2025-2026 Community Engagement
BIG ARTS, formally known as the Barrier Island Group for the Arts, was created by and for the community more than four decades ago. Its founding principle remains to this day: to experience and celebrate the artist in all of us and to remind us of our shared humanity. Each year we offer a vibrant cultural palette of performing and fine arts, films, workshops, classes and community events that enrich our lives
Just Keep Swimming
Marti Koehler
Mezzanine Gallery
Artist Reception: Friday, November 7, 2025, 5:00 PM
“The process of making art starts with an abstract memory or feeling that sparks inspiration, leading to a colorful, gestural exploration…”
Curious
Reynier Llanes
Dunham Family Gallery
Artist Reception: Friday, November 7, 2025, 5:00 PM
Reynier Llanes is a master of color, form, and figure. The narratives are born of fables and Magic Realism where tapestries of fantasy and unlikely narratives intertwine with our reality.
I Am My Home
Mariapia Malerba
West Gallery
Artist Reception: Friday, November 7, 2025, 5:00 PM
Without the corals, the octopus has no sanctuary…
GLASS-FUSED ART
Artist-Instructor: Petra Kaiser
Wednesdays, December 3, 10, 17, 2025, 9:30 AM – 12:30 PM
Petra will provide students with guidance and assistance, demonstrating procedures and basic glass fusing techniques, and will include compatibility and testing, annealing, and slumping.
Eleanor the Great
After a devastating loss, witty and proudly troublesome Eleanor Morgenstein, 94, tells a tale that takes on a dangerous life of its own.
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WINE & RAKU MIXER
Artist-Instructor: Tim Smith
Enjoy this fun-filled evening as we begin in the classroom learning about Raku, a traditional Japanese pottery-firing technique.
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Ode to Joy
Sanibel-Captiva Art League
Dunham Family Gallery
Artist Reception: Friday, December 19, 2025, 5:00 PM
Let your spirit be uplifted by original artworks of Southwest Florida artists. This exhibit features a collection of fine art embracing various media, styles, colors, moods, and techniques, inviting you to explore the beauty and spirit of joy.
BIG ARTS
Holiday Open House
BIG ARTS Holiday Open House Presenting Sponsor: Bank of the Islands.
Delight in the magic of the season as BIG ARTS transforms its expansive halls into a holiday wonderland adorned with festive decorations.
Holiday Family Film Night
The Polar Express
Join us for a heartwarming family experience as we present The Polar Express on the big screen in Christensen Performance Hall.
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Black Bag
When intelligence agent Kathryn Woodhouse is suspected of betraying the nation, her husband – also a legendary agent – faces the ultimate test of whether to be loyal to his marriage, or his country.
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THE FREEDOM OF ACRYLICS
Master Artist-Instructor: Jane Slivka
Monday, January 5 & Tuesday, January 6, 2026, 9:30 AM – 3:30 PM
In this workshop, students will experience the freedom of acrylics, and look forward to painting still life, landscapes, and figures. Jane says, “My students leave with more than a few canvases in hand; they leave with a sense of accomplishment, a new appreciation for their own abilities and the motivation to keep on painting!”
BEGINNING POTTERY WHEEL 101
Artist-Instructor: Tim Smith
Mondays, January 5, 12, 19, 26, & February 2, 9, 2026, from 9:30 AM – 12:30 PM
Beginning students will discover how to center a ball of clay and shape it into various objects. Those with prior experience will refine their skills and learn techniques to create more intricate forms.