ArtFest Fort Myers is harnessing the power of art to increase awareness and challenge behavior inspiring recycle, re-use, upcycling movement and conserving our natural resources. This creative look at how we deal with recycling will spark your imagination and, perhaps, begin a conversation about rethinking waste!

All-new in 2019, ArtFest is launching the collaborative project We Are Overflowing, a national juried exhibit of art crafted from re-purposed, discarded and cast-off materials. Professional artist, Donald Gialanella, is traveling to Fort Myers from St. Petersburg, FL to create “Dumpster Diving,” made entirely of single use recycled plastic. Amplifying the We Are Overflowing message, middle school students are also creating eight smaller sculptures made from 100% recycled materials and will be competing for awards.

We Are Overflowing, on display in the center of the art festival-at the intersection of Hendry St. and Edwards Dr., is sponsored by Covanta and supported by Lee County Solid Waste. In December 1994, Covanta Lee, Inc. became a public-private partnership with Lee County, operating the Lee County Solid Waste Resource Recovery Facility. Covanta’s commitment to sustainability comes with a commitment to programs that support the environmental issues – like fresh air, clean water and safe oceans. These are issues that affect people, communities and the precious home we all share, Earth.

Art Under 20, the high school exhibit and competition at ArtFest, has also created a Recycle Art category this season. As with We Are Overflowing, student artists must use all recycle materials in the creation of their artwork. The inspiration for this new category for student artists came from the Fewster Family who sponsors several awards at Art Under 20.

ArtFest Fort Myers, Southwest Florida’s premier art festival, takes place February 1, 2 & 3, 2019 in the Fort Myers River District. Join the experience with 200 professional artists from across the county and around the world; the largest high school art exhibit and competition in south Florida and free interactive art experiences for children of all ages.

Spend a few hours, all day or a weekend being surrounded by imagination, inspiration and incredible talent. ArtFest Fort Myers brings 200 exceptional professional artists to the heart of downtown Fort Myers, encourages 300 talented local high school artists to pursue their artistic dreams while providing an opportunity for thousands of children, their parents and grandparents to try their hand at creating a masterpiece. Join the fun on February 2 & 3, 2019, with an Opening Night Party on Friday, February 1st.

How do the festival artists get chosen? A jury panel of professional artists determines which 200 artists will exhibit at ArtFest from the 900 artists who apply. These artists are the best-of-the-best with plenty of incredible artwork for you to enjoy!

Meet the stars of the show – the artists! These incredibly creative folks, traveling from 43 states and many foreign countries to share their work with us, are sure to make us laugh, learn about ourselves, appreciate our past and wonder about the future—all through their art! Amazing ceramics, a gorgeous array of jewelry, handbags, clothing plus remarkable glass, unique paintings, and decorative await you at ArtFest Fort Myers. This family-friendly festival connects art and artists together with our community in a way that is so much fun – this is an art experience that delights every sense!

The Commemorative Poster and T-shirt, available for purchase at the fine art festival, feature the fabulous work of Ellen Negley. Joining ArtFest Fort Myers from West Palm Beach, FL, Ellen created “Fort Myers Flavors” to capture the downtown riverfront in her own distinctive and delightful style.

All new in 2019 ArtFest Fort Myers is harnessing the power of art to increase awareness and challenge behavior inspiring the recycle, re-use, upcycling movement and conserving our natural resources. We Are Overflowing, a professional sculpture created from re-purposed, discarded and cast-off materials recycling will spark your imagination and, perhaps, begin a conversation about rethinking waste!

Be sure to bring the entire family to this fabulous FREE outdoor fine art festival. Take time to enjoy our talented high school artists’ work at the Art Under 20 Exhibit and Competition and prepare to be astonished as the students create large street paintings in the Chalk Block. Check out the “We Are Overflowing” exhibit, artwork featuring the message about recycling and what, as a community, we dispose of. Always a crowd pleaser, the Publix Art Yard and Youth Stage are full of opportunities for children of all ages to create a masterpiece of their very own, while enjoying a variety of great performances. And be sure to visit the art festival’s Dining Galleries, where delicious culinary fare from around the world is the norm.

Join our VIP Club and take advantage of reserved weekend parking, admission to the Friday Night Opening VIP Tent with delicious food and drinks, plus unlimited access to the VIP Tent with breakfast treats, a delightful lunch & beverages all weekend long. The elite VIP Club is $125 per person and your support contributes to the year round art education outreach programs of ArtFest Fort Myers.

For more information visit ArtFestFortMyers.com – Like Us on Facebook – Connect with us on Linkedin – Tag us #artfestfm

Merab Gagiladze traveled all the way from the country of Georgia to grace us with his uniquely styled paintings. His work draws from history, religion, and mythology and depicts the joys, sorrows, and dreams of real life. Our judges were impressed and bestowed an Award of Merit on this “first appearance at ArtFest” artist.

New this season, ArtFest Fort Myers is proud to announce the addition of a $500 Ben Essenburg Award to the professional artist awards. It is the festival’s intention to honor this Florida wildlife artist who has contributed so much to the fine art festival since its inception. We look forward to having Ben visit ArtFest Fort Myers in February 2017 to give out the award in person.

Ben Essenburg has been painting and exhibiting professionally since 1975 and was a key Artist Advisor in the early years of ArtFest Fort Myers. His incredible talent, generous nature and years of experience in the outdoor fine art festival venue made him uniquely qualified to provide valuable insights regarding the inner workings of a successful juried event. As a tribute to his award-winning artistic talent, Ben is the only artist who has juried into and participated in ArtFest Fort Myers for an incredible run of 13 consecutive years.

ArtFest Fort Myers is grateful to count Ben Essenburg among our dearest friends and colleagues. Over the years, he has gifted our community with his artistic vision of our natural world, opening our eyes to the astonishing beauty that surrounds us. We humbly institute the “Ben Essenburg Award” in his honor.

Pictured above is Ben Essenburg (center) receiving a 2012 festival award from Marv Weiner (left) and Judy Weiner (right), ArtFest Artist Relations Committee Chairpersons.

ArtFest Fort Myers, the annual juried fine art festival, takes place February 3, 4 & 5, 2017 in the Fort Myers River District. Join the experience with 200 professional artists from across the county and around the world; the largest high school art exhibit and competition in south Florida and free interactive art experiences for children of all ages.  For more information, visit ArtFestFortMyers.com