The amazing art and breathtaking beauty of Hispanic culture come to life during ¡ARTE VIVA!, the Paradise Coast’s celebration of the unique contributions Hispanic artists have made to the world. Preview the lineup here.
The year-long celebration kicks off in September and quickly shifts into high gear in October. Along the way, the festival invites visitors to discover the joys and excitement of great art, great artists, and amazing music. The festival’s extended calendar gives art lovers multiple opportunities to delight in the diversity of Hispanic culture found on the Paradise Coast!
Some of the highlights include:
LA CALAVERA CATRINA
Mexican-born artist Ricardo Soltero — famous for helping create the world’s largest Día de los Muertos celebration in Los Angeles — brings his unique vision of Mexico’s iconic “Day of the Dead” celebration to the Naples Botanical Garden, transforming it into a showcase featuring the eight larger-than-life sculptures of La Catrina, the elegant painted female skeleton central to the holiday. Día de los Muertos was famously portrayed in Disney’s 2017 animated film “Coco.” La Catrina reminds her viewers to see death as a celebration rather than a cause for sadness. The exhibit will also include a large ofrenda, the altar where offerings are made to the spirits of deceased family members. November 1 – March 5, 2023
Ricardo Soltero, La vendedora de frutas (The Fruit Seller), fiberglass and paint, 2017. Artwork by Ricardo Soltero. Photograph © Scott Dressel-Martin, courtesy Denver Botanic Gardens.
26 MILES
The Gulfshore Playhouse presents a play by Puerto Rican playwright Quiara Alegria Hudes, author of the Tony-nominated musical In the Heights, about the bonds that develop between Beatriz and her estranged teen-aged daughter Olivia after a late-night call sparks an impromptu road trip for the two for them. October 13 – 30
CLYDE BUTCHER’S CUBA: THE NATURAL BEAUTY
The Marco Island Historical Museum is the scene when Florida’s most famous landscape photographer turns his camera’s gaze on the immense beauty of Cuba. Butcher’s large-format camera and famous black-and-white images provide a vision of the island few have ever seen before. January 24 – April 23, 2023
FESTIVAL UNDER THE STARS: CARMEN
Opera Naples brings Georges Bizet’s unforgettable story and Spanish-themed score to life in Cambier Park. The opera is a wrenching depiction of a woman who craves love but creates obsession and features some of the most famous music of the modern era, including “Habanera” and “Toreador Song.” March 28 – 30, 2023
MUSICAL INTERLUDES WITH A LATIN TWIST
Marco Island Center for the Arts hosts a series of 90-minute performances by masters of Latin jazz, including the Venezuela-born legend Dr. Eduardo Calle of Miami as well as experts in Afro-Cuban jazz and jazz from Brazil and Argentina. Monthly starting in October
FLAMENCO VIVO CARLOTA SANTANA PRESENTS TABLAO FLAMENCO
America’s foremost Flamenco and Spanish dance company brings its talented troupe to Artis—Naples for performances celebrating the centuries-long tradition of southern Spain’s most iconic dance. April 5 – 6, 2023
FRIDA AND HER GARDEN
“Painting completed my life,” legendary Mexican artist Frida Kahlo (1907-1954) once said. This exhibit transports visitors to La Casa Azul (“The Blue House”), Kahlo’s iconic home and refuge. Recreated on the grounds of the Naples Botanical Garden, the show lets visitors immerse themselves in the life and work of Kahlo, who became a painter while recovering from being severely injured in a bus accident. The garden will also feature monumental sculptures representing some of the animals that sparked Kahlo’s creative work. January 14 – September 10, 2023
Frida Kahlo’s amazing life and fascinating art are the inspiration of several other events during ¡ARTE VIVA!, including:
MIRADAS DE MUJERES
Kahlo’s iconic garments are reinterpreted in bold and bright paper creations in this exhibition by Belgian contemporary artist Isabelle de Borchgrave hosted by the Naples Art Association. De Borchgrave is famous for creating stunning paper replicas of garments seen in historic European paintings and fashion collections. March 1 – 31, 2023
FRIDA FEST: CELEBRATING THE ARTIST FRIDA KAHLO
Stroll among the studios and galleries of the 100 artist-strong Naples Arts District to find a large colorful mural and life-sized “Fridas” decorating the district. January 21 – February 5, 2023
THE BARBER OF SEVILLE
Silverspot Cinema transforms into an Antoni Gaudí landscape as the Gulfshore Opera presents this class comedy with a playful energy that springs from Rossini’s exuberant music in a whimsical new production. Feb. 26 – 27, 2023
¡ARTE VIVA! brings together many more incredible experiences for those who love Hispanic art and those who are just beginning to explore it. See the full calendar for more events, dates, and times.