Emillions Art Launches Initiative To Help Restore The Community And Celebrate Strength And Resilience Of Naples
December 6, 2022
NAPLES, FL. – Emillions Art today announced a communitywide initiative “Mosaic of Memories: The Naples Pier Project,” an art-driven fundraiser to help restore the community and celebrate the strength and resilience of Naples in the aftermath of Hurricane Ian. The project will benefit first responders locally and rebuilding of the pier.
The Naples-based art gallery and consultancy is partnering with photo-mosaic artist Robin Austin to create an iconographic masterpiece of the Naples Pier in a limited edition as a fundraising medium. This unique masterpiece will be created using thousands of photographs submitted by the community to form the mosaic “tiles” for this artwork.
“We will select one picture of the Naples Pier in its glory before the hurricane struck and recreate it using more than 2,000 photos submitted by residents that represent their best and happiest memories in and around Naples,” said Neil Pennington, Partner in Emillions Art. “We hope that this is something the local community can really rally around.”
It is anticipated that just 102 Limited Edition prints (40 x 60) will be produced, with 80 of them being sold and 20 percent of the proceeds going to the Collier County 100 Club to support families of first responders through these difficult times following the hurricane as well as the City of Naples for community restoration efforts, including the Naples Pier.
Another 20 of the prints will be auctioned off at a public event with a floor price of $5,000 each and 100 percent of those proceeds going toward the cause. One commemorative work will be donated and presented to each the City of Naples for display at City Hall and the Naples Fire Department for display at their downtown site.
“Our first responders served heroically through the hurricane and so many of them lost everything themselves. They were the inspiration for this project,” said Marlissa Gardiner, Founder and Owner of Emillions Art. “Our other cause is the Naples Pier as no other place is as iconic of Naples as the Naples Pier. It is the heart of our community.”
Initially constructed in 1889 to service a newly built hotel, the original Naples Pier spanned 600 feet and was used primarily for loading and unloading passengers and freight as there were no roads at the time. The pier remained in use until a hurricane in 1910. The pier was rebuilt (100 feet longer) and stood firm until a cigarette fire in 1922.
The pier was once again severely damaged by another hurricane in 1926, and repairs held firm, even though the 1935 Labor Day hurricane, until the hurricane of 1944. The repeated damage brought on stricter building standards with which the pier to be rebuilt.
In 1960, Hurricane Donna decimated the pier and the hotel. The hotel never reopened, but the pier came back – as the icon of Naples that it had always been. Through donations and tax support, the Naples Pier has and will forever remain the iconic heart of Naples.
The painstaking process of creating the artwork falls with Austin. A respected English artist, Austin is known for his photographic mosaic artwork and digital art which reflect his love and devotion to storytelling. Among those he has immortalized are cultural icons such as Mick Jagger, the Beatles, Marilyn Monroe, Elvis Presley and Nelson Mandela.
All versions of the prints will be accompanied with a booklet consisting of a one-page history of the Naples Pier, a profile of the artist and the names of everyone who has a photo included within the mosaic artwork. In addition to purchasing the artworks, individuals will have the opportunity to provide a monetary contribution as a donation.
Those interested in purchasing a limited-edition print or making a contribution may visit www.emillionspierproject.org. This same site may also be used to submit favorite photos of the Naples Pier for possible inclusion in the commemorative piece free of charge.
Located at 837 Fifth Ave. S., Suite 202, Emillions Art is a respected source for modern and old master pieces. The gallery also is well known as a purveyor of contemporary works for collectors beginning to access the art market or established collectors looking to diversify their collections. For additional information, visit www.emillionsart.com.
