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Fort Myers Art Walk continues Friday

By Staff | Jul 3, 2012

Friday, July 6, will continue a summer of new art exhibits in downtown Fort Myers.

Art Walk continues to be held the first Friday of every month and it will mark its four-year anniversary this October. More than 10 River District art galleries and art spaces have lined up some exciting new exhibits for the July Art Walk.

The monthly Art Walk runs from 6 to 10 p.m. on the first Friday of every month, rain or shine. The July Art Walk will include numerous art galleries and art stops and will feature new art shows, live music and the traditional after party.

July marks the opening of the downtown’s newest gallery. Jeff and Dale Ocasio have opened Ocasiocasa Studio Gallery on Broadway Street. On the first Friday of every month, art buyers and art enthusiasts can meet the artists during the show openings at most of the galleries.

Citing rising rents and declining sales, daas Gallery owners David Acevedo and Xavier Brignoni announced their last day of business on Broadway Street will be July 22.

“While we are saddened to see daas Gallery close its doors in late July, we understand their decision,” said Art Walk co-chairman Jamie Kuser. “David and Xavier have been an important and vital part of Art Walk’s creation and success over the past four years. We will miss them here in the River District, and we wish them well in their future artistic endeavors.”

Looking to the future, “Art Walk will continue to have its growing pains as we move forward,” added Kuser, also one of Art Walk’s founders. “We welcome a new gallery this month as Jeff and Dale Ocasio open Ocasiocasa Studio Gallery, and Art Walk will proceed every month with exhibits at more than seven remaining art spaces.”

“Over the last four years, Art Walk has given downtown Fort Myers a new art and culture reputation that it has never had, but building the area into a retail and art destination will not happen overnight. I am looking forward to our 10-year Art Walk anniversary in 2018,” said Andy Howl, Art Walk co-chairman and one of the event’s founders.

Besides its normal local marketing activities for the River District galleries, the Art Walk Committee is also using grant money for advertising targeted at potential art buyers in South Florida.

This fall will also see the return of the Saturday Art Fair along the sidewalks of First Street. The seasonal event will be resume in October and be held on the third Saturday of each month through April. Artists interested in this juried art fair should contact Claudia Goode at cgoode@actabuse.com or call 239-337-5050.

Source: The River District