FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Jeffrey Ahren
Phone: (239) 298-8130
Email: [email protected]
QUICK DRAW NAPLES – 51 ARTISTS PAINTING LIVE AND CHARITY ART AUCTION TO BENEFIT LEGAL AID AT CAMBIER PARK ON NOV. 27, 2021
Naples, FL – Quick Draw Naples 2021 is a plein air charity art event to be held on Saturday, November 27, 2021, at Cambier Park in Downtown Naples, Florida, involving over 50 artists painting live followed by a live auction of the art created at the event. Proceeds benefit Legal Aid Service of Collier County (‘Legal Aid’) and the projects it operates to assist children in need. A suggested donation of $5 will be collected at the event – which is completely open to the public.
Quick Draw Naples will be the first event of its kind in Collier County based upon the size, scope, and the festival-like atmosphere to be experienced which will feature three live bands performing and an array of talented artists painting live. These renowned artists include local rising stars and those who enjoy national and international followings. For a complete listing of artists and other details visit the event webpage at: https://www.collierlegalaid.org/art-aid-quick-draw.
Quick Draw Naples will begin at 9:00 a.m. with all the artists painting live until noon, with all of the artwork produced at the event to be set for auction beginning at 12:30 p.m. from the Bandshell stage and podium at Cambier Park. Live music will be performed at the event by Moonstone Riders, The Radar Kats (featuring Kat Eppel, Ray Nesbit, and Darrell Nutt), and Roots Almighty. Attendees will have a full opportunity to bid on all the art created – and the chance to take home some one-of-a-kind treasures with the added bonus of knowing the special provenance of the paintings while also supporting local children in need.
The artists are associated with Art Aid Naples, a group of over 80 philanthropic artists who have banded together since 2018 to raise funds to support Legal Aid and the children it serves. Art Aid Naples was founded by Laura Barnard, a retired educator who loves art, enjoys painting, and who was moved to help when she met Sister Maureen Kelleher, now retired, who was a former staff attorney with Legal Aid who served those in need in Southwest Florida for over 35 years with extraordinary commitment and passion.
The Art Aid Naples team and participating artists have held several online art auctions to raise support for Legal Aid, and conducted other events, including an initial Quick Draw in 2019 at the Naples Beach Club. Leslie Vega, who has a Ph.D. in Art History and who has worked in the art industry locally and abroad for many years, had the vision for the first Quick Draw event and joined forces with Laura Barnard and the Art Aid team. More than $70,000.00 in proceeds has been raised to date by Art Aid Naples. Ms. Vega’s father, the late George Vega, was a prominent local attorney who practiced in Naples, Florida for many years.
“As a wife, mother, and retired special education teacher, children have always had a special place in my heart,” states Laura Barnard. “I founded Art Aid Naples because I wanted to help at-risk children and their families in our community through Legal Aid while leveraging my passion for art. The generosity of the artists who have responded to my call to action has been humbling and inspiring, and the Quick Draw Naples event coming up on November 27th is our biggest and most exciting venture to date and I urge everyone in the community to come out and support the artists, Legal Aid, and local children in need.”
Legal Aid is also seeking volunteers, sponsors, and others who wish to support the cause. “We have wonderful opportunities available right now for anyone who wants to be a part of this event, including volunteers who want to serve, businesses who want to sponsor, and art lovers willing to spread the word and become engaged on our social media platforms,” states Jeff Ahren, Legal Aid’s Director of Development. “Legal Aid is thrilled to be a part of such a great event, and we are grateful to all the artists and the Art Aid Naples team for their generosity and caring hearts.” Legal Aid assists well over 500 children in need annually, primarily through the Legal Aid for Kids Project funded generously in part by the Naples Children & Education Foundation, founders of the Naples Winter Wine Festival.
Those who want more information can call Legal Aid at (239) 298-8138 or visit www.collierlegalaid.org. Legal Aid also posts event information regularly on its Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter social media accounts.
Legal Aid Service of Collier County is a 501(c)(3) organization whose mission is to provide high quality, free legal advice, representation, and education to the residents of Collier County, according to need, so as to encourage self-sufficiency and improve the quality of life for the entire community. Legal Aid annually assists approximately 2,500 Collier County residents in need with free civil legal services. The vulnerable populations we serve include domestic violence survivors, children who have been abused, neglected, or abandoned, seniors, Veterans, disabled individuals, children with special educational needs, human trafficking victims, at-risk immigrants, micro-enterprises, and those seeking to start a small business, families facing eviction or foreclosure, struggling working families facing debts and credit or collection matters, victims of crimes, and those seeking benefits to meet basic needs. To learn more visit www.collierlegalaid.org. Those in need of assistance call (239) 775-4555.