Arts for act members catalog

Arts for ACT Gallery Studio & Boutique

2265 First Street Fort Myers, FL 33901

239-337-5050 www.artsforactgallery.com

Hours: Monday - Saturday 11am - 5pm Friday’s Open 11am to 10pm Sunday (from November to May) 1pm-6pm

The “Must-See” destination gallery for all art lovers and collectors.

The Non-Profit Artists Cooperative Owned by Abuse Counseling and Treatment, Inc.

The Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault and Human Trafficking Center

‘Best Art Gallery’

Gulfshore Life Magazine, 2016

Linda Benson

LindaBenson4art@gmail.com 239-645-0787 Linda studied at the American Academy of Art and the Art Institute of Chicago.

Her art talents kept her employed as a commercial artist for over 40 years. Today, she paints from her studio-boat, the 46 foot “Artist Xpress” and teaches art on Sanibel Island at BIG ARTS and The Sanctuary.

You can find Linda in downtown Fort Myers at Arts for ACT Gallery as a volunteer and instructor.

She is a proud First Place Winner of the 79th Annual 2016 Sanibel Shell Show for her painting of a shell being used as an ink well.

“It’s always a GREAT DAY for ART!” ~ states Linda.

Fine Art Painter

Scott Guelcher

Mixed Media Artist www.guelcherart.com guelscott@aol.com 239-565-7210 With a blend of Pop Art images and abstract background, Scott’s unique style has become well known in SW Florida.

He received Best “New” Artist - 2008 Angels of the Arts Award. The 2010 Soaring Eagels Award from the FGCU alumni Association for being one of ten from Florida to attend the Mac: Model for Artists Career Development. He was honored as Lee County Art Teacher of the Year for 2015-16.

Scott is currently illustrating a series of comic strips titled “Old Henry” promoting sustainability.

He graduated from Florida Gulf Coast University in 2005. In 2015, he created two pieces of Public Art for the university of the Eagle Mascot Azul.

Kim Kraft-Beckler

kkbkraftstudio@aol.com Kim Kraft- Beckler is a naive realist and an award winning artist trained in commercial art.

Subjects of beauty in nature and the human spirit are the subjects she chooses to depict.

If she can invoke feelings of happiness in her viewers, then her art has done what she desires it to do.

Kim’s art is in corporate, personal and celebrity collections here and abroad.

Acrylic, Furniture and Gourd Art

Kyra Belán BFA, MFA, Ed.D

www.kyrabelan.com

kyrabelan2013@gmail.com

Fine Art Painter

Otto Burkhardt Endowed Chair and professor of art and art history emerita at Broward College Artist, author, and art historian, Dr. Kyra Belán graduated from Arizona State University with a B.F.A. in fine arts, and from Florida State University with a M.F.A. in visual arts. Her Ed. D. from Florida International University is in higher education and art history.

She has received numerous awards, including Who’s Who in American Art, the Florida Achievement Award in the Arts; Women’s Caucus for Art Florida Chapter; the Southeastern Art Conference Outstanding Artistic Achievement Award and the Individual Artist Fellowship, State of Florida, Florida Arts Council.

Her artworks are found in numerous public and private collections. Her books can be found on amazon.com and other venues world wide.

Michelle Rothacker

Mixed Media Art www.michellerothackerstudio.com mmrart@yahoo.com

My ideas come from my surroundings. LIving in Nashville, Tennessee for a number of years influenced the floral and plant designs. Bright, bold colors began to appear after sailing to Mexico, Belize, Guatemala and Jamaica for a year, and then settling in Florida.

Currently, I am fascinated with the many birds Florida is privileged to be home to during all different times of the year, and these too have made their way into my imagery.

My artwork is created using a multi-step process. I make the paper that is the background, and then add hand painted images, cut paper, pressed flowers and leaves to complete the designs. The handmade materials are carefully coordinated in a way that brings all of the design elements into harmony. Once this process is finished, each completed design is mounted on a background specifically chosen to complement the arrangement. I then reproduce them using a complex process that allows for faithful recreation of each color and texture. All of my work carries my signature, to add that extra touch.

Susan Mills

millsmokita03@aol.com

Recycled & Restyled Art “Everything I see, I see the potential for something else. My mixed media paintings bring the viewer something new to see or feel each time they are viewed.

I have an M.A. in Art Education and taught art for 43 years to the present.

I have exhibited in 12 states and presently, I am in 3 galleries in Florida.

My motto is “Look beyond the obvious.”

Susan produces paintings in a variety of media.

She also recycles & restyles clothing, purses and furniture.

Kate O’Connell KatesArt@live.com

Kate is passionate about art and travel.

Photography is the union of these two passions.

She enjoys mixed media and volunteering at ACT Gallery.

Photography & Mixed Media

Michael Pohlman

www.flickr.com/people/pohsartgallery/

mjpohart@yahoo.com

Painter

Michael Pohlman (POH) has exhibited his work at Arts for ACT Gallery since 2005. Previous to this, he was a ten year Resident Artist at the Union Street Gallery and Studios in Chicago. Michael’s muses are the Universe, Earth, baseball, and long legged birds.

In November of 2014, Michael was awarded a Fort Myers Cultural Art grant for “Patterns of the Land,” which was Exhibited at ACT. His images of long legged birds, baseball and America’s Game greeting cards are on display in the Arts for ACT Members Hall and Gallery.

Michael’s images are in collections in China, Spain, the Netherlands, Germany, and the United States.

Marie Cahill

mimiji@embarqmail.com Marie Cahill was born in Salem, Mass. She studied art privately and taught ceramics and painting in her own studio for 25 years.

She exhibited her work in galleries and gift shops throughout Massachusetts and Florida. She created the artwork for the “Pine Island Puzzle” which is being sold in shops throughout Lee County.

She also has painted many murals all over Pine Island and Matlacha, including her work on the Art Building in Matlacha.

Artist’s Statement: “ I am inspired by my love of Florida, and, the beautiful scenes that surround me. My artwork makes my life complete.”

Acrylic Art Painter

Becky Sandbek beckycastle@msn.com

Jewelry & Mixed Media Becky is a retired school teacher living the artsy life in SWFL. She enjoys mixed media, assemblage, steampunk and making woven jewelry.

Mostly self taught, Becky likes to make colorful, thematic pieces that appeal to the eye and heart.

In her work you may find old cameras, roller skates, vintage hankies and other curiosities.

Lynne Van Sciver

lynnevansciver@yahoo.com

Lynne Van Sciver has always been mystified by the secret language of art .

Her educational background as a psychotherapist has afforded an opportunity to observe human nature and behavior .

She strives to portray human emotion in timeless visual forms in an effort to celebrate life, with an eye toward interpretation, inviting the observer to participate.

Acrylic Painter

Cavan Guenther cavan822@yahoo.com

Painter & Jewelry Maker Cavan is an abstract painter and jewelry designer who is an Arts for Act member artist. " I have always had a passion for self-expression via fashion, words and painting. The inspiration in my abstract painting, and rustic-glam jewelry design, is a mixture of earth, energy and vintage objects...Vintage in Motion."

This affinity has led Cavan to continue painting and to her current "Babe and Bean" jewelry design collection which can be found in local boutiques and on line. Most pieces are one-of-akind and incorporate vintage flare with modern aspects that incorporate pieces from around the world, but mainly discovered in NYC summertime open air markets.

Vic Delnore

http://victor-delnore.pixels.com v.e.delnore@gmail.com

Encouraged by his artist mother, Vic Delnore took his initial art training in composition and perspective in The Hague, The Netherlands, followed by instruction in story illustration, pen-and-ink graphics at RPI, figure drawing and calligraphy at MIT/Harvard and ODU, and in water media under local Lee County (FL) and Tidewater (VA) artist/ instructors. He has also studied under several nationally known watercolorists.

He is a regular contributor of art to benefit relief organizations, veterans’ groups, local hospitals, and other causes.

Holding a PhD in geophysics, Vic is retired from a career in the natural sciences. He was a volunteer and exhibitor at the Riverview Gallery in Portsmouth, Virginia.

At present he is a volunteer and exhibitor at the Arts for ACT Gallery in Fort Myers

Acrylic Painter

Claudia

goodeclaudia@gmail.com

Mixed Media Collage Painter Gallery Curator

Claudia is a mixed media artist, who divides her time between family, art and ACT. Raising awareness and indulging in a LOVE for ART is her passion! For the past sixteen years, Claudia has been involved with ACT, the domestic violence, sexual assault and human trafficking center in Fort Myers, Florida, as Human Resource Director and for fourteen of those years, as the Curator of its art gallery.

She infuses her drawing, paintings and collages with a dreamlike quality filled with surrealistic symbolism using paint, paper, photos, found objects and more.

She loves the first week of each and every month, when she is creating the new look at Arts for ACT Gallery. Her current path has brought her much love, creativity and passion!

Arts for ACT Gallery Located in the heart of the historic downtown River District, Arts for ACT Gallery is an award winning, non-profit gallery that represents over 75 co-op artists in its SOHO like space.

Exhibitions change monthly and are evocative and eclectic. Gallery rooms range from formal to funky and are as diverse as our artwork.

Arts for ACT Gallery features original art, giclees, limited edition prints, hand-crafted fine crafts, jewelry, sculpture, gourd & fiber art, raku, clay and more.

It is a “must-see� destination for all art lovers and collectors, providing a unique opportunity for everyone to learn and enjoy art.

www.artsforactgallery.com