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If art, like beauty, is in the eye of the beholder, Islanders will get an eyeful for five months, starting in mid-November.

The new works of art will be on display from Nov. 15 until April 15. There will be 14 new pieces, plus three that were in the first ArtQuest event last year. The big unveiling of the art will be that afternoon, the 15th, at various locations around town. Six of the pieces will be at the Esplanade. The others will be at sponsors’ locations elsewhere. At 3 p.m. that day, simultaneous unveilings will take place at the around-town locations. Then all the art lovers will gather at the Esplanade at 6 p.m. to see the six works unveiled there.

Sponsors expect there will be food, drink and music at most places and for sure at the Esplanade as the event morphs into a big art party. So if you’re an art lover and might be interested in acquiring one of the pieces, here’s what you need to know. First, the sponsors’ locations: Marco Island Civic Association has two -– one at Residents’ Beach, another at Sarazen Park on South Collier Blvd. That piece is It’s Only a Game by Bill Bond. It was in last year’s ArtQuest. Merchants of Town Center Mall — two pieces at the mall. Marco Island Sun Times — its now well-known big Red Ball sculpture, by Heinz Aeschlimann, will remain at its offices on San Marco Rd. Also participating, Coast to Coast Custom Homes at 216 N. Barfield Dr., Exit Charde Realty at 207 N. Collier Blvd., Publix at the Shops of Marco on S. Barfield. The Studio Gallery & Kira Krumm Interior Design, 1103 Bald Eagle and Orion Bank, Bald Eagle at Elkcam Circle.

Submitted photo

Red Ball sculpture by Heinz Aeschlimann.

The well-known Marco Man by Jack Howard-Potter, (or Flailing Man as some have fondly called it) will be moved to the City Hall complex for ArtQuest 2008. Esplanade — one work each at Bayview, Vergina and Guy Harvey’s restaurants, Black Pearl Yacht Sales, FHD Interiors and Rick’s Island Salon.

Maps of the ArtQuest entrants’ locations will be available there, plus at the Chamber of Commerce, at personal water vehicle rental stands on the beach and from many bartenders, concierges and even from the Tarpon Club “Bunnies.”

Submitted photo

Marco Man sculpture by Jack Howard-Potter.

Each person who tours the ArtQuest locations will get a ballot to vote for the People’s Choice Award for the most popular art piece. Orion Bank is sponsoring a cash award for the winning artist. As one insider in the ArtQuest project told me, “I have seen photos of the pieces of art and they are fabulous.” Of course that’s for you and all the other art-lovers and curiosity-seekers here to determine in the months ahead. All the pieces will be for sale during the five-month run of ArtQuest.

The expert in charge of offers, purchases, etc., is Juan Munera, owner of The Studio Gallery. He can be reached there, 1101 Bald Eagle Dr., phone 394-5452.

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Chris Curle is a former news anchor for CNN and for ABC TV stations in Atlanta, Houston and Washington, D.C. E-mail: chris@chriscurle.com.