Current Exhibits

Swamp Angels: A History of Mosquitoes and Mosquito Control

June 12 – August 28, 2021

Collier Museum at Government Center

“Swamp Angels” is a joint project between the Collier Museum at Government Center and the Collier Mosquito Control District. There are over 40 species of mosquitoes in Collier County. Nicknamed “Swamp Angels” by early settlers, mosquitoes have long been a nuisance and threat to the health of everyone living in Southwest Florida. The wet local environment of marshes, swamps, and mangrove estuaries is a natural breeding ground for mosquitoes. Over the years, humans have developed different methods of controlling the insects, and mosquito control remains an important factor in making Collier County comfortable and safe for residents and visitors.

These tiny insects are not only annoying pests, but are also our deadliest predator and have killed more people than any other animal in human history.  Floridians have a long history of dealing with yellow fever and malaria, and newer threats like the West Nile and zika viruses continue to endanger residents of Southwest Florida today.

All Collier County museum locations offer free admission.

Connections in Nature: The Art of Adorable Monique

May 1 – August 28, 2021

Naples Depot Museum

Connections in Nature explores aspects of our natural world and the human experience with it, aspiring to reveal the inner beauty of the life and fertility that our region’s environment sustains. The Everglades, from where much of artist Adorable Monique’s inspiration lies, is represented in the vibrant palette and bold styles she was influenced by while growing up in Central America. The trees, mangroves, birds and other fauna off this unique ecosystem are highlighted by vibrant expression, movement, and contrasts of light.

Adorable Monique is an award-winning artist based in southwest Florida. Born in Chicago, she was raised abroad in Central America. Her upbringing surrounded by different cultures and diverse ethnic groups has profoundly influenced her understanding of art, culture & color, inspiring her to embrace many artistic customs and values. Her time in Central America especially allowed her to identify with and find appreciation for both the agricultural and natural environments in which she grew up. Having received her degree in Fine Arts & teaching, Adorable Monique is continuously pursuing success in personal, professional, and artistic endeavors and the cultural experience itself.

All Collier County museum locations offer free admission.

Fish, Fruit, and Fine Dining:
Marco Island’s Food Culture

April 6  –  July 10, 2021

Marco Island Historical Museum

Today, Marco Island is a lovely vacation and retirement destination with nearly every type of food style and dining establishment you could ask for, especially if you like fish. The first Americans moving to the island starting in the 1870s quickly learned what the Calusa had known: the fishing here is great. But did you know Marco Island was once vital to providing pineapples, mangoes, and other citrus fruits to the rest of the U.S? Visit to learn more about Marco Island’s Food Culture.

All Collier County museum locations offer free admission.

Banking on the Past, Saving for the Future: The Legacy of Barron Collier’s Bank of Everglades

June 1 – August 27, 2021

Museum of the Everglades

This new exhibit celebrates the Bank of Everglades building—a grand neo-classical structure erected by Barron Collier in 1926. It was the only bank in Collier County for almost 40 years. The exhibit details the history of the institution, including its two previous (and far less impressive) homes and the bank’s 1962 relocation to Immokalee, as well as the businesses that later occupied the space. The local effort to save and restore the structure by the Everglades Society for Historic Preservation and the possible ways the preserved structure might serve the community in the future will also be explored.

The exhibit seeks to underscore the role that both the building and the business of the bank have played and will continue to play in the story of Everglades City. Contributions by local students—winning submissions from a creative response contest offered by the museum and its support group—will be included, lending a unique, multigenerational quality to the presentation.

All Collier County Museum locations offer free admission.

On the Hoof: Portraits & Landscapes by Jo-Ann Sanborn

May 1 – July 17, 2021

Immokalee Pioneer Museum at Roberts Ranch

Jo-Ann Sanborn made Southwest Florida her home when she moved here in the mid 1990s. Jo-Ann is known for her artistic focus on the landscape of the Everglades and is often referred to as “The Everglades Artist.” Recently Jo-Ann became interested in the animals present in Floridian landscapes and is fascinated with the long history of Roberts Ranch in Immokalee. She produces expressionistic compositions rich with uncommon color, creating a distinct style that somehow still radiates simplicity and integrity within a nuanced piece filled with layers of color.  She invites to the viewer to take a breath and become engaged in her art, whether it’s of a swamp bog in the Everglades or the faces of red cattle grazing an Immokalee ranch. You can see Jo-Ann’s beloved Florida cows on display at the Immokalee Pioneer Museum at Roberts Ranch beginning

All Collier County museum locations offer free admission.

Creating Home: Artwork by Jessica Osceola
July 13 – October 9, 2021
Marco Island Historical Museum
Flyer

Down the Garden Path
August 17 – November 27, 2021
Immokalee Pioneer Museum at Roberts Ranch