8771 College Parkway, Building 2, Suite 201Fort Myers, FL 33919

239-274-5900

Fax 239-274-5930

FORT MYERS, Fla. – TheSouthwest Florida Community Foundation recently launched a new art display at its Community Hub in February.

Beginning February 2,  “Art Doctors” will feature the art of five local physicians including Dr. Charlie Brown, Dr. Rich Lane, Dr. Ellen Sayet, Dr. Martin Sherman and Dr. Peter Sidell.

Local anesthesiologist Charlie Brown became interested in the folk art of gyotaku due to his love of fishing. In gyotaku, each fish is inked directly and an image is transferred onto paper. In Japan, before photography, fisherman used this method to take a “picture” of their large fish, proving the size of their catch. His images come from fish caught by him, as well as those caught by his friends and family.

Retired ear, nose and throat surgeon Rich Lane enjoys working with paint, metal and wood in his off hours. He was drawn to art at a young age being from a family of avocational artistes and an uncle who was a professional oil painter. Although never taking a formal art class, he quickly picked up impressionistic oil painting using color and effects of the old masters. He also creates metal wind sculptures and experiments with steampunk art.

Retired Oncologist Ellen Sayet has always loved sketching and painting but her art took a secondary position between her two successful careers as a medical oncologist and working with a jewelry manufacturing company in Israel. Self taught with an occasional drawing class, she enjoys painting realism with “an edge”. Her figurative paintings are classic drawings with an inventive and creative side.  Sayet produces works of realism and figurative portraitures in oil and pastel that capturing the mood, personality and inner soul of the subjects.

Pediatrician Martin Sherman started painting after his senior year of high school. He prefers acrylics but has dabbled in oils, watercolors, pen and ink, printmaking and wood sculpture. While studying premed, he also majored in a combined studio and art history concentration. He also took classes at Cornell and Skidmore in studio art. It wasn’t until a few years ago that he started working again at the coaxing of his wife who is his biggest fan and color referee due to his colorblindness.

Retired cardiothoracic surgeon Peter Sidell has always had a love of photography and cameras. His photographic focus is on his travels to various parts of the world and he also enjoys photographing birds and the natural environment in Florida. His hope is to tell the story of what he has seen and experienced through the photos he takes.

The exhibit is open to the public and will run the month of February during regular Community Foundation business hours: Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Some paintings are located in meeting rooms so those interested in seeing the exhibit are asked to call before arriving to make sure all areas are accessible. The Community Hub is located at 8771 College Parkway, Building 2, Suite 201 in Fort Myers.

The Southwest Florida Community Foundation, founded in 1976, cultivates regional change for the common good through collective leadership, social innovation and philanthropy to address the evolving community needs in Lee, Collier, Charlotte, Hendry and Glades counties. The Foundation partners with individuals, families and corporations who have created more than 400 philanthropic funds. Thanks to them, the Foundation invested $5.4 million in grants and programs to the community. With assets of $115 million, it has provided more than $71 million in grants and scholarships to the communities it serves since inception. The Foundation is the backbone organization for the regional FutureMakers Coalition and Lee County’s Sustainability Plan. Currently, the Southwest Florida Community Foundation’s regional headquarters are located off College Parkway in South Fort Myers, with satellite offices located on Sanibel Island, in LaBelle (Hendry County) and downtown Fort Myers. For more information, call 239-274-5900 or visit www.floridacommunity.com.