The Art in Flight exhibition “Connexions” will feature the artists of the Coco Art Gallery
Barbara Sykes – “Rhythms of Nature”, watercolor 24 x 18 inches. COURTESY PHOTO
Three talented artists from the Coco Art Gallery have been selected to exhibit their paintings at the Southwest Florida International Airport in Fort Myers. Artists from across Florida submitted work for consideration. The airport is hosting its “Connections” Art in Flight exhibit for next year. Thousands of visitors and residents will be able to enjoy this captivating exhibition daily as they pass through the airport terminals. Art in Flight is a partnership between the Alliance for the Arts of Fort Myers and the Lee County Port Authority, which brings art to the public spaces of Southwest Florida International Airport.
Coco Gallery artists selected for this honor include:
Barbara Sykes is a member of the Florida Watercolor Society. Her life, career and art are intrinsically linked journeys of self-discovery. She has been an art producer since she was a child. Recently, one of his paintings made the cover of Estero Life magazine. She exhibited at the Florida Watercolor Society’s 2022 Online Exhibition and the 36th All Florida Exhibition at the Alliance for the Arts. You can learn more about her career by consulting her Wikipedia page: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barbara_Sykes_(artist).
Garry Scott Wheeler – “Ordinary Dream”, acrylic 30 x 40 inches. COURTESY PHOTO
Garry Scott Wheeler is a member of the Fort Myers Beach Art Association and is an award-winning international acrylic abstract artist, author and entrepreneur. He is also president of the Art Council of Southwest Florida. He recently won the Artavita Online International art competition and was featured in the 9th edition of World Wide Art Magazine. Last year he won two prestigious awards from the contemporary art magazine. Her work has been exhibited in Milan, Italy; London, England; Laguna Beach, California; and in 15 shows in Florida over the past year. His work is available at Coco Galleries and viewed online at www.gswheeler.com.
Scott Brown is a member of the Southwest Florida Pastel Society and exhibits his pastel, acrylic and oil paintings throughout Southwest Florida. As a freelance and commissioned artist, he loves vivid natural colors and tries to incorporate reflection, highlights and shadows in all of his seascapes, sunscapes and landscape, figurative paintings. He has received numerous awards and accolades, including multiple First Place and “Best in Show” selections, and is honored to have over 300 paintings hanging in homes, offices and cottages around the world. He works from his studio in the Naples Art District and is the director of the Coco Naples Art Gallery at the Coastland Center Mall. www.sbrownnglf@gmail.com.
“These are exciting times for the visual arts in Southwest Florida,” said Southwest Florida Arts Council President Garry Wheeler. “So many Art Council member organizations are recovering from the pandemic, hosting new shows and events, and offering workshops to countless artists in the region. It’s great to see the artists of Coco Art Gallery being recognized in this way and of course I’m very grateful to be one of them myself.
The Coco Galleries are located at the Coconut Point Mall in Estero and the Coastland Center Mall in Naples. The galleries are a cooperative run by the Art Council of Southwest Florida. They are places open all year round to exhibit and sell the work of artists who are members of the 20 organizations affiliated to the Art Council. To learn more about Coco Art Galleries, visit www.cocoartgallery.com. ¦
