The Board of Directors recently approved the establishment of the Friends Gallery at South County Regional Library. The Library is the perfect place for art. It is a public building, open many hours a week for persons of any age, gender, nationality or race at no charge. Over 29,000 registered patrons as well as many seasonal visitors came with some regularity over the last year to borrow materials or use various other services. 

The Library is a symbol of local pride and serves as a community gathering place.  Establishing the Friends Gallery at this time, when the area is experiencing significant growth, will provide the community at large with an opportunity to grow in understanding and appreciation of the rich artistic and cultural bank of talent that exists in this area.  It will encourage broader use of the Library as a community resource by supporting the artistic interests and lifelong learning goals of the people in south Lee County.

Local artists, in a variety of media such as painting, photography, woodcraft, sculpture, pottery, and weaving will be invited to display their work. Each will exhibit from 6 to 8 weeks during the year. 

The project will proceed in two phases as follows:

Phase I:  Donald Martin, an Estero artist, was commissioned to paint a stunning mural entitled “Florida Seascape” on the entire window wall, pillars and  over the doorway to the copy center in the Youth Services area of the Library. Read more about the creation of this mural in the November 2007 Friends newsletter.

Timeframe:  April through June, 2007                              Cost:                         $5,700

Status as of June 30, 2007:  Work is complete.

Phase II:   A gallery will be developed in the foyer at the main entrance, along the main aisle, and in the reading area of the Library.  A wall-mounted picture hanging system, track lighting and wall-mounted display cases will be installed in these areas.

Timeframe:  December 2007 through March 2008

Materials and Labor  (Written quotes on file for all elements)       Amount
 
Track lighting –  97 ft. of track lighting – material and installation $5,404
 
Wall-mounted picture hanging system – material and installation    1,475
                                                 
Wall-mounted display cabinets – 2 units – installed                      3,000
                                                                Cost:                 $9,879
 
Total Cost of Phase I and II     $15,579

Funding:   Through solicitation of grant sources and donations from the business community and individual donors.