Three art exhibitions about women and by women open Friday at the Sidney & Berne Davis Art Center

By John Davis

Published February 3, 2022 at 1:02 PM EST

1 of 5 — Oranges.jpg

"Wounds the Size of Oranges" by artist Patricia Anderson Turner. "Emergency room doctors describe their horror and helplessness when addressing the immense damage done to our children by the bullets from an AR-15 semi-automatic weapon, damage that is impossible to treat successfully. First responders are unable to stem the rivers of blood, physicians are unable to repair the massive tissue and organ disintegration. The shooter does not even have to make the effort to aim, once his target is hit it is a virtual death sentence. As one ER doctor said “They had no fighting chance at life.” Diptych 36” x 42” x 15” mounted on toy guns. Silk soaked in tea, figures rusted with automotive brake pads, assault rifles artist dyed and commercial fabrics, heavily beaded, border crocheted yarns

2 of 5 — 20220202_142042.jpg

"Treasonous Clowns I" by artist Patricia Anderson Turner. "‘Treasonous Clowns’ from left are QAnon Shaman, early 20th century Knight of KKK, Proud Boy in Charlottesville and civil war confederate general Nathan Bedford Forrest who executed 300 Black Union troops in April of 1864 after they had surrendered. He later became the first Grand Wizard of the KKK. This work mimics the flag raising at Iwo Jima; the clowns are standing in a 3D silk organza Declaration of Independence that is burnt on all edges.” Hand dyed archival paper stitched onto crinoline and mounted on canvas. All faces, hands, shoes, clown outfits are separately hand cut. Embellished with raccoon hat, silk KKK hood, Proud Boy collar, and Confederate neckpiece. Hangs from wall mounted rod.

$"Florida's Flooded Future" by artist Patricia Anderson Turner. “By mid century, Florida barrier islands will be awash and abandoned; low lying coastal and Everglades areas will flood on a regular basis. We will lose our freshwater resources, our infrastructure will begin to fail, and catastrophic storm surges will increase. The fractured Greenland ice sheet melt will accelerate exponentially. By the end of the century, large swaths of Florida will be uninhabitable. Are we ready?” 30” x 24” on gallery wrapped canvas artist dye painted archival paper stitched onto dye painted silk. Jigsaw puzzle of Florida mounted on background and stitched, organza overlaid on areas that will be affected by climate change.$

3 of 5 — Florida.jpg

"Florida's Flooded Future" by artist Patricia Anderson Turner. “By mid century, Florida barrier islands will be awash and abandoned; low lying coastal and Everglades areas will flood on a regular basis. We will lose our freshwater resources, our infrastructure will begin to fail, and catastrophic storm surges will increase. The fractured Greenland ice sheet melt will accelerate exponentially. By the end of the century, large swaths of Florida will be uninhabitable. Are we ready?” 30” x 24” on gallery wrapped canvas artist dye painted archival paper stitched onto dye painted silk. Jigsaw puzzle of Florida mounted on background and stitched, organza overlaid on areas that will be affected by climate change.

4 of 5 — TrumpBidenCovid.jpg

"Legacy" by artist Patricia Anderson Turner. “Former President Trump faces off with President Biden over the Covid crisis. The virus replica casting a shadow over Trump's face. The shadow reflects the dark tragedy of over a half million deaths, many of them unnecessary had our federal policies addressed issues of PPE, testing, therapeutics, and vaccine distribution."

5 of 5 — 20220202_141727.jpg

A close up of "Legacy" by Patricia Anderson Turner. Covid ball hangs 12” in front of piece from acrylic rod attached to canvas. Artist dyed archival paper stitched onto dyed silk. Faces are textile and painted; Biden’s hair is crocheted and Trump’s is stitched using dyed batting

This Friday, Feb. 4 marks the opening reception for three dynamic, provocative and inspiring exhibitions of paintings, quilts and mixed media pieces about women and by women artists at the Sidney and Berne Davis Art Center in Downtown Fort Myers.

In the Sidney and Berne’s Capital Gallery on the second floor, patrons can experience “The Female Spirit, All Fired Up and Stitched Down,” featuring the ceramic sculpture and fiber art works of Linda Hoffmeister and Katty Smith, both from New Smyrna Beach, FL. These works engage in the commonalities of women around the world regardless of background or heritage.

There’s also an educational group exhibition now travelling nationally titled, “HerStory, OurStory.” This installation includes 36 quilts that highlight the lives, achievements and impacts remarkable women suffragists including Sojourner Truth, Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Fannie Lou Hammer, among others.

In the Sidney and Berne Davis Art Center’s Main Atrium Gallery will be an exhibition titled “Women Take Issue.” Pieces in this exhibition feature the work of Patricia Turner, Fran Gardner and Beau Wild. They take a direct and unapologetic approach to exploring the difficult issues, cultural conversations, political debates and historical contexts that dominate today’s headlines, often through the lens of women and perceptions of women.

The exhibitions are the conceptual brainchild of visual artist Patricia Turner of Charlotte Harbor, FL. Her multifaceted artwork can involve sown fabrics, powdered dyes on silk or archival paper, photographs, constructed 3-D fiber creations and other acquired items. Turner joins us to discuss her work and all three of the new exhibitions that run through Feb. 23.