Arts & Culture

Trading-card fanciers have a chance to buy, sell and trade this weekend in downtown Fort Myers.

The Wasmer Art Gallery at FGCU is hosting an exhibition of works by multidisciplinary artist Onajide Shabaka titled “Becoming Tomorrow’s Dream.” Shabaka’s work is deeply rooted in historical, cultural, and ecological narratives often exploring themes related to the African diaspora, collective memory, history, anthropology, and ethnobotany. We will talk with Shabaka about the exhibit and his broader artistic practice.

Florida Rep Producing Artistic Director Greg Longenhagen says that "Tuesdays with Morrie" is about life, about dying and about how to be a good human being. While its themes may be weighty, the script is replete with humor, imbuing audiences with the renewed resolve to live every day to the fullest.

Multi-award-winning Blues musician, songwriter, painter, and craftsman James “Super Chikan” Johnson visited Florida Gulf Coast University this past spring to speak to students and make a couple of performances at Artis-Naples. During his visit he stopped by the WGCU studios for conversation about his life’s journey through music, his handcrafted instruments made from recycled parts, and how he got his stage name.

The Wasmer Art Gallery at FGCU is hosting an exhibition of works by multidisciplinary artist Onajide Shabaka titled “Becoming Tomorrow’s Dream.” Shabaka’s work is deeply rooted in historical, cultural, and ecological narratives often exploring themes related to the African diaspora, collective memory, history, anthropology, and ethnobotany. We will talk with Shabaka about the exhibit and his broader artistic practice ahead of his artist talk, Jan. 22, at the exhibit’s opening reception.

We talk with painter, veterinarian, and life-long outdoor enthusiast Dr. Jackson Trescott about his exhibition at the Sidney & Berne Davis Art Center titled “Neon Coast: Southwest Florida Under UV.” Works in the show depict Southwest Florida landscapes, seascapes and wildlife offering a unique dual experience, as they appear completely different under blacklight.

The new year is the time to have new experiences. There’s no better way to dive into something spectacular than by joining in one of the many outdoor art shows that will be returning to SWFL.

In collaboration with the National New Play Network’s Rolling World Premiere program, Florida Repertory Theatre is mounting a production of playwright Brent Askari’s new comedy “ADVICE.” We’ll learn more about the play and the NNPN’s efforts to showcase contemporary playwrights and new plays in a conversation with Askari, the director of the Florida Rep’s production Brendon Fox, and NNPN Executive Director Nan Barnett.

It hides in plain sight in Sarasota, but within the confines of the Marietta Museum of Art and Whimsy, lies a treasure trove of unique and quirky art.

The Foulds Theatre Gallery at the Alliance for the Arts in Fort Myers is showcasing an exhibition of works by Southwest Florida-based artist and painting instructor Terry Lynn Spry. We talk with the artist about works in the exhibition, her creative process, and approach to arts education.