Punta Gorda Gallery Walk Celebrates Eighth Anniversary This Thursday with Book Festival

I am finding this hard to believe but according to the Downtown Merchant's Association next Thursday Punta Gorda's Gallery Walk will celebrate its eighth anniversary. This monthly event could be one of the best showcases of what Punta Gorda has to offer. Remembering myself that the first walk had only a few enthusiastic people wandering around the downtown wondering what this Gallery Walk was all about and thinking there wasn't much there, I now marvel at how this event has bloomed. As businesses have increased, so too has Gallery Walk. And this past year, Punta Gorda has welcomed a lot more new businesses.

Some of those that have come to the downtown in the recent year and will be participating in Gallery Walk include:

• Kay's Kloset, an upscale ladies consignment shop located in the back of the building on the corner of N41 and E Marion, Offering a range of clothing from formal evening wear to casual clothes., During Gallery Walk Kay's will be offering sultry jazz, refreshments, and tips for your home interiors.

•  Harborside Wealth Managers. Ed Osborne, Carol Young-Hiatt, Becky Henson and Stacy Hart bring years of experience in financial services.  There will be a champagne toast at their ribbon cutting at 5 o'clock during Gallery Walk. 

• Florida Gulf Coast University at the Herald Court Center.  Here there will be  an artist reception with wine and cheese.   Punta Gorda artist Thelma Daida will be honored. 

• A new gallery/showplace called Artisan's Atelier. Artists work, create, display and sell their  art in cubicles arranged for folks to visit, discuss art, and perhaps buy something special. John Cristina will be there to discuss and show his sculpting using paper mache. John is a retired remodeling contractor who has been a full time artist since last August.

•  Also in the Atelier is James Abraham, a book broker and author. James holds book discussions in his relaxing cubicle, where writers gather. He has designed the Book Festival which runs this week. He designed the Gallery Walk game for this month, with the prize being a basketful of books and a crisp $100.00 bill, provided by the Downtown Merchants

• Centennial Bank anchors one end of the Walk together with Swiss Chocolate+ and Papillon. The bank will open its doors to showcase many artists for visitors to enjoy as they sip wine and cheese and listen to the delightful music of local favorite, Paul Cottrell. 

In conjunction with Punta Gorda Book Week,  at each of the participating merchants' businesses, a local author will be on hand to discuss the game and his or her book.   Participating merchants include River City Grill, Sunart Gallery & Framing, Swiss Chocolate+, Kay's Kloset, Papillon, Ooodles Antiques, Pilates for Life, Jack's, Red Hat Studio, Creations Gallery, Sea Grape Gallery, Harborside Wealth Managers, Design Access Interiors, A New Beginning, Peter's Knife Shop, Harbor Style, The Yoga Sanctuary, Big "D" Chicago Eatery, Cafe Ruelle, Centennial Bank.  

There will be plenty of live entertainment, art exhibits and demonstrations, and food and drink samplings.  And there are  hints that there might even be champagne on hand to celebrate the anniversary.    Here are the places to view art and enjoy entertainment:

Music

The Yoga Sanctuary, moved to 112 Sullivan Street next to the Women's Building - Paul Elliott's guitar.

Centennial Bank - Paul Cottrell guitar and vocal

Cafe Ruelle - Chakilla - many instruments

Tiki's Clothing - Sidewalk entertainer

Jack's - Brown Sugar Band

Art

Sea Grape Gallery - Anne Tuttle, colored pencil artist demo of "Striped Lilies". Sue Shore, 3D artist, will demo frame work for a sea turtle. Jim Beech shows sketching with camera and computer. Robert and Debra Purdy discuss driftwood sculptures. Ellen DeVita shows collage jewelry.

Centennial Bank - Mary Taglieri, Hansi Engel, Mini Cavaleri, Kathy Przepadlo, paintings. Sue Green, photography. Mary Cavanagh, glass work. Ruth Spies, photography and jewelry.

Papillon - Mini Crystal Light Healing, Mini Cranio Sacral Therapy, mini chair massage - all free.

Sunart Gallery & Framing - Ellen TerBorg Bianchi, shows paper castings for exquisite sculptures. Each piece is a numbered original.

Creations Gallery - Ed Burd demonstrates pencil drawings of a cat. Elizabeth Meenly demonstrates steps involved in producing her distinctive Raku fish.