The Gallery Game

"Buying art can be scary. Go with what's in your heart, what you resonate with," counsels Mara Muller of Trudy Labell Fine Art in Naples.

"Buy art that you love, no matter its future market value. Buy what makes you feel good when you walk by," says Sue Ann Carpenter of Oak Creek Gallery in Bonita Springs.

"How many cars and boats, how much clothing and jewelry do you need?" queries Paul DeBruyne of DeBruyne Fine Art Gallery in Naples and Bonita Springs. "Buying art brings quality to your life. You can come home, look at beautiful things and watch your blood pressure go down."

Gallery owners in Southwest Florida make a convincing case for surrounding yourself with works of art, ranging from the memorable to the masters. They're making such a good case, that Naples in particular has become an art Mecca for seekers of fine things. With 30 galleries, mostly concentrated downtown, Naples has yet to catch up to Carmel, Calf., with an estimated 100, or Santa Fe, N.M., with as many as 300 galleries. But resorts are hot. Money is migrating to Southwest Florida. And gallery owners, like everyone else, like to live in paradise.

Business is good, especially in the last three years. Many of the newer galleries are turning a modest profit their first season. Naples' downtown renaissance has helped immensely, according to gallery business managers. Now, an eclectic collection of artist-owned storefronts have opened in downtown Fort Myers, anticipating success with the rebirth of retailing there.

Gallery shopping is a distinct pleasure for connoisseurs who like to discover personal treasures. Others rely on art-inclined interior designers. Lest you think that things of beauty are only for the wealthy, think again. Street festivals provide broad access to good, affordable art.

Prices for appealing pieces can start at $50 to $200. Much gallery art is available for $200 to $1000. For those with richer blood, the sky is the limit, with original art by nationally and internationally known artists available for several thousands up to the hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Becoming an Art Lover

"Southwest Florida galleries make collectors of people who never bought art before coming here," avers William Meek of Harmon-Meek Gallery in Naples. "It's not unusual for potential art patrons to do a test run. They come in, buy a $500 to $1000 painting, and then enjoy it so much that they return the next year and invest $50,000."

Sophisticated buyers at any level are known in the business as the "See it, like it, buy it crowd."

Gallery owners suggest you look around until you zero in on your taste. Allow a year to attend every local gallery opening, artist show and art exhibit. Look, don't buy. You'll have fun seeing as many as 200 shows representing 1000s of artists. You'll have an opportunity to meet hundreds of artists and 40 or more art dealers. You'll discover what art excites you and from whom who you wish to buy.

"After a year of being exposed to the art here, you will know more about art than 85 percent of the country," says Meek. "You'll be able to hold your own talking art with anyone."

Generally, about 20 percent of local gallery offerings are by locally known artists. The rest are national and international names. You'll pay more for names already in demand, but up-and-coming regional artists produce work that is equally enjoyable. Size, numbers in a limited edition and the type and quality of materials all contribute to cost. Ultimately, selection is a matter of personal preference.

Art aficionados in Southwest Florida can select from a growing number of artwork technologies. Traditional oils, acrylics, watercolors and lithographs have been joined by complex computer-aided serigraphs, giclées and embellished canvas images. Then there is bronze, stone and marble sculpture, handcrafted ceramics, art glass, needlework and textiles. The list goes on.

Major galleries tend to concentrate on paintings and sculpture. Smaller artist-owned galleries show collections of paintings and mix in hand crafts in any number of materials.

Sue Lojinger of Up the Creek Too of Fort Myers notes that some styles are tending to intermingle. For example, she says, "Anymore, it's hard to draw the line between some authentic folk art and fun contemporary art that's become a popular throwback."

Another recent trend has storefronts combining two or more businesses. Lee County, for example, hosts: the Cafe Fish Market and Art Gallery, specializing in seafood dinners and painted furniture; the Second ACT Boutique and Fine Art Gallery, featuring donated clothing and accessories next door to works by local artists (with a portion of the proceeds going to the ACT Shelter for Abused Women); and the Wylde Style Hair Salon and Trading Company presenting imported crafts produced on behalf of not-for-profit organizations around the world.

"Our location is designed to capture restaurant diners and before theatre crowds," says Michael Wylde of Wylde Style in downtown Fort Myers. "In season, we stay open six nights a we----ek. We're open even later during special events."

Gallery walks and Sunday artist openings have become a season tradition along Gallery Row on Broad Avenue in Naples. Such collaborative events have gone far in promoting business. Basically a tony rendition of a street fair, visitors enjoy live music, hors d'oeuvres and informative conversation with art lovers free of charge. Gallery walks, like street fairs, remove the "intimidation factor" and welcome those new to the art scene.

Why Southwest Florida?

Today's economy is stupendous for local galleries. But times were not always so kind. Look closely and you'll realize that with notable exceptions, major galleries have been here less than 10 years. Many arrived in the last five. And most of Fort Myers' downtown artist enterprises opened within the last year.

"Until 1964, with rebuilding of the coast following Hurricane Donna, expensive homes here were filled with $200 watercolors. You could get away with $1,000 worth of art in your home and fit in, even in the Port Royal area," says William Meek, owner of Naples' oldest gallery, established in 1964.

Evidently, people felt less need to impress their Florida neighbors. Antiques, sculpture and paintings were kept up north, where seasonal residents lived nine months of the year. Surprisingly, some of today's fabulous homes still are absent of art. But more upscale homeowners feel secure enough with new building codes to upgrade from framed posters to installations of investment grade art in their second or third home here.

In 1991, a severe economic downturn sent the art market crashing worldwide. Many galleries went under. Others closed northern shops and relocated to resort towns like Naples, where well-heeled residents and tourists could provide a fresh start. Some who migrated south may still o