- PRESS RELEASE -
Art Walk brings new life to downtown Fort Myers, FL
FORT MYERS (Oct. 6, 2008) The first monthly Art Walk in downtown Fort Myers has been hailed as a huge success after attracting at least 1,000 people.
Eleven art galleries banded together to create Art Walk on the first Friday of every month and held the inaugural event Friday, Oct. 3. Sidewalks were bustling with activity, restaurants were busy and galleries were jam packed with visitors and buyers.
“It was a huge success,” said Space 39 Gallery owner Terry Tincher. “We had in excess of 500 people through our gallery.” The streets were full and everybody had a great time.”
"It is amazing what creative minds can accomplish when they come together for a common goal,” Greg Knezevich, co-owner of the new La Casa del Arte, said. “Thank you to all who supported this event and made the premiere of art walk a huge success. See you on First Fridays downtown and at the next Art Walk."
“It definitely exceeded my expectations,” said Claudia Goode, curator for the Arts for ACT Gallery & Boutique. She said there were “more people than I’ve ever seen downtown.” Goode reported sales in both the art gallery and boutique that night.
David Acevedo, co-owner of another one of downtown’s newest galleries, commented, “Art Walk marks a new page in the history of Fort Myers. We are very proud of this event and we'll continue to work hard to make it the best art night in the state of Florida.” Daas Gallery held its official grand opening that night.
“Like other galleries, we thought we were ready for a significant number of visitors. The actual traffic at daas Gallery was at least three times more than expected. Success was the constant word in my mind,” Acevedo added.
“I thought the first Art Walk was an outstanding success! We had more than 100 visitors throughout the evening,” said John Pappas, president of the Art League of Fort Myers. “There was one point where it was difficult to move around the gallery with so many people viewing the art, enjoying the music, food and beverages.”
“A special thanks should go to Greg Knezevich who organized the event, and to all the other participants who worked so hard to make it happen. I look forward to the next one on Nov. 7,” Pappas said.
Although only nine of the 11 galleries are physically operating in their buildings, the two future galleries displayed artwork at local clubs. Art of the Olympians (scheduled to open in late 2009) displayed artwork at Club Venu. Howl Gallery (scheduled to open later this year) displayed art at EnVie.
With so many people walking along the new streets of downtown Fort Myers, the restaurants reported some brisk sales that evening.
Morgan House restaurant had a waiting list most of the night. General Manager Corry Blanton said, “I thought it was great. It’s the most people I’ve seen in years. It could not have been a better event.”
“Walking the streets that night, it was like seeing a city reborn,” said Jamie Kuser, co-owner of Happenings A&E Magazine, another event organizer. “The monthly Art Walk could be a major catalyst to move downtown Fort Myers in a positive direction.”
The participating galleries in the new Art Walk include Art of the Olympians, Art League of Fort Myers, Arts for ACT Gallery and Boutique, Community Art Showcase in the Harborside Event Center, daas Gallery, Southwest Florida Museum of History, Howl Gallery, La Casa Del Arte Gallery, Sidney & Berne Davis Art Center, Space 39 Gallery and Union Street Artist Company.
Free shuttle service is being provided every month for Art Walk which runs year-round from 6 to 10 p.m. on the first Friday of the month. The next Art Walk will be held Nov. 7.
For more details and photos from the first event, visit online at www.fortmyersartwalk.com.
MEDIA CONTACT:
Greg Knezevich, Fort Myers Art Walk, mail@thearthousefortmyers.com or (239) 313-5607
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