On October 19th the Fort Myers Beach Art Association and Gallery will partner with Shuckers to display and sell artwork in the Shuckers indoor dining area. The FMBAA artwork being featured will be from past presidents Lee Ackert, Michele Barron Buelow, and Gretchen Johnson. Proceeds will benefit FMBAA.
All of the artists have donated countless hours of service to the organization. Gretchen Johnson received the Distinguished Citizen Award from Fort Myers Beach for multiple community and civic efforts that included assisting with the incorporation of the Town of Fort Myers Beach.
Fort Myers Beach Art Association and Gallery President Tom Flaherty said, “We, at FMBAA, are excited to have the opportunity to display our artwork at Shuckers at the Gulfshore. We look forward to participating in live painting events and sales. The first such event, painting before sunset, occurs on Oct 27th in the late afternoon.”
FMBAA has been closed since March 19 and plans to reopen October 19th Monday-Thursday 10-3pm with limited capacity and masking required. The closure disrupted all income producing events and fundraisers including the Student Scholarship Show and multiple classes. Like so many other non-profits in the area, FMBAA has much lower income this year due to the virus.
Current members Pam Flaherty and John Rizza also donated works. One watercolor is from a previous member who received over eighty awards in his career, including many Best in Show and First Place awards for works he created painting outdoors. He, like many other of our members represented, nurtured emerging artists at the gallery as well as continuing that support by creating endowed award funds. Phil Rasmussen is also quite famously known as the “pajama pilot”. He was one of a handful of Air Force pilots who took to the air to dogfight within moments of waking when Japan attacked Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. Amazingly, Rasmussen, still in his pajamas managed to land his plane without functional brakes, rudder, or tailwheel. Once landed, Rasmussen counted over 500 bullet holes. His daring that day warranted the Silver Star medal and is memorialized in at least one museum along with many articles.
Shuckers is located at 1250 Estero Blvd. Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931.
Visit the FMBAA website at www.fortmyersbeachart.com