Story tools: E-mail story | Printer-friendly | iPod friendly

Arts Estero: An arts renaissance is under way in Estero

By PATRICK DISTASIOL

Monday, April 23, 2007

A short time ago, it was just a feeling in the air. Now it’s rapidly becoming a reality. The historic community of Estero is once again quenching its thirst for the arts.

The first great immersion into the visual, performing and literary arts took place more than 100 years ago when the Koreshans brought their love of the arts to Estero. Building on this unique heritage, Arts Estero has begun to formulate plans to make sure the arts will flourish here forever.

Arts Estero grew out of a committee of Estero Council of Community Leaders and is now a full-fledged arts organization recognized by the IRS as a 501c3 non-profit corporation.

The leaders council was reacting to a rebirth of the arts in the Estero area. Several groups, including the Estero Art League, had already been around for some time. The Art League had been painting in facilities provided by the Estero Methodist Church. When the new Estero Community Park came along, the group moved into the spacious Community Center. The Art League’s method of teaching is reminiscent of traditions used by the Koreshans. Its painters learn and sharpen their skills by painting in groups of 30 or more.

The park itself is a new arts venue. It not only has indoor facilities for arts and cultural events, it also has an outdoor bandshell. The adjacent lawns can hold thousands, and many have already enjoyed two Southwest Florida Symphony Orchestra concerts there.

The Coconut Point mall on U.S. 41 in Estero is also quickly becoming an arts venue. Located in the heart of the mall’s “main street” is the new Gallery on Fashion Drive. A 2006-07 season of exhibits featuring Southwest Florida artists is under way. The current exhibit, running through May 28, features 10 members of the Estero Art League. The season will conclude with an “Encore Exhibition” May 31 – June 28, featuring a selection of the 24 artists from the season.

Arts Estero and the mall’s developer have presented other events at Coconut Point, including an “Evening on Fashion Drive” in January and an arts showcase during the two-day grand opening in February. The Estero Rotary Club sponsored a a national art festival at the mall in March.

Estero’s Miromar Outlets and the recently opened Gulf Coast Town Center in San Carlos Park host art and entertainment events. Nearby Florida Gulf Coast University has its own art gallery and Fine Art, Music and Theatre departments. Consider the possibilities at Germain Arena, Alico Arena and the two major hotels in Estero — the Coconut Hyatt and the Embassy Suites — and one can see that Estero is definitely becoming a center for the arts.

In the planning stages are two arts districts in residential communities.

Just north of Coconut Point in a community already under development, signs introduce the Arts District at Rapallo, planned by the Wallace Foundation. A bit further to the north on U.S. 41, an arts district is to be part of the Estero on the River community on land owned by the Koreshans’ successor organization, the College of Life Foundation.

Both proposed arts complexes are to house performing-arts facilities and galleries. The Rapallo district is to include specific housing units with studio space for visual and performing artists.