday, Jan. 16, Noon to 4 p.m.
National Slide Guitar Champion mesmerizes with his Contemporary folk, acoustic blues, roots rock, and American fingerstyle performance.

Dan Meadows: Saturday, Jan. 16, 5 to 9 p.m.
 Enjoy variety music.

Beth Travers: Sunday, Jan. 17, Noon to 4 p.m.
Enjoy Englewood/Nashville-based singer songwriter whose unique vocal quality is enhanced by her skillful wordplay and creative melodies.

Bruce and Tiki D: Tuesday, Jan. 19, Noon to 3 p.m.
Enjoy tropical variety music with the relaxing sounds of this duo.
 
Paul Roush: Thursday, Jan. 21, Noon to 3 p.m.
Enjoy country, rock and standards from the last 30 years with Paul's own songs that tell stories in his own way and time.
 
Paul Roush: Friday, Jan. 22, 5 to 9 p.m.
 
Bruce and Tiki D: Saturday, Jan. 23, Noon to 4 p.m.
 
Southbound: Saturday, Jan. 23, 5 to 9 p.m.
Enjoy live music along with Singer Rita Beach.
 
CJ & Pearl: Sunday, Jan. 24, Noon to 4 p.m.
Take a walk down memory lane with music from yesteryear.
 
Mark Gorka: Tuesday, Jan. 26, 5 to 8 p.m.
Acoustic singer and musician well-known songs of many genres from the 60s to Pop, Rock and Country of today.
 
Mark Gorka: Thursday, Jan. 28, 5 to 8 p.m.
 
Dan Meadows: Friday, Jan. 29, 5 to 9 p.m.
 
Terry Dotson performs with Dave Heveron: Saturday, Jan. 30, Noon to 4 p.m.
Enjoy bluegrass and folk.
 
CJ & Pearl: Saturday, Jan. 30, 5 to 9 p.m.
 
Mark Gorka: Sunday, Jan. 31, Noon to 4 p.m.
Free art exhibits by visual artists at locations throughout the county. Please visit the website to see the locations now open and artists whose work will be on display. Due to COVID-19, there will be no receptions.

Untitled by Henry Garcia.
Artists whose work will be on display from January through April, 2021:
  • Karen Bell at Cayo Costa Dental (316 Helen Avenue, Punta Gorda)
  • Donna Dinneen at Charlotte County Administration (18500 Murdock Circle, Port Charlotte)
  • Marilyn Dorsey at Charlotte Harbor Event & Conference Center (75 Taylor Street, Punta Gorda)
  • Donna Dinneen at Charlotte Memorial Funeral Home (9400 Indian Springs Cemetery Road, Punta Gorda)
  • Henry Garcia at Kays-Ponger Uselton Funeral Home (635 East Marion Avenue, Punta Gorda)
  • Rosana S Halprine at Punta Gorda Library (401 Shreve Street, Punta Gorda)
  • Jill Lindsay (January-February) and Laura Pickell (March-April) at Mid-County Library (2050 Forrest Nelson, Port Charlotte) 
  • Larry Palmer, Tina Weida and Mary Lundeberg at Punta Gorda Airport (28000 Airport Road, Punta Gorda) Art can only be seen by passengers.

Charlotte Arts is pleased to provide an online directory of artists, cultural non-profits and cultural businesses. With up to four images from each one, you can attend a virtual museum of Charlotte County-area art!
Symphony on the Lawn
Daytime outdoor socially-distanced concerts will be held in partnership with Florida SouthWestern State College Charlotte Campus on Saturday, Feb. 6, 2021. Visit the website to place yourself on a ticket waiting list. Cost: $49.

The Punta Gorda Symphony is partnering with ARTS AXIS Florida, a program born from the circumstances of the pandemic. Visit the website for recordings and other performances from local arts organizations.

Maestro Ponti’s popular Behind the Notes lecture series will be live-streamed online at 4 p.m. (dates are listed below) and made available free of charge. Ponti will host and interview audience-favorite guest artists and Punta Gorda Symphony musicians alike, ending with a question-and-answer session.
  • Jan. 22 | Violinist David Kim
  • Feb. 26 | PGSymphony Principal Bassist Laurence Glazener
  • Mar. 19 | Grammy Award-Winning Composter Kenneth Fuchs
  • TBD | Pianist Terrence Wilson
Every Monday, 8:30 a.m. to Noon
Monday, Jan. 18: Wordon's Farm
-- Visit website for more details on locations. --
Anyone with a desire to paint outside may join us any Monday. There are no fees and no instruction. For those who wish, at 11:15 a.m. paintings are shared and discussed. This group meets at a different location each week.
210 Maud Street, Punta Gorda

Sunset Fishing by Patricia Canney.

Exhibits
Florida's Best: Jan. 13 to Feb. 10 in Main Gallery.
Multimedia exhibit inspired by the Sunshine State.

The Nature of Blue: Jan. 13 to Feb. 10 in Goff Gallery. Paintings in oil by Paris Milliken and Laurel Garrison.

Off-Site Exhibits
The Wyvern Hotel | 101 East Retta Esplanade, Punta Gorda
Nix & Associates Real Estate | 2421 Shreve St, Unit 111, Punta Gorda
113 W. Marion Avenue, Punta Gorda
Monday to Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and
Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Please make an appointment by calling 1-410-703-2252.

Blue Buddha by Pamela Jones.

Guest Artists in January: Eileen Amster, oil and acrylic artist, and Pamela Jones, "Buddhaquaries" Shine artist

Artists of the Month (Jan. 7 to Feb. 4):
 Joanne Stramara, watercolor artist, and
Nancy Griffin, Nantucket basket and Shaker box artist

This cooperative fine art gallery offers a variety of unique artisan crafts as well as paintings and photography of 20 award-winning artists.
2001 Shreve Street, Punta Gorda

PGICA offers a variety of classes and programs: art classes, crafting, and exercise classes, lectures on health topics, members’ world travels, financial seminars, and town hall meetings. All are open to the general public.
Visit their website to learn more. Registration is required. A few of the courses offered are described here.

Landscape Painting in Oils: Tuesdays beginning Jan. 5, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Thursdays beginning Jan. 7, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Cost: $175/series of 4
Join local artist Mary Taglieri for a series of lessons geared toward beginner and intermediate artists.

Florida Heritage Tourism: Thursday, Jan. 14, 28, and Feb. 4, 10 to 11:30 a.m.
Ted Ehmann, local historian and author, helps you discover the local rivers (Jan. 14), historic Florida (Jan. 28), and lakes (Feb. 4) through lecture (Zoom) and site visits. Cost: $50/all or $20/per class.

History of Punta Gorda and the Peace River Valley
Tuesdays beginning Feb. 2, 10 to 11:30 a.m.
Ted Ehmann, local historian and author, helps you discover when cattle were king (Feb. 2), history of Charlotte County (Feb. 9), and the boom and bust in Bone Valley: History of phosphate mining (Feb. 16) through lecture (Zoom) or at PGICA. Cost: $50/all or $20/per class. Questions: Contact Ted at 732-740-5055. Register at PGICA.org.
Updates
Charlotte County Concert Band is working diligently to bring the sound of music back for the 2021-2022 season. No events will be scheduled during the 2020-2021 season.

Lemon Bay Playhouse has also cancelled its 2021-2022 season.

Charlotte County Jazz Society will hold its 30th anniversary celebration in 2021.
The concert season remains on hold until the William H. Wakefield Theater at the Cultural Center reopens. Jazz jams at the Golf Club and/or special afternoon events at The Grill at 1951, both limited to 50% capacity now, will likely be our first scheduled activity when some kind of normalcy returns.
Virtual Diversions
The challenge: re-create your favorite art using just three objects lying around home, photograph your re-creation, and share it through social media. The only tools you need for this activity are your imagination and a picture of a work of art you like or find interesting. Browse any online Getty Museum collection or other free great online collections, including LACMA, The Met, Cleveland, Indianapolis, the Art Institute of Chicago, the Walters, or the National Gallery.
ABOVE: Irises, 1889, Vincent Van Gogh. Oil on canvas in. The J. Paul Getty Museum. Re-creation via Twitter DM by Cara Jo O’Connell and family using Play Doh, carrot slices, and wooden beads

Florida Humanities is offering a wide array of "virtual" public humanities programming from engaging lectures on local history and relevant panel discussions on community issues, to timely museum exhibitions and diverse cultural events! Together, these events serve to preserve, promote and share the history, literature and culture of Florida. The virtual events are free for everyone to attend but require a registration. Visit their full events calendar for details and to register. Events are added weekly.
The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, in collaboration with arts organizations from coast to coast, presents 20 weeks of free five days a week at 4 p.m. online on Facebook Live and YouTube. Visit their website to watch anytime.
If you wish to have arts and humanities information included in the next issue or would like to provide art that provides a moment of joy, please provide it by following the "Submit" button.
The next email will be released Friday, Jan. 27. By Noon on Wednesday, Jan. 29, please follow "Submit Events, News and Opportunities" link below to provide information for both this e-newsletter (member events only) and the online cultural calendar (all arts and humanities events), member news, and opportunities for artists.

Support Charlotte Arts

  • Give a gift of membership to Charlotte Arts. The membership helps ensure the success and vibrancy of the entire cultural community. Memberships for artists, individuals and families are $50, nonprofit, government and university-based organizations are $75 and businesses are $100. If you already are a member, thank you. Please encourage others to support Charlotte Arts by becoming a member.
  • Are you shopping on Amazon? Amazon will donate 0.5% to Charlotte Arts of the price of your eligible AmazonSmile purchases.
  • Purchase the "State of the Arts" license plate tags. A portion comes back to Charlotte County to support quality arts and humanities programs, including Arts in Education classroom grants. Charlotte Arts is pleased to offer grants in support of teachers within Charlotte County Public Schools who incorporate arts and humanities into their curriculum. Charlotte Arts has awarded a total of $143,195 in grants, providing arts and cultural programs to more than 52,600 students. Charlotte Arts is anticipating offering additional grants in January for the 2020-2021 school year with support received from the Florida license plate.
". . . the arts are a powerful and important part of what unites us as Americans. The arts celebrate our differences through a collective, shared experience."
-- National Endowment for the Arts Chairman Mary Anne Carter
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Charlotte Arts and member events were cancelled because of the Coronavirus (Covid-19) on March 23, 2020. Some member organizations cancelled their events and hours of operation for the season and others are open and following CDC guidance. If you wish to confirm the status of any event or organization, please contact the event host.