Business of the Quarter Award presented to Courtyard Cafe

Last night at the City Commission meeting, Wilton Manors Main Street President Krishan Manners was proud to present Shawn Bombard and Nick Berry of Shawn and Nick's Courtyard Cafe with the Business of the Quarter award.

The Courtyard Cafe has generously supported many local charitable efforts with donations of time, food and fun for years while building a restaurant with a strong local following.   Over the years, the Courtyard Cafe has expanded from their original indoor location into the courtyard behind the indoor seating to allow locals and snowbirds alike to take in the food in one of the best outdoor locations South Florida has to offer.

A Partial List of the charities that Shawn and Nick have donated time and effort to as well as running Dine-In events at the restaurant includes some very worthy causes.  These include:

Hospice of Gold Coast
CANA
Wilton Manors Historical Society
Poverello
Broward House
Fort Lauderdale Prime Timers
Pet Project
Kids in Distress
Wellness Center
Lambda Men's Brotherhood
Florida Aids Walk
Smart Ride
Richardson Park
GLCC
Women in Network
Florida Gay Rodeo Association
Ryan White Foundation

Wilton Manors Main Street humbly thanks Shawn and Nick's Courtyard Cafe for all they have done for the continuing rebirth of Wilton Manors, and the community here.

Wilton Manors Main Street Hosts Thom Cassotta At the next Island City Art Walk

This Friday, April 15th (have you got your taxes done?), Wilton Manors Main Street will be hosting a third artist.

Thom Cassotta will join us from 7pm until 10pm at our office with his characteristic works of texture.  These works are in mixed media and can be creations of art of whatever catches his eye.  

In the artist's own words:


Texture Works

These original works began with a combination of acrylic paint and textured papers, most of which I have made myself. Using stipple brush, sponge, tissue paper, rages, crackle paint, burlap, metallic paint, rice paper and miscellaneous findings, I cut and arrange the papers before applying an acrylic gel.

Some work is totally original from start to finish.

Some work has a photographic base with additional paper cuttings applied over it.  Because this 2nd step is always different, no two pieces are exactly the same.

Some work has been reproduced into Art Prints.

My inspiration harks back to the 2nd grade of school, where the teacher encouraged me to just have fun with crayons. Next she passed out watercolors and instructed me to apply them over the crayon sketch.  The wax-crayons resisted the watercolors and produced vibrant textural results which were amazing.  This visual stimulation never left….and put me ion a lifelong search for new color and texture combinations.

A few decades later….

I graduated from Paier College of Art, did a summer semester at the Palazzo Gallenga, Perugia, Italy and did a “Sketching Tour” of Brazil through Pratt Institute.

Now in my late 50’s, I’ve lived my entire adult life supported by the sales of my artwork.  And with this newer textural work, it feels like I’ve made some departure back to the 2nd grade…..and loving it.

Thom Cassotta

Last Island City Art Walk Before the Rainy Season Friday April 15th

This Friday Night is your last official Island City Art Walk before the Rainy Season.  We have a press release from the Island City Art Walk, Inc for you with all of the details.

Contact: Mary Ellen Charapko

954.547.9014 phone

info@islandcityartwalk.com

www.islandcityartwalk.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Last Island City Art Walk Before the Rainy Season

Wilton Manors, (Ft Lauderdale), Florida, April 9, 2011________The Island City Art Walk has captured the attention of the entire surrounding tri-county art community. Start your weekend with great art, great energy and an easy-going atmosphere. The Island City Art Walk begins at 7 pm until 10 pm on Friday, April 15th. This will be the last art walk for this season.      
Five years ago (2006), gallery owner and director, Mary Ellen Charapko developed a fresh concept, something that had not been tried before in Broward County, a collaboration of local art and business in the form of an “art walk,” bringing fine art, pop-up galleries, music, and even theatre, into a one-evening function. Island City Art walk was introduced to Wilton Manors and it became an overnight success on the third Friday of the month. The Island City Art Walk was founded before the recession, but, before and during this recession, it has been an invaluable means to drive business into town. Just recently, surrounding towns, including adjacent town, Fort Lauderdale (Las Olas Boulevard), have taken note and are now beginning to start their own art walks, collaborating business and local fine art. 

The Island City Art Walk is a stress-free function meant to enrich the general public and encourage the creation of art in Broward County. There will be over 30 business sponsors along the drive sponsoring over 40 artists. The Island City Art Walk is free to the artists and free to the attendees. Many of the businesses along the drive serve refreshments. A free trolley is also provided for the public.

The featured local artist for the April, Island City Art Walk, is Barbara J. Lloyd who will be exhibiting her paintings at Island City Eye Care. Lynn Dolan and Claudia Castillo will present fine art at Wilton Manors Main Street. IberiaBank, White Glove Antiques, Shades of the Past Antiques, The Manor, Gallery XO, To The Moon Marketplace, Pink Submarine and Art Frenzie are some of the businesses collaborating with local artists. Mangum Gallery will be featuring ceramist, Ken Butler. Island City Traders will be featuring the photography of Mitchell Bloch. The contemporary works of Julio Green will be shown at the Naked Grape Wine Bar. Golding-Savino will present a variety of art in collaboration with Galerie Lausberg (Toronto & Germany), curated by Mariavelia Savino and will be located at Gables Wilton Park. Directly next–door, a solo exhibition by Florida nature photographer, Peter J. Nolan, The Florida Series, will be featured in Ellen Charapko Gallery, Alternative Space. Ellen Charapko Gallery will feature a solo, Flawed Perfection by Madrid artist, Alberto Murillo.

Mary Ellen Charapko, Owner/Director of Ellen Charapko Gallery and owner of Island City, Inc., is the producer and organizer of the grassroots, Island City Art Walk, a mile long, “private party function” which began in December 2006. The Island City Art Walk sponsors and artists continue to promote cultural awareness in Broward County and contributed to the economic growth in Wilton Manors. Charapko and the sponsor businesses on Wilton Drive are solid “supporters of the arts.” Come and join us for an artful evening on The Drive!

Please see Directions/Map Page for further information: http://www.islandcityartwalk.com/directions.html

A Glance From the Catwalk, 2009, Barbara J. Lloyd, 48 x 36 in, Acrylic on Canvas

Wilton Manors Main Street hosts Lynn Dolan at the next Island City Art Walk

On April 15th, there's going to be the final official Island City Art Walk.  Wilton Manors Main Street is excited to announce that we will be hosting Mixed Media Artist Lynn Dolan.  Lynn's art pops off the page with many textures and colors to please the eye.

Lynn is also a supporter of Wilton Manors Main Street which is a plus for us.   In Lynn's words, "I fully support the Wilton Manor Main Street Program...think it's wonderful and I hope it comes to fruition under your watchful eye. I'm very excited to be able to exhibit my work at your office on April 15th and I've been busy creating large pieces to fill up some of the great wall spaces you have."


Lynn says, describing her art: "I've had many opportunities through the years to exhibit my art. Started my obsession with creating in high school and more often than not you could find me in the Art Room covered in clay or paint. College lead me through the fundamentals of Art History and I've never stopped. During my career I've had the experience of being in juried Art Shows and have won awards for Most Original and Most Creative in the Mixed Media field. Having moved down to Florida last year has motivated me to seek out oppotunities and locations to display my Art. I came upon the Island City Art Walk through Mary Ellen from the Ellen Charapko Gallery and here I am ready and able to creat unique and original pieces."

We at Wilton Manors Main Street are looking forward to seeing Lynn's Art.  You can see it too at our offices on April 15th, 2011 from 7PM through 10PM at 2164 Wilton Drive, Wilton Manors, FL, 33305.

Expanded parking is available at Hagen Park as well as on Wilton Drive.