{"id":315332,"date":"2026-06-22T07:06:21","date_gmt":"2026-06-22T07:06:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/315332\/"},"modified":"2026-06-22T07:06:21","modified_gmt":"2026-06-22T07:06:21","slug":"creating-a-new-canvas-florida-weekly-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/315332\/","title":{"rendered":"Creating a new canvas – Florida Weekly"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Stepping into COCO Art Gallery, guests and customers can expect to see a beautiful layout of assorted artworks and displays. -DAVID WISHTISCHIN \/ FLORIDA WEEKLY<\/p>\n

COCO Art Gallery has taken its talents to a new location, transitioning from the Coconut Point Mall to Miromar Outlets. The relocation was commemorated with a reopening celebration on May 9.\n<\/p>\n

The not-for-profit art gallery, which started in 2008 as a venue showcasing local works, is an artist cooperative in conjunction with the Art Council of Southwest Florida. This allows creatives from the area to display and sell their works at the gallery.\n<\/p>\n

The Estero location is the first of two, with its sister location in Naples.\n<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are a cooperative where our artists really are the driving force behind the gallery,\u201d said Resa Abbey, the current president of COCO Art Gallery. \u201cThey work in the gallery, they share stories about their original artworks to the public, our special exhibits are also regionally local artists, so that\u2019s what makes us very special.\u201d\n<\/p>\n

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A sign at the entrance of the COCO Art Gallery at Mirormar Outlets. -DAVID WISHTISCHIN \/ FLORIDA WEEKLY<\/p>\n

As a nonprofit, the art gallery also works to support the local community by providing grants to artists to further their education and help them hone their craft. They aim to host artist spotlights and public events at both locations, with plein air paintings currently scheduled at the Miromar gallery.\n<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re actually taking our art outside of the gallery for these special partnerships and within Miromar and outside of those landscapes, even the fountains and the turtle ponds around Miromar outlets,\u201d said Abbey.\n<\/p>\n

The gallery also contributes to other partnerships in tandem with the art council to help with initiatives in the Fort Myers and Naples areas, such as \u00a1ARTE VIVA!, a celebration of Hispanic artists and their heritage.\n<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is way before my time now, but then they gained their nonprofit status and wrote a prospectus that involved member organizations and a mission statement that involved art education, outreach and sharing the love of art, really, to the nation,\u201d said Abbey. \u201cWe loved being in that mall setting, and when it came time to look at renewals and partnerships, this is why we chose Miromar Outlets.\u201d\n<\/p>\n

The gallery hosts around 20 member organizations and other guilds during special exhibits. They also support about 6,000 artists in the area, which includes counties such as Collier, Lee and Charlotte.\n<\/p>\n

They also have partnerships with the Lee County Visitor and Convention Bureau, as well as the Chamber of Commerce, where they occasionally host events and shows that bring people to see emerging artists and their work.\n<\/p>\n

\u201c(There are) very fine art pieces that are larger works and different mediums and different styles of painting, from watercolor to oil painting to mixed media art to photography,\u201d said Abbey. \u201cWe attract a lot of unique, one-of-a-kind artists who have been developing their craft for several years, so very blessed to have (them).\u201d\n<\/p>\n

Crafting creatures, cultivating creativity<\/p>\n

Tracy Pospeck, a local mixed media artist and potter, has been displaying her art at COCO Galleries for the past four years and has had a career in art for the past 20 years. Her goal is to create art that makes viewers smile.\n<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m inspired by pretty much everything. You look around you and see ideas everywhere, but I love animals and friendly creatures,\u201d said Pospeck. \u201cI do a lot of friendly monsters with my ceramics (like) mugs, bowls, vases but I also do sculptures, and some of them are creatures, some of them are a little more realistic.\u201d\n<\/p>\n

Through her mixed media, she\u2019s worked with different dimensional art, including glass and textiles. In addition to showcasing her artwork, she and other artists also spend time in the gallery throughout the week to offer assistance and provide insight to visitors who stop by.\n<\/p>\n

\u201cEach artist has to staff a certain number of days (in) the month, and of course, during the summer, we don\u2019t have quite as many artists, you end up working a few more extra days to keep the gallery going,\u201d said Pospeck. \u201cI work in both galleries, and I love doing it.\u201d<\/p>\n

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\t\t\t\tTracy Pospeck\u2019s art style captivates mixed media pieces from paintings to sculptures. -TRACY POSPECK \/ COURTESY PHOTO<\/p>\n

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\t\t\t\tAn art piece created by Tracy Pospeck showcasing her love for nature. -TRACY POSPECK \/ COURTESY PHOTO
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While they\u2019re working, they find creative ways to pass the time.\n<\/p>\n

\u201cA lot of the artists do this, they\u2019ll bring their artwork in with them, and they\u2019ll work on their art while they\u2019re in the gallery,\u201d said Pospeck. The public can come in and actually see artists doing their thing and ask questions.\u201d\n<\/p>\n

Both COCO Gallery locations in Naples and Estero have been nominated for the Best of Florida award. The Naples location has received nominations three years in a row, winning the award in 2025.\n<\/p>\n

\u201cI am optimistic we will win this year (with) so many talented artists and seasoned art educators plus new pop artists in Naples,\u201d said Abbey. \u201cThey\u2019re really special galleries.\n<\/p>\n

Why move?<\/p>\n

Because the Estero location was looking to expand their space, they decided to move to Miromar Outlets to help facilitate their growth in the community.\n<\/p>\n

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The COCO Art Gallery is filled with bold, creative and vibrant artworks from various artists. -DAVID WISHTISCHIN \/ FLORIDA WEEKLY<\/p>\n

\u201cThe gallery at Miromar is a beautiful, linear, creative space that I would describe as a true gallery,\u201d said Abbey. \u201cThe placement, the restraint of the art, the negative space coming into the building (that) draws you to the larger pieces on the back wall.\u201d\n<\/p>\n

The gallery is always changing and will look different from month to month.\n<\/p>\n

\u201cWe have about 60 artists who show their work in our galleries, and every month new artwork comes in,\u201d said Abbey. \u201cA person who would come into our gallery today will be looking at different artwork next month.\u201d\n<\/p>\n

The new gallery is located at 10801 Corkscrew Rd #88, Estero, FL 33928. There is no charge to visit the gallery, and it is open daily from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.\n<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re just really excited to give back to the community, spread the love of art and be a part of the Miromar community,\u201d said Abbey.\n<\/p>\n

In The KNOW:\n<\/p>\n

WHO: COCO Art Gallery\u2019s Estero location
WHEN: Open all week, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
WHERE: 10801 Corkscrew Road #88, Estero
MORE INFO: cocoartgallery.com<\/a><\/p>\n

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\t\t\t\tCustomers can discover a vibrant collection of works at the COCO Art Gallery. -DAVID WISHTISCHIN \/ FLORIDA WEEKLY<\/p>\n

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\t\t\t\tGreat Horned Owl, mixed media sculpture by Gil Sanchez. -DAVID WISHTISCHIN \/ FLORIDA WEEKLY
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\t\t\t\tTracy Pospeck\u2019s mixed media artwork is a variety of pieces from small frogs to monster masterpieces. -TRACY POSPECK \/ COURTESY PHOTO<\/p>\n

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\t\t\t\tTracy Pospeck\u2019s monster sculptures can be found within the COCO Art Gallery\u2019s Estero location. -TRACY POSPECK \/ COURTESY PHOTO
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