Invitation from Herons Glen Art Group for show March 4
HERONS GLEN ARTIST GROUP CELEBRATES 15TH ANNIVERSARY
In early 1997 a few artists from Herons Glen got together to take watercolor classes to enhance their already huge talent. Some had been going over to Pine Lakes because they had classes over there. The first instructor was Joan Piel Joy. We put up signs and invited all residents who thought they would like to try painting and especially those who had painting experience. In setting up our own classes we thought that we ought to be organized, thus the Herons Glen Artist Group was born. The original members of the group were Jean Purins, Lois Smith, Art Williams and Gary Olson.
The mission of the group was to organize and offer art classes to the residents, to have fine art shows to display and sell our work, invite guest artists to Herons Glen to demonstrate their techniques and to provide Herons Glen with an artistic resource. Over the past 15 years all of these initiatives have been achieved and expanded upon. We have had workshops with nationally recognized artists, had group shows at Broadway Palm Dinner Theater, Culture Park Theater in Cape Coral, in the Lee County Courthouse and at many other prestigious locations.
As part of our giving back program we have provided various artistic projects to Herons Glen. We painted the large Herons Glen logo that we used on the stage’s back wall in the ballroom. It served the community well for 10 years. Other community projects that were completed by member artists were the murals in the clubhouse lobby and the pro-shop. Most recently the golf course restroom murals were painted. We have also used our talents to provide the backdrops for many of the chorus shows. Although over the 15 years we have had members come and go, we have maintained 40 or more resident members. Some of our artists have gone on to join artist’s co-ops, have launched their own websites and are being represented by galleries around the country. The group’s web site is
The credit for the success of our group goes mainly to Gary Olson and Art Williams who when meeting new residents always invited them to join the art classes or the artist group. They encouraged many to try art work for the first time. Creating art work has given a number of us many hours of pleasure.
Our current officers are President- Patti Cummings; Vice President- Gary Olson; Treasurer- Ron Marius and Secretary- Kathy Hollander. We encourage our members to display their work at our annual Art Show on March 4th, it will be held in the ballroom of Herons Glen from 10:00 until 3:00 at 2250 Avenida Del Vera.. This year we will feature a section for budding NEW artist. Please come and spend a lovely Sunday afternoon listening to good music and enjoying the art that is displayed.