The theme this year for the ninth annual “Art in the Gardens” outdoor sculptures using recycled materials was “Birds.” Schools from throughout Lee County participated and entered their birds, which were situated throughout the Edison Heritage Garden area near the museum. “Birds” is a fitting theme, as the Edisons and Fords were avid bird watchers and advocates.
Teachers were awarded funds to assemble the weather-proof, recycled materials for the sculptures, and the art was up to the students. There were supposed to be 20 schools represented, but on the day I went, April 28, there were 17 sculptures. The exhibit started on March 19 and continued through April 23. It’s a good idea to visit this site earlier rather than later because sometimes the weather plays havoc with these outdoor sculptures.
The Edison & Ford Winter Estates, the Lee County Art Educators and Lee County Schools collaborated to bring the project to fruition. Sponsors included Winn Dixie, Forestry Resources and GoMulch. The exhibit was free to the public--it wasn’t necessary to pay the usual fee to visit the Estates.
Entrance into the Art in the Gardens exhibit from Larchmont Street
Edison Family Pet Peacock
The Edison family owned a pet peacock. If it was spoken to softly, it would spread its tail feathers for visitors.
Signage for Art in the Gardens
Mina Edison and bird sculpture in the Heritage Garden
Bird sculpture by Bill Frye, Edison Ford Winter Estates employee
Student art exhibits at the very entrance to the garden
Bird-themed sculptures line the walkway
Saint Francis Xavier Catholic School, Teacher: Vanessa Lombardo
Ida S. Baker High School, Teachers: Elodie Cotton & Lorna Bluestein
Close-up of Bird house
Fort Myers High School, Teacher: Todd Abbey
Bird sculptures down the right side of the walkway
Fort Myers High School, Teacher: Todd Abbey
Bird sculptures down the right side of the walkway
Diplomat Middle School, Teacher: Oliver Dominguez
“Big Bird” made of plastic spoons and knives
Dunbar High School, Teacher: Linda Jones
Peacock on a ribbon
Mariner High School, Teacher: Jennifer Reilly
Close-up of Mariner Redbird
Lehigh Senior High School, Teacher: Cristina Penuel
Lehigh birds and bird houses
Edison Park Elementary School, Teacher: Karen Flanders
Edison Ford Winter Estates Home School and Manatee Elementary School
Edison Ford Winter Estates Home School, Teacher: Deborah Bowers
One of the bird faces hiding under the bougainvillea
Manatee Elementary School, Teacher: Andrea Luizzi
A bird family and its nest
Tortuga Preserve Elementary School, Teacher: Christina Sterrett
Tortuga Preserve “Tree”
Tortuga Preserve American Eagle
Bonita Springs Middle School, Teacher: Joy Cooper
Bonita Springs birds in buckets
Bonita Springs birds in buckets
Bonita Springs bird close-up
South Fort Myers, Teacher: Maria Cabrera
Varsity Lakes Middle School, Teacher: Marjorie Resler
Trafalgar Elementary School, Teacher: Helen Garcia-Valdez
Stacks of ceramics
The Alva School, Teacher: Nicole Bizjak
The Alva School bird plaque
North Fort Myers Academy for the Arts Middle School, Teacher: Brenda Lown
North Fort Myers Academy
North Fort Myers Academy
North Fort Myers Academy
North Fort Myers Academy
Bird sculptures in the Heritage Garden
