Currents

Back (L to R): Shah Hadjebi, Wilson McCray, Macy Noll / Front (L to R): MariaPia Malerba, Marti Koehler / Not Pictured: Dahye Kim Following the success of BIRDS, No Words in 2025, BIG ARTS once again invites visitors to experience art as it unfolds. CURRENTS transforms the Dunham Family Gallery into a collaborative underwater mural created by six artists over the course of almost 3 months. Working together on a continuous 6-foot-tall by 125-foot-long expanse of paper throughout the gallery, each artist contributes their own perspective while building upon one another’s work, allowing the mural to gradually evolve into an immersive underwater environment. Throughout the process, BIG ARTS will share artist schedules and photos on our social media so visitors can plan to stop in while artists are working or follow the mural’s progress. – Featured Artists Shah Hadjebi An award-winning Southwest Florida watercolor artist based in Fort Myers, Hadjebi draws inspiration from a lifelong artistic background and explores nature through expressive, intuitive painting. WEBSITE Dahye Kim An interdisciplinary researcher and professor of Digital Arts at Florida SouthWestern State College, Kim previously presented a projected installation at the BIG ARTS Dunham Family Gallery in 2024. WEBSITE Marti Koehler A Naples native, Koehler creates work inspired by Southwest Florida’s coastal landscapes, memories, and the textures and rhythms of the natural world. WEBSITE MariaPia Malerba An Italian-born multidisciplinary artist whose work blends painting, textile design, and immersive installation. WEBSITE Wilson McCray An artist and Gallery Director at BIG ARTS, McCray oversees the organization’s visual arts program and works with artists from Southwest Florida and around the world to bring diverse exhibitions to the community. Macy Noll A senior at Florida Gulf Coast University double majoring in Marine Biology and Visual Arts, Noll teaches scuba diving for marine research and creates marine illustrations and murals. – Closing Reception: Friday, October 30, 2026 | 5:00 PM Celebrate the completion of CURRENTS during the closing reception in the Dunham Family Gallery. Meet the artists, experience the finished mural, and enjoy complimentary wine, beer, and light bites as we conclude this collaborative exhibit!