Current Exhibits

Motors & Mud: 70 Years of Swamp Buggy Culture

August 8, 2019 – November 30, 2019

Naples Depot Museum

Collier County’s signature past time is celebrating 70 years! The first Swamp Buggy race was officially held on November 12, 1949 and quickly became a popular attraction for the region. In Motors & Mud: 70 Years of Swamp Buggy Culture learn how these uniquely Naples vehicles were modified and designed to conquer the complex swampy terrain of the Everglades and enjoy memories of Swamp Buggy Races and Parades past.

MS Conceptions: Juried Show of 31 Artists

October 2, 2019 – January 30, 2020

Marco Island Historical Museum

This exhibit includes select works of art from members of the Florida Chapter of the National Association of Women Artists (NAWA). The exhibit will be juried and judged by respected gallerist Joseph Panarelli of Quidley and Company, Naples, Boston, Nantucket, and Westport. The National Association of Women Artists was founded in New York City in 1889 to provide more opportunities to women artists to exhibit and network in a male-dominated industry. Its mission is to elevate the purpose, quality, and visibility of our best female artists.

Cowboy Roots – Photography by Don Columbus

October 15, 2019 – December 28, 2019

Immokalee Pioneer Museum at Roberts Ranch

Stumbling unexpectedly upon Roberts Ranch three years ago, photographer Don Columbus was fascinated by the long-time depth of Florida’s cattle industry and the cultural roots of today’s cattle men and women, and the ranches they work. He has strived to capture details of this hard working “Real Florida” lifestyle through the lens of his camera; details that are often missed in the moment. His photographs give the viewer the opportunity not only to experience those moments in time, but to discover a richer present in them.

Don Columbus grew up I the suburbs of New York City where, in his words, “you won’t find any ranches, cattle or cowboys. Never in my wildest dreams did I think I’d be shooting a cattle drive or jamboree.” His love of photography began at age seven when he received his first camera. His creative journey has transitioned from taking snapshots to creating composed images.

Everglades Americana – The Art of Dick Jay

November 2, 2019 – February 2, 2020

Museum of the Everglades

When asked to describe his art, long-time Everglades area resident Dick Jay provides a one-word response: “Americana.” Born and raised in Michigan, Mr. Jay – a Korean War Veteran who flew with the Flying Tigers 74th Fighter Squadron – first spotted the Everglades City area from above while flying training missions from Eglin Air Force Base on Florida’s panhandle. He began visiting the region in the mid-1950s and would eventually retire to his current home on Plantation Key in the late 1980s.

As he immersed himself in the region’s unique culture and history, Dick Jay found himself compelled to capture the stories and scenes he was collecting through art. “I’m not creating anything new. I’m just recording it,” he states. Self-taught, except for a drawing class at Wayne State University, the 90-year old Jay’s distinctive folk-art style incorporates elements of everything from New England Primitivism to French Impressionism while maintaining a connection to his rough-and-tumble roots.

The works chosen for this exhibit capture scenes of everyday life in the 10,000 Islands both from the past and present. Mr. Jay’s paintings speak a universal language that is disarmingly homespun yet poignant and powerful. Explore stories of Florida’s last frontier through the eyes of Dick Jay, an American original.

We Never Left – Artists of Southeast Indian Tribes

November 16, 2019 – January 11, 2020

Collier Museum at Government Center

Discovery of the “New World” unleashed centuries of disease and violence that decimated American Indian populations. But it was settler colonialism—the hunger for land that drove America’s expansion—that increasingly drove American Indians from their homelands.

For those living in the Southeast, the Indian Removal Act of 1830 was its ultimate expression, resulting in the forced removal of an estimated 65,000 to “Indian Territory” west of the Mississippi (today’s Oklahoma). En route, as many as ten thousand people are estimated to have perished on what is now remembered as the Trail of Tears.

Removal, however, was far from complete. Estimates of Indians who remained range from as few as 4,000 to as many as 14,000—a discrepancy, scholars explain, due to who government officials counted. (A reluctance to come forward was certainly understandable.)

WE NEVER LEFT celebrates contemporary artists descended from these American Indians who, against all odds, remained in the Southeast as tribes who continue to live in Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia. Their highly diverse artwork addresses a variety of issues, including cultural preservation, language revitalization, personal identity and expression, community pride, and threats to homeland and the natural environment.

This exhibition was organized by the Museum of Arts and Sciences, Daytona Beach, Florida and curated by Walter L. Meyer, Independent Curator.

Image: Keith, 2010. Ashley Minner, Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina. Photograph by Sean Scheid. Text by E. Keith Colston (Lumbee/Tuscarora). Archival inkjet print. Courtesy of the Artist.

Rediscovering Woodstock – Previously Unpublished Photos by Mark Goff

November 18, 2019 – January 8, 2020

Collier Museum at Government Center

Mark Goff’s experience and perspective as a photojournalist captured numerous highlights of the music scene and counter-cultural movements that defined the 1960’s and 1970’s. His unique perspective will be on display as the Collier Museum at Government Center presents Rediscovering Woodstock – Previously Unpublished Photos by Mark Goff. The photos presented have been developed directly from the 35mm film negatives for the first time since they were taken 50 years ago. The astounding story of the negatives’ discovery is rivaled only by the quality of the images they contain.

Mark Goff’s unique skills as a photographer began to unfold while serving in the US Navy during the War in Vietnam aboard the USS Kitty Hawk aircraft carrier and bases throughout the South Pacific. His unique visual perspective and sensitive eye continued to develop as he produced a treasure trove of photographs capturing the spirit of poets, hippies, musicians, protests, gatherings, celebrities, coffeehouses, and the youth of America finding and using its voice.

Mark Goff’s portfolio of iconic photographs from the 1969 Woodstock concert are now, for the first time, being made available as high-quality archival prints, generated
directly from the original 35mm film negatives. These photos capture the ambiance of a generation featuring such performers as Janis Joplin, Arlo Guthrie, Grateful Dead, and Ravi Shankar, along with intimate captures of those who attended.