The John & Mable Ringling Museum of Art celebrates its second annual ‘Ringling in Bloom’ festival February 23-26, with four days of fine art, flowers and fashions. Gardening enthusiasts and fashionistas alike will enjoy the fantastic floral arrangements throughout the museum’s galleries and grounds as well as hands-on workshops and tips from celebrity floral designer Remco van Vliet, as well as a preview of Lilly Pulitzer’s Spring Collection of wearable floral art.

Ringling in Bloom begins on Thursday, February 23, from 5:30-8pm,with the opening night Designers Preview, featuring floral arrangements by Florida Suncoast designers and inspired by the Museum’s. Designers discuss their floral fantasies and Museum docents offer insights into the collection. Hors d’oeuvres and cocktails will be served. Reservations are required.

On Friday, February 24, at 10:30am & 2pm, celebrity floral designer Remco van Vliet, renowned for his designs for the Metropolitan Museum of Art, MoMA, New York Philharmonic, and Carnegie Hall, will give a lecture and demonstration at the Historic Asolo Theater, showing step-by-step how-to tips about creating stunning and fashionable floral. A reception follows in the Welcome Center and Dwarf Garden.

There is a preview of the Lilly Pulitzer Spring collection on Saturday, February 25, from 11:30am-1:30pm, in the Museum of Art Courtyard and Loggia. There will also be a silent auction. Reservations required.

‘Ringling in Bloom’ concludes on Sunday, February 26, with flower arranging workshops by van Vliet at 10:30am and 12:30, 2 & 4pm in the Johnson-Blalock Education Building. Each workshop, designed for beginners or skilled virtuosos, includes a brief introduction to flower arranging followed by a one-on-one tutorial from design to creation of a specific arrangement. Pre-registration required.

The John & Mable Ringling Museum of Art is located 5401 Bay Shore Rd. in Saraosta. The Museum is open daily 10am-5pm & Thursdays ‘tl 8pm. For more information, call 941-359-5700.

The Naples Botanical Garden will host an exhibition and sale of Zimbabwean stone sculpture, ZimSculp, February 17-April 21. Zimsculpt features more than 200 stone carvings from at least 100 artists arranged throughout the landscapes of the Garden. In addition, two Zimbabwean artists will be carving in the Garden daily.

Zimbabwean stone sculpture is rooted in ancient traditions, but it was Frank McEwen, first Director of the National Art Gallery and previous curator at Museé Rodin in Paris, who brought the contemporary Zimbabwean sculptures to light about 60 years ago.

“We are thrilled to be hosting such a celebrated exhibit here at the Garden, especially following such acclaimed shows at the Chelsea Flower Show and VanDusen Botanical Garden,” said Brian Holley, executive director of Naples Botanical Garden. “The Garden is a fantastic setting for these powerful sculptures.”

The ZimSculpt exhibition will begin with an opening celebration February 16 with an evening garden party and preview, and a chance to meet the sculptors during a strolling cocktail reception at 5pm followed by dinner and music at 6:30pm.

All pieces in the exhibit are for sale with a portion of the proceeds going to benefit the Garden. An on-site sales tent will also have Zimbabwean art for sale.

Naples Botanical Gardens, located at 4820 Bayshore Drive in Naples, is open daily 9am-5pm. Call 643-7275 for more information.

Now in its second year, the highly successful Naples International Art & Antique Fair returns to the Naples International Pavilion, February 24-28. There is a special preview February 23.

The art & antique fair features prestigious international art, antique, and jewelry dealers presenting an array of fine art from classical antiquity to contemporary as well as an extraordinary collection of haute and period jewelry. The fair is fully vetted by a team of museum curators and experts to assure the authenticity of the works for sale.

The Fair is open 11am-7pm each day. The Naples International Pavilion is located at 4835 Immokalee Rd. in Naples. For more information, call 949-5411.

In One Instant Gallery of Photography will celebrate its one year anniversary with an exhibition by Paris street photography, Street Walking: The Works of Jim Lustenader’.

An award-winning photographer, Jim Lustenader has lived in Southwest Florida since retiring from a career in marketing and advertising seven years ago. Lustenader works in the humanistic tradition of street photography — a spontaneous, journalistic approach that captures the poetry, irony and humor of everyday life.

To make the most of subject and context, Lustenader uses wide angle and normal prime lenses that allow him to move in close and adjust his shooting position to fill the frame and bring life to a scene. He also prefers black and white film to digital for its subtle imperfections, graininess and range of tonal values.

The exhibition begins on January 6, with a free reception 6-10pm, during Art Walk. Lustenader will be signing copies of his book of photography, Paris In A Second during the reception. The exhibit will be on view through January 28.

The 16th Annual Jewish Film Festival of Southwest Florida begins January 17 and runs through February 9 with screenings of ten films at Regal Bell Tower Cinemas in Fort Myers.

The Film Festival opens with an Israeli coming of age film, The Matchmaker, January 17th at 7:15pm. The Holocaust Museum & Education Center of Southwest Florida is sponsoring the screening on January 19 of the French film La Rafle, which tells the story of the roundup of French Jews in July 1942. Speakers from the Museum will lead a discussion after the film.

The comedy, The Infidel, with an all star cast, will be shown on January 24. The documentary, Jews and Baseball: An American Love Story, will be shown on January 26. On January 31, the featured film will be Jewish Soldiers in Blue and Gray, and on February 2 there will be a screening of Precious Life, about a Palestinian baby who receives life-saving medical care in Israel. On February 7 three shorts will be shown — The Tailor, Migfash (a documentary about a Birthright Israel trip with students from Boston University) and An Article of Hope, about Ilan Ramon, the Israeli astronaut who was aboard the ill-fated Shuttle Columbia. Remembrance will be the final film of the Festival on February 9.

The 16th Annual Jewish Film Festival of Southwest Florida is produced by the Jewish Federation of Lee & Charlotte Counties. All screenings begin at 7:15pm. All films in foreign languages will have English subtitles. Regal Bell Tower Cinemas is located at Daniels Pkwy & US 41 in Fort Myers. For more information, call 481-4449.

Although the Ringling Museum boasts five majestic canvases by the Flemish Baroque painter, ‘Peter Paul Rubens: Impressions of a Master’ will be the Ringling’s first ever exhibition devoted to the work of its preeminent artist. The exhibition features 40 magnificent engravings based on works by Rubens from the Royal Museum of Fine Arts in Antwerp as well as several paintings by and prints by Rubens from the Ringling collection. While the paintings are well-known favorites, the prints have rarely, if ever, been on view.

A prolific artist renowned for his handling of oil paint, energetic compositions and dramatic and often sensual style, Rubens was also an international diplomat, a shrewd businessman, an intellectual, a friend of scholars and rulers, and a loving husband and father. The exhibition introduces this extraordinary figure and his oeuvre, from his altarpieces and other religious pictures, painted for the Catholic Church during an era of reformist zeal and ever-intensifying emotionalism in devotion to his amazingly lifelike portraits of the great and good of his day, from his violent hunt and erotic mythological scenes to the meditative landscapes of his late career, culminating in a celebration of his monumental decorative programs in oil paint and tapestry, made for great churches and palaces across Europe.

‘Peter Paul Rubens: Impressions of a Master’ will be on view February 17–June 3. The John & Mabel Ringling Museum is located at 5401 Bay Shore Rd. in Naples. The Museum is open daily 10am-5pm & Thursdays ‘til 8pm. Call 941-359-5700 for information.

Gina Taylor’s True Tours offers residents and visitors alike an informative and entertaining chance to learn more about a city better known for beautiful beaches than historical landmarks. Her walking tours of downtown Fort Myers’ River District focus on little known historical facts about the city’s founding fathers and outstanding architecture.

Each tour begins at the Franklin Shops on First Street and lasts about an hour, depending on the interaction of the group. At the onset of the tour, guests are handed big cardboard fans to keep them comfortable during their stroll. Most daytime tours take in about 17 stops and is chock full of information about the men who believed in the area enough to put their time, energy and fortunes into building it up from scratch.

There is the interesting story of Harvie Heitman and Walter Langford, two businessmen, who, because of their rivalry, are pretty much responsible for putting Fort Myers on the map. They took a sleepy ‘cow to vibrant vacation spot. Taylor explains, “When Heitman built the first brick building, Langford would build a bigger one, and then Heitman would one-up him and so on and so on, ‘til the city evolved into a thriving downtown area.”

Taylo personally trains every one of her tour guides. “Although we follow a memorized script, the guides incorporate their own personality, so presentations do differ. Each guide is required to do several trial runs with me until I’m satisfied that they are ready to enlighten the public.”

Taylor readily admits that she’s always been fascinated with history, especially local history. “As well as I know this area I’m always learning something new, and that’s a good thing because it keeps our tours fresh. I’m extremely passionate that my information be correct. To insure authenticity I have researched the achives of the Historical Society and other sources, then cross reference all the material I want to incorporate in the tour.”

Besides being a self proclaimed ‘history junkie’, Taylor’s credentials include being the starting director at the Historic Burroughs Home, ex-director of Lee Trust for Historic Preservation and the Southwest Florida Museum of History.

Explaining why she decided to start her business this year, Taylor says, “Heritage tourism is a billion-dollar industry and since Fort Myers has the largest concentration of historic buildings in Southwest Florida, and just completed a $50 million renovation, it seemed like the perfect time.”

She works with other businesses whenever possible, especially hotels and restaurants in the area. “For instance, one of our offerings includes a partnership with the Hotel Indigo and includes a Sunday brunch, an historic walking tour and tickets to the Edison & Ford Winter Estates. Participants can purchase all or part of the excursion.”

True Tours is a destination program supported by the Fort Myers Conference and Convention Council.

Walking tours are scheduled for Friday, Saturday & Sunday at 10:30am. Taylor also offers a Haunted History Tour (about 90 minutes long) that covers some of the city’s unexplained history and mysteries. Tours can also be scheduled by appointment. For more information, call 945-0405.

— Carol DeFrank

The annual Medieval Faire will be celebrated the weekends of January 14 & 15 and 21 & 22 at Lakes Regional Park in Fort Myers.

The Faire, open 9:30am-6pm each day, will feature jousting, live chess match, live sword fighting, royal court, children’s games and rides, jugglers, magicians, minstrels, period food and medieval themed merchants. Entertainment at the faire will be provided by touring medieval faire professionals.

Lakes Park is located at 7330 Gladiolus Drive in Fort Myers. All profits from the Medieval Faire go to the Kiwanis of Riverdale Foundation Fund to support local programs. For more information, call 369-6881.

Broadway stars Brian Stokes Mitchell and Kelli O’Hara and celebrated Metropolitan Opera soprano Harolyn Blackwell, will perform at the ‘Thank You Myra’ Grand Gala at the Philharmonic Center for the Arts on January 14. The concert will feature the Naples Philharmonic Orchestra, led by Boston Pops conductor Keith Lockhart, along with special guests and surprises.

The Grand Gala is part of ‘Thank You Myra’ Days Weekend. Collier County and the City of Naples have proclaimed January 14 & 15, ‘Thank You Myra’ Days as a tribute to Philharmonic Center founder Myra Janco Daniels, who retired in September.

The weekend celebration will also include a Community Day Open House on January 15, 12-4pm, featuring a variety of events and attractions for all ages, including backstage tours, admission to the Naples Museum of Art, glassblowing and jewelry demonstrations, a drumming exhibition, an instrument petting zoo, performances by the Philharmonic Youth Orchestra, the Philharmonic Youth Chorale and a jazz trio. The Open House is designed for families and admission is free. Doors open at noon.

The film, Box 23: The Myra Janco Daniels Story, an inspiring and revealing look at the life and times of the Philharmonic Center for the Arts’ founder, will premiere on January 15 at the Philharmonic Center at noon. Admission is free. The full-length documentary film traces Daniels’ life and career from her days as a precocious young businesswoman in Indiana to her pioneering tenure as the first woman to head up a national advertising agency in the 1960s to her move to Florida and the birth of the Phil, where, for more than 20 years, Daniels was a fixture in Box 23. The film features candid interviews with Daniels as well as with a variety of luminaries who have known her, including entertainer Michael Feinstein, ARTnews Publisher Milton Esterow, television personality and part-time Naples resident Judge Judy Sheindlin, art collector Olga Hirshhorn, Miami City Ballet Founder Edward Villella and others.

The Philharmonic Center for the Arts is at 5833 Pelican Bay Blvd. in Naples. For more information, call 597-1900.

The Southwest Florida Museum of History hosts ‘The Photographic Journal of Clyde Butcher’, an exhibition by world-renowned photographer Clyde Butcher. His black & white photographs will be on view February 2-May 26.

To help celebrate the Museum’s 30th anniversary in 2012, native son Clyde Butcher has specially designed an exhibition to take guests through the process of his work. ‘The Photographic Journal of Clyde Butcher’ will present the story of Clyde’s work and process with the photograph from idea conception to execution including the negative, technical details, darkroom information, images of him photographing the scene, and the story of the pursuit of the photograph.

Complementing this exhibition will be an Author’s Evening with Clyde Butcher on February 2 at 6pm. The evening includes admission to the exhibit, Butcher’s presentation, a meet-and-greet and book signing. Reservations are strongly suggested.

Southwest Florida Museum of History is located at
2031 Jackson St. in downtown Fort Myers. The Museum is open Tue-Sat 10am-5pm. Call 321-7430 for more information.

The Southwest Florida Museum of History, in conjunction with the American Institute of Architects Florida Southwest chapter, hosts the locally-curated exhibition, ‘McMo SWFL: Mid –Century Modern in Southwest Florida’ thru January 14.The exhibition will highlight furniture, fashion and regional architecture, including places of worship, educational institutions, commercial, and government buildings from around Southwest Florida.

Through photos, models, blueprints, and architectural renderings, together with the history of the architects who created these buildings, the exhibit will spotlight the local Mid-Century Modern movement and its adaptation of style to this sub-tropical climate. In fact, many featured buildings are places people pass everyday never knowing that Mid-Century Modern design was behind the façade, or that it was part of an overall movement that was more than architecture and design, but became a lifestyle with homes and buildings that lived and adapted to the environment, weather conditions, and the needs of the people living with the building.

The Museum is also showing a complimentary exhibition, ‘Paul Rudolph: The Florida Houses’, that explores the regional roots of the Mid-Century Modern movement in South Florida, with the Sarasota School of Architecture. Originating in Sarasota, architects reinterpreted modernism to suit a subtropical climate, resulting in an unconventional approach to shelter specific to the hot and wet climate of the region. The architectural movement known as the Sarasota School of Architecture took a unique approach to building design that spread south to Venice, Fort Myers, Naples, and East to Miami. The use of overhangs and breezeways provided shade from the harsh sun as wider openings and large windows brought the outside in.

The Southwest Florida Museum of History, open Tue-Sat 10am-5pm, is located at 2031 Jackson St. in River District in Fort Myers. Call 321-7430 for more information.