Art of the Olympicans Announcements
Calendar of Events
Upcoming Events:
January 6 - Art Walk: Special Performance by Dance Alliance.
Now Showing:
Legends of 68', featuring artwork from four dynamic USA Olympians from the 1968 Olympic Games.
Click here for other events and details
Olympian visits Southwest Florida for Steering Strokes Opening
John Stillings, an Olympic silver medalist in the sport of rowing, has spent more than 20 years as a rower and coxswain where he helped steer and strategize winning strokes for his teams. On Friday, June 3, Stillings will showcase his talents for capturing details and Steering Strokes—this time on canvas.
Art of the Olympians (AOTO) will welcome Stillings to southwest Florida for the opening of Steering Strokes, a collection of more than 20 of his acrylic paintings capturing the beauty of landscapes in the Pacific Northwest.
Stillings was born in the foothills of the Cascade Mountains in Sedro Wooley, Washington and currently resides in Seattle. He has spent a lifetime seeing and feeling the beauty of the Pacific Northwest and has been able to capture these images on canvas.
"For me, a success comes from a drive within. Whether in sport or art, I try to focus on the passion, the feeling in each stroke and not the overall subject," said Stillings. Recently, Stillings has taken to the camera to capture what he considers to be movements of beauty.
Stillings has achieved many accomplishments in his sport career, beginning in 1997 when his team placed first at the Henley Royal Regatta Grand Challenge Cup Championships as a student teammate with the University of Washington shutting out the British National Team. In 1983, his Eight Oared Crew won the Gold medal at the Pan American Games and in 1984, his team went on to win the silver medal in the Men's Four with Coxswain. As time went on passion for the sport continued and in 2003, won his team the gold medal at the Pan American Games in the Men's Eight Oared Crew.
Families, friends and community members are invited to attend a special reception, on Friday, June 3 from 5-8 p.m. to celebrate the opening of Steering Strokes in the Cultural Art Gallery at the Art of the Olympians Al Oerter Center for Excellence at 1300 Hendry St., Fort Myers, FL.
Admission to the reception is free of charge. Steering Strokes will be on display until July 30.
Community members will have an opportunity to meet John Stillings and hear from the Olympic coxswain during a special lunch presentation on Friday, June 3 from noon - 1p.m. Reservations are required. For more details phone 239-332-5055.
Gallery hours are Tuesday – Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Gallery is closed on Sundays, Mondays and holidays.
For general Museum information, visit our web site at www.artoftheolympians.com. Follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/artofolympians, fan us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/artoftheolympians or call 239-332-5055.
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Art of the Olympians is a 501(c ) 3 non-profit organization, dedicated to inspiring creativity and stimulating change through an international program of art, education and outreach initiatives. By introducing, an individual, particularly youth, to the ancient Olympic ideals of excellence in mind, body and spirit we aim to enhance the relationship between athletics and aesthetics. The discipline, dedication and passion born and cultivated in an athlete’s physical training stimulates a desire for creativity.
Contact: Carla Ulakovic, Communications Director, Art of the Olympians - 239-826-8160