March Events Calendar

Gallery Victoria. The Artescape Naples 2003 Qualifying Exhibition I continues through March 7-followed by Artescape Naples II, opening from 5:30 to 8 p.m. March 14 and continuing through April 4. Information: 649-4300.

Padulo Longstreth Goldberg (PLG) Art. On view through March 22: new paintings by Slade, Thom Thomas and Lee L'Clerc and sculpture by Mark Chatterley. Opening March 28: Giants of Sculpture II and Little Gems, combining new sculpture and small paintings by gallery artists. Information: 263-3363.

Lee County Alliance for the Arts. Through March 22: a 2D-3D All Florida Artists Juried Competition exhibition; and works by Aline Blanchard. Information: 939-2787.

Naples Museum of Art. Continuing through March 23 is the exhibition Frankenthaler: The Woodcuts, spanning a period of nearly three decades in the work of Helen Frankenthaler. Also on view, through May 18: Eye Contact: Modern American Portrait Drawings from the National Portrait Gallery. A reception for this show is set for 4:30 to 6 p.m. March 13. And theater posters by Gilbert Lesser are on view March 1-July 31. Information: 597-1900.

Florida Gulf Coast University Arts Gallery. Frontiers: i2artContemporary 2003, a national juried exhibition, continues through April 5. Information: 590-7222.

The Galleries at the Philharmonic. Passages: Photography in Africa by Carol Beckwith and Angela Fisher, continues on view through April 27. Information: 597-1900.

La Rocco Galleries. Czech Modernist Furniture on exhibit through April 30. Information: 434-5678.

Collier County Museum. The museum celebrates Archaeology Month, March 1-31, with a related exhibition. Information: 774-8476.

West Wing Gallery. Works by Phil Powell presented by the Friends of the Library, March 1-31. Information: 262-8135.

Art in the Park. The Naples Art Association's outdoor show presents artists of Southwest Florida, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. March 1 on Park Street, downtown Naples. 594-1860.

Harmon-Meek Gallery. This month at Harmon-Meek you can see new paintings by Surrealist Igor Galanin (March 2-8), Mostly Nuns by Robert Vickrey (March 9-15), paintings by Will Barnet dedicated to the women in his life (March 16-22), monotypes on canvas by Robert Natkin (March 24-April 5), and new collage paintings by Dan Rizzie (March 30-April 5). Information: 261-2637.

Aboriginals: Art of the First Person. Laughing Is Good for You is the theme of this month's show (March 2-30), which offers Navajo carvings, colonial figures from Africa, and other arts and crafts. Information: 395-2200.

Art League of Marco Island. Love of Pastels offers work by 13 pastel artists; with ceramic sculpture by Tom Radca and photography by Len Mesineo, Jeff Ripple and Grace DeWolf also on view. March 2-31. Information: 394-4221.

Marianne Friedland Gallery. An exhibition of important American printmakers opens March 3 and continues through March 29. Artists include Janet Fish, Al Held, Jim Dine, Tom Wesselmann and Larry Rivers. Information: 262-3484.

Museum of the Everglades. Local Spirit, Local Artists on view March 3-29. Information: 695-0008.

Shaw Gallery of Naples. Diana Gessler appears at the gallery from 5 to 7:30 p.m. March 4 and from 4 to 7:30 p.m. March 8 in conjunction with a show of her paintings of Charleston, S.C., and the release of her new book, Very Charleston. Information: 261-7828.

Trudy Labell Fine Art. Surface Tensions ... and Beauty offers Jessie Pollock's saturated dry pigments, March 3-28. Information: 593-0211.

Eckert Fine Art. Lyrical Constructivist presents the sculpture of Don Gummer, March 6-April 3. Information: 261-1100.

Davis/Keil. Photorealist master Richard Estes, contemporary German artist Roland Fischer and sculptor Isamu Noguchi are featured this month, March 8-April 19. Information: 775-3200.

Von Liebig Art Center. Artists from the New York Studio School presents working drawings and paintings by the school's emerging artists; also on view, Innuendo: Recent Paintings by Creighton Michael. March 8-April 26, with a members' reception at 5:30 p.m. March 7. Information: 262-6517.

Fort Myers Beach Art Association. A Spring Juried Art Show runs March 8 to 27, with a reception at 2 p.m. March 16. Information: 463-3909.

Phillips Gallery/BIG Arts. Presenting a national Invitational Print Show, March 8-31. Information: 395-0900.

Cape Coral Arts Studio. Art Focus 2003, featuring the Student Juried Exhibition, fills the gallery beginning with a reception from 12:30-4 p.m. March 9. Information: 574-0802.

Art League of Bonita Springs Center for the Arts. Another Art Focus 2003 show, this one opening from 5 to 7 p.m. March 14 and continuing through March 20. Information: 495-8989.

DeBruyne Fine Art. Melange, opening March 15, highlights the animal kingdom fantasies of Edward Lupper and Carol Sadowski's architectural and pastoral scenes. Information: 262-4551.

Naples Downtown Festival of the Arts. Fifth Avenue South's oldest fine-art street show, offering musical entertainment, a food court and more in addition to the visual arts. From 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. March 21 and 22 and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. March 23. Information: 435-3742.

Gallery Row Winter Arts Festival. Broad Avenue South galleries present a variety of exhibitions, opening from 5 to 8 p.m. March 23. The Englishman will offer Victorian portraits by British and Continental artists (649-8088); Gardner Colby presents a one-man show for artist Kevin Sloan (403-7787); Kensington-Stobart features John Traynor (261-5699); Knox presents a Two Blast Shoot-Out, with the egg tempera work of Mark Thompson and Impressionist paintings by Kang Cho (263-7994); the Weatherburn visits Chateaux and Landscapes of the Loire Valley, featuring recent works by David Dunlop; and features the Society of American Impressionists Members' Show through the middle of March (263-8008).

Benefits

Step by Step Art Auction. A live and silent auction featuring works by local artisans to benefit Step by Step of Collier County, 5 to 8 p.m. March 2 at The Ritz-Carlton, Naples. Tickets $100 each or $175 for two. Information: 455-9525.

Southwest Florida Symphony Society Designer Showcase Home and Gardens. At the historic Stout house in Fort Myers through March 9. Information: 481-1409 or 936-6116.

Heart Ball. A gala evening for the American Heart Association of Lee County, 6 p.m. March 1 at the Hyatt Regency Coconut Point Resort & Spa in Bonita Springs. Tickets $175 each; call 498-9288.

The Storybook Ball. Get into that storybook spirit to benefit the Ronald McDonald House of Southwest Florida, 6:30 p.m. March 1 at The Ritz-Carlton. Tickets are $250; call 437-0202.

Dine-Around. A Hope for Haiti fund-raiser, from 6 to 10 p.m. March 2 at the Sugden. Tickets $250; call 434-7183.

Chapeaux Charmants: Designer Runway Fashion Show. Presented by the League Club, at 11 a.m. March 5 at the Registry. Tickets range from $100 up; call 596-4183 or 262-6639.

Bravo Ballet. At 7:30 p.m. March 7 in the Anderson Theater at Bishop Verot High in Fort Myers, to benefit the Gulfshore Ballet. For ticket info, call 580-6191.

Expedition 2003: A Night in Old Havana. For Youth Haven, March 7 at LaPlaya Beach & Golf Resort. Tickets $275; call 774-2904, ext. 203.

World-Class Polo. Horses are flying and mallets are swinging, March 8 at Wrenwood Farms. For the Community School of Naples; tickets $150 each. Call 597-7575, ext. 121.

Five Star Evening Surprise. For the Shelter for Abused Women, 7 to 10 p.m. March 8 at Robb & Stucky in Naples. Tickets $75; call 775-3862.

Habitat for Humanity 25th Anniversary Celebration. A weekend to celebrate the building of 500 homes, with founder of the international Habitat, Millard Fuller, in attendance. There's a dinner March 7 (by invite only) and on March 8 a special build at Victoria Falls, a ribbon-cutting ceremony and a gala cocktail party at the Naples Beach Hotel. For more info, call 775-0036.

Gala for Treasures. Guests will be surrounded by the Golden Age of Hollywood at the "Lights! Camera! Action!" themed event to benefit Seacrest Country Day School, 6 p.m. March 15 at the Ritz. For ticket info, call 793-1986.

Artists' Studio Tour. Six internationally recognized artists will open their homes and studios to the public from 1 to 5 p.m. March 16 and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. March 17. Tickets are $35 for Sunday's tour and $40 for Monday. Benefits the Naples Museum of Art and Galleries programs. Information: 597-1900.

International College Humanitarian of the Year Award Ceremony. Former Health Management Associates CEO Bill Schoen is honored for his work in revitalizing fading hospitals, at 11:30 a.m. March 20 at The Ritz-Carlton. For ticket info, call 513-1122, ext. 159.

Starlight Gala. Lee Cancer Cares' educational fund is the beneficiary for this glamorous evening, March 22 at the South Seas Resort. For ticket info, call 472-5111.

Emerald Ball. For Catholic Charities, March 22 at The Ritz-Carlton. Call 455-2655 for tickets.

A Night at the Oscars. At 7:30 p.m. March 22 at Robb & Stucky in Fort Myers. $75 each, to benefit Florida Repertory Theatre. Call 768-2253 for tickets.

Celebration of Reading. Since this event benefits the Governor's Family Literacy Initiative, it's no surprise that Gov. Bush, former President George H.W. Bush and Barbara Bush are attending. So are Marc Brown (of the kids' "Arthur" books), a tentatively scheduled Fannie Flagg, and one more author not confirmed at press time. The reading event begins at 6 p.m. March 28 at the Hyatt Regency Coconut Point Resort & Spa, with a dinner for sponsors and individual ticket purchasers ($250 each) at 8 p.m.; call 275-5758.

Comedy

Capitol Steps. Hear what the Steps have to say about recent political events, at 8 p.m. March 6 at BIG Arts' Schein Hall. Information: 395-0900.

Legends of TV Comedy. That would be Peter Marshall, Ruth Buzzi, Ronnie Schell and Steve Landesberg ... at 7:30 p.m. March 9 at Barbara B. Mann. Information: 481-4849.