provided to The Santiva Chronicle
Sanibel-based artist Myra Roberts has displayed her work throughout the United States and Europe. Much of Roberts’ educational work centers on social commentary portraits. ‘Spokeswoman’ is her most recent series of poster-style paintings. Featured subjects include: diarist, Anne Frank; artist, Frida Kahlo; attorney and academic, Anita Hill; actress and social activist, Audrey Hepburn; and a unique portrait of the fourth United States Secretary of Labor, Frances Perkins, made entirely of sequins.
“This project focuses on remarkable women from the U.S. and throughout the world – living and deceased – who represent women’s empowerment,” says Roberts. The 24-painting exhibit titled ‘Spokeswoman’ opens Thursday, Jan. 6 from 5 to 6:30 p.m. at the Sanibel Public Library, 770 Dunlop Rd., and will remain on display until Saturday, Jan. 29.
In addition, Roberts will showcase brand new ‘Women of Sanibel’ inspired paintings along with ‘Monee Houser’ the manatee mailbox. Roberts painted ‘Monee Houser’ to benefit Community Housing & Resources (CHR) and pay tribute to the five women who paved the way for community housing.
Roberts donates funds and works for auction to organizations such as: the Holocaust Museum & Education Center of Southwest Florida; the Ecostudies Institute of Mount Vernon, Washington; the Clinic for the Rehabilitation of Wildlife (CROW); Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation, and Sanibel-Captiva Cares/Golisano Children’s Hospital of Fort Myers.
Roberts devotes extensive amounts of time to lecturing at schools, clubs, and other venues locally and around the nation. She was recognized with a WGCU 2016 MAKERS award which is given to women who make a lasting impact in Southwest Florida. Her paintings are in public and private collections across the United States and Europe.
Roberts has received letters of endorsement from the likes of Hillary Rodham Clinton and the Jane Goodall Institute for her ‘Faces of Anne Frank’ project.
Roberts will be available at the exhibition opening from 5 to 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 6 to provide commentary about the works. She will be signing copies of the ‘Spokeswoman’ book written by Stephanie Anderson which presents portraits and short biographies of 24 women of distinction. Roberts will host a tour of the paintings and a book signing at 10 a.m. Monday, Jan. 10 at the Sanibel Public Library, 770 Dunlop Rd.
To learn more about Myra Roberts’ upcoming projects, exhibits, and available works for purchase, visit myraroberts.com.
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