Events

4332 Pine Island Road, at the NE corner of the Matlacha Bridge. Call 239-283-1335 for more information.

: FEBRUARY 10, ART NIGHT. Parade of Mermaids kicks off the beginning of the ..Aaarrrggggggggg!!!

But first, from 4-8 PM award-winning Cape Coral artist Nell McGuire will display a new group of work at Bert’s Pine Bay Gallery. Nell’s work in both watercolor and acrylic has been exhibited widely throughout south Florida. Born in Ohio, Nell completed a career in medical transcription before settling in Florida in 1972. In 2007, her Best of Show award winning “Bait, Beer or Taxes” hung in the 2007 Winner’s Circle Exhibition of the Art Council of Southwest Florida in Naples, Florida. Nell’s watercolor renditions of mermaids have always been a favorite at Pine Bay Gallery, and so, at 6 PM, we invite all mermaids (and mermen, too) to join the party.

Thus begins the registration for the Mermaid Parade! At Bert’s Pine Bay Gallery, mermaids and art lovers are invited to enjoy a glass of wine, and a few snacks, compliments of Bert’s Bar, as they register for the

Parade of Mermaids. www.ParadeOfMermaids.com FOR MORE INFORMATION 239-283-1335, ask for Deb Cole, Green Faerie Governor of Pine Island, Prime Minister of the Mangrove Republic, Manager of Bert's Pine Bay Gallery, and sister of the Mermaid Queen of Coney Island, Kate Dale.

FRI, MARCH 11 ART NIGHT Bert’s Pine Bay Gallery in Matlacha will host much loved local Artist Marie Cahill, whose commissioned art adorns the best-selling

“Pine Island Puzzle" (available at Bert's online store!). A Matlacha resident, since 1994, Marie’s recent series of paintings depicts views of the village and local businesses that seem both familiar and startlingly new. Using a folk-art style, Cahill has created a jovial and enduring body of work that is ongoing, and still growing in popularity!

Marie Cahill was born in Salem, Mass. Her works are in numerous private collections across the country. Her murals and mosaic shell works can be seen throughout southwest Florida, including the Art Building in Matlacha.

SAT, MARCH 23: BERT’S PINE BAY in Matlacha will host Pine Island’s most beloved artist Mel Meo as she presents new and old favorite paintings of “OLD FLORIDA” 5-9 PM the show wouldn't be complete without “OLD FLORIDA” MENU & NEW ORIGINAL ART! THIS WILL BE MEL'S BEST SHOW EVER! FOR MORE INFORMATION CALL 239-283-1335 or watch this spot! www.melmeo.com

****************************************************

Matlacha Mermaid Festival at Pine Bay Gallery featuring

Mermaid Costume Contest on Friday, March 12 from, 4-8 PM.

Hope you enjoyed our 2009 Mermaid Fest! We saw some pretty nice Mermaids! (see photos above)

Also featured two-day painting demonstration artist Sandra Galloway on the back porch, and

and Pine Island jewelry maker Lynne Smith on the front porch. Also, bead-maker Marisa Arena

showed us how she uses fire to make beads.... Florida's Creative Coast Weekend..

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

# # # # # # # # # # # # # # #

Florida's Creative Coast Weekends!