Aug 1, 2005
(Pictured left to right: Lee County Commissioner Tammy Hall and Artist William North in front some of Mr. North's works being displayed in the Commissioner's offices)
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: County Commission, District #4 Office
(239) 225-2226
COMMISSIONER HALL DISPLAYING WORK OF 3RD ARTIST IN CONTINUING SERIES TO SUPPORT LOCAL ARTISTS
FORT MYERS, Fla. (August 1, 2005) - Lee County Commissioner Tammy Hall, in conjunction with the Alliance of the Arts, is continuing to support local artists by giving them an opportunity to display their artwork in her Fort Myers office.
The third artist to be featured - William North - will have his artwork, including pieces depicting historical homes and landmarks of Fort Myers, displayed in the District #4 Commissioner office starting TODAY (August 1) and running through September 30 (see bio below of North).
Commissioner Hall's office is in the first floor of the Old County Courthouse, 2120 Main Street in downtown Fort Myers. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The public is welcome to come view the artwork and learn about North, and the paintings can be purchased.
The first artist to be featured was Kit Hoisington and had her artwork displayed from March 15 through April 25. The second featured artist was Carl Schwartz, whose artwork was featured from May 17 to July 30.
"The arts are an important part of the cultural development of our community," says Commissioner Hall. "I believe that government can play an important role in providing assistance in public awareness, developing the use of public spaces for display and interaction of art, and for the encouragement and commitment of continued financial support both public and private of all the arts."
Other local artists will be featured at six-week intervals.
Commissioner Hall was elected to the Board of Lee County Commissioners in 2004 and serves as the Board's vice chairman. Her district includes North Fort Myers, and the central and northern portions of Cape Coral.
WILLILAM NORTH - IMPRESSIONIST PAINTINGS IN OIL
William North is a distinguished painter of the tropical Florida Scene. He carries on the tradition of the great age of impressionism, working from life, painting landscapes in the field and still lifes in the studio.
An interest in art and painting, which began in his childhood, led to his assignment as an artist correspondent in the U.S. Army (1945-47). After leaving the service, he attended Pratt Institute (BFA-1951) and also studied in the Art Student's League (NY) and the Lyme Academy of fine Art (CT).
Over the years, he followed dual careers in art and business. This included positions as V.P. of the Cunard Line and as Directory of Marketing at Mystic Seaport Museum. At the same time he continued his painting, with his work shown in galleries in the northeast.
In 1990, he left the business world to continue his paintings interests full time. He settled in Florida and soon became established as a well-known painter of mangroves and other tropical landscape themes.
He also developed an interest in Florida oranges and began his "Real Florida Oranges" series of still lifes, in which he explores the complexity of their shapes, colors and unique markings.
In Florida he has received numerous awards, including a prestigious first place in the Winners Circle competition at Edison Community College in Fort Myers. His oils are in hundreds of collections in the U.S. and abroad as far as Moscow and Tokyo.
Many of his paintings have been reproduced and are available in signed limited editions. They can be found in galleries which feature his work, at selected retail outlets, and on the internet.
Email: wcnartist@aol.com
www.northgallery.com
www.artshow.com/north/
239-437-9757