The Acoustic Music Society of Southwest Florida presents three hours of live music in the theatre at the Alliance for the Arts on Sunday, January 11 from 2-5PM. The January concert features bluegrass acts Southwind and the John Stey Band, and blues guitarist Frank Corso.

Tickets are $8 at the door, or $6 for Alliance members. Seating is open and first come, first serve. Children 12 and under are free if accompanied by an adult. Pre-sale tickets are not available. Doors open at 1:30PM. The Sunday afternoon concert series continues through March.

January 2015 flyer

_HnGretel120714 I Seligman  162Members of Gulfshore Opera will perform Hansel & Gretel: A Family Musical Show on Sunday, December 21 from 4-5:30PM at the Alliance for the Arts in Fort Myers. Adapted from the opera by Englebert Humperdinck, the show is performed in English with colorful sets and costumes, accompanied by a chamber orchestra. Leading roles are sung by professional opera singers, and the children’s chorus and ballet are members of the Bonita Center for the Arts Performing Arts program. Bring the whole family to enjoy this charming fairy tale! Kids tickets are $12, and adult tickets are $20 or $30. Visit Gulfshore Opera’s website to learn more or purchase tickets now.

Heart I by Ikki MatsumotoOn Friday, February 6 an exhibit titled MATSUMOTO will go on display for the public to view at the Alliance for the Arts. This unique exhibit features new fiber artwork by Polly Matsumoto and prints by her late husband, renowned artist and designer Ikki Matsumoto, who passed away last year after a long & successful career. The artistic couple spent years in Southwest Florida making their art, and operated a gallery on Sanibel Island for more than a decade.

Ikki Matsumoto was born in 1935, in Tokyo, Japan. He came to the U.S. in 1955 and studied at the John Herron School of Art in Indianapolis. He met his future wife, fiber artist Polly Adamson, after transferring to the Art Academy of Cincinnati, Ohio a few years later. Ikki worked in advertising for more 15 years before moving to Sanibel Island in 1975, where he established a career as a painter and printmaker. He and Polly opened a gallery in 1987 which they operated for more than a decade.

Little Boy Blue by Polly MatsumotoPolly Matsumoto began weaving in the 1960s. Her mixed media works incorporate weavings, paintings, and found objects to create pieces rich with colors and textures.

The MATSUMOTO opening reception on Friday, February 13 from 5-7PM is free and open to the public. The exhibit will be on display from February 6 through February 28. Prints by Fort Myers artist Mike Kiniry will be displayed in the Member Gallery. A Dozen Portraits: Diana Rutherford will be featured in the Foulds Theatre Lobby.