Art in Charlotte Harbour

Galleries Galore
True connoisseurs and casual browsers will want to mark their calendars for the third Thursday of each month. That’s when downtown Punta Gorda holds its gallery walk. Charming trolleys transport riders along the streets for a feast of wine, music and, of course, art.

Public Art
You don’t have to seek out a gallery to view artwork. Virtually every corner of downtown Punta Gorda is adorned with some treasure. More than a dozen of downtown Punta Gorda’s commercial buildings sport relevant murals, such as portraits of the first city council members painted upon the City Hall Annex. Art-Around-Town similarly sponsors an ongoing outdoor sculpture exhibition.

Festivals
Special events throughout the year honor local and national artists and their works. The Visual Arts Center sponsors several such festivals, including small niche shows like the textile-only Fiber Fest as well as larger events. The annual Fine Arts Festival revolves around a different theme each fall, and the 2006 focus is Paul Gauguin. A photo contest, the screening of a Gauguin movie and a Tahitian-themed party are a few of the activities.

New to the area in 2007, the Peace River National Arts Festival debuts March 17 and 18. The Visual Arts Center’s invitational outdoor show will bring national, touring artists to Punta Gorda’s Gilchrist Park.

On its second visit to Charlotte Harbor & the Gulf Islands, the Art Train pulls in to a site just east of Punta Gorda in February 2007. The nationally touring exhibit occupies four train cars, converting them into a museum on wheels. Contemporary Native American art is the focus of the new exhibit, which is themed Native Views. The Arts & Humanities Council of Charlotte County is sponsoring the local stop and plans to incorporate local artists into the four-day exhibit.