Birtolo to present ‘Amelia’s View Through Pilot Eyes’
BIG ARTS’ ARTSalon series will host actor and writer Janina Birtolo, who will show her film, “Amelia’s View Through Pilot Eyes” followed by a question and answer session.
Birtolo’s presentation begins 3 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 16 at BIG ARTS Phillips Gallery, located at 900 Dunlop Road on Sanibel.
“Amelia’s View Through Pilot Eyes” is a 20-minute film of Birtolo’s performance piece that brought Amelia Earhart to life to share stories about herself and five other early female pilots: Ruth Elder, Pancho Barnes, Bobbi Trout, Jean LaRene and Gladys O’Donnell.
Birtolo was inspired by artist Jo-Ann Lizio’s “Pilot Eyes” visual art exhibit that highlighted the faces (particularly the eyes) and plane call letters of the six female fliers. Birtolo tells the stories of the first women’s cross-country air races and the formation of the Ninety-Nines. Presented against the backdrop of Jo-Ann Lizio’s visual work, the play celebrates these women and the courage and conviction that made them take flight.
Birtolo earned a Bachelor of Arts in English at Boston College then a Master’s in Television Broadcasting at Boston University. She regularly appears with The Naples Players, Theatre Conspiracy in Fort Myers, and other area troupes. Her writing has been published nationally, and in such local publications such as N Magazine, Gulfshore Life, Times of the Islands and Naples Illustrated.
ARTSalon is an opportunity to talk with professionals in different artistic fields to better understand their creative process. Tickets are $5.
The ARTSalon series next speaker is author Robert N. Macomber, who will talk about researching and writing novels around the world, beginning at 3 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 16.