NAPLES, FL.- Naples is known not only for its beautiful beaches along the Gulf coast but for its nearly 90 golf courses and strong arts community. The von Liebig Art Center and guest curator J. William Meek, III are combining these two passions – golf and art – into a blockbuster exhibition that will “play” into the hearts of golf enthusiasts and art collectors alike. From January 20 to March 11, 2007, the art center will showcase Golf in American Art, an exhibition featuring approximately 65 paintings, sculpture and cartoons by American artists depicting scenes of golf courses such as Pebble Beach, personalities of the game such as Arnold Palmer and Greg Norman, and the equipment. Some pieces are on loan from private collectors, while other pieces will be available for sale. The von Liebig Art Center is located at 585 Park Street in Naples, Florida. The galleries are open admission-free from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 1 to 4 p.m. on Sunday.

Highlights of the exhibition include: two LeRoy Neiman works of Tiger Woods, Linda Hartough oils of Bethpage and Oakmont, Charles Schulz cartoons, an egg tempera by Robert Vickrey, and two Will Barnet oils each valued at $250,000. Local favorites include a bronze golfing gator by Kathy Spalding, four watercolors of famous golf courses by David Coolidge, three important golf paintings by noted golf artist Walt Spitzmiller, a painting of the Hole in the Wall old club house by Paul Arsenault, and Rick Olson’s portrait of the late Bonita Springs resident Patty Berg. In addition, the exhibit will include loaned works from the USGA Museum in New Jersey, the World Golf Hall of Fame in St. Augustine, and the Butler Institute of American Art in Ohio.

In conjunction with this exhibition, the art center will host a complementary members’ exhibition entitled Fairways, Flags and Traps. Many of these works will also be for sale.

The art center will celebrate the exhibition opening from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. on January 19 with a catered Preview Reception that is free to Naples Art Association members and $10 for non-members. A 75- page catalogue underwritten by the new TPC course developers at Treviso Bay is available, as well as a poster of “American Golfic.” Collectors and those interested in purchasing golf-themed artwork are encouraged to attend the reception for the first chance to make a selection. For more information, call 239-262-6517 x102 or visit naplesart.org.

Exhibition sponsors are Treviso Bay, Harris Private Bank, Kimberly Speer Miller, and Sagemark Consulting.