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Tag: Jane Seymour

Jane Seymour

Jane Seymour wows ‘em at Studio

Written by Tom Vaught on . Posted in Art, Entertainment.

ANNA MARIA – Actress Jane Seymour capped a busy day in Manatee County by hosting as many as 200 people at a party at The Studio at Gulf and Pine Friday evening.

The renowned star of television and movies met with dignitaries from Anna Maria Island and the county government. The Chiles Group, the Bradenton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau and Realize Bradenton made Seymour’s visit possible.

Seymour is a noted actor, artist and author and her artwork was on display at The Studio in a show called Up Close and Personal: The Art of Jane Seymour. The display will continue until Feb. 9.

Seymour mingled with the crowd, talking about her art and a special project, her Open Hearts Campaign. She has a line of jewelry by that name and she said the campaign urges people to keep an open heart so you may give and receive love.

She unveiled an “Open Hearts” sculpture at the Bradenton Riverwalk earlier in the day.

Jane Seymour
Actress Jane Seymour sits on her sculpture at Riverwalk in Bradenton. – Tom Vaught | Sun

Bradenton Mayor Wayne Poston and a number of dignitaries spoke after the unveiling of the sculpture, which has two hearts open at each end, like her Open Hearts by Jane Seymour® jewelry line.

The open heart is a state of mind to Seymour, who urges people to keep their hearts open and love will come. It also says love has no boundaries and flows unconditionally.

Seymour has a website that provides an interactive forum for people to discuss how keeping an open heart has changed their lives.

Jane Seymour – Tom Vaught | Sun

Seymour also gave a cooking display at The Studio and she stayed true to her vegan lifestyle, but mostly she talked with visitors and posed for photos with them.

The next day, Seymour appeared at the Manatee Performing Arts Center at noon, when she talked about her artwork and answered questions from the audience.

Seymour is known for her performances in the James Bond film “Live and Let Die,” the film “Somewhere in Time” with Christopher Reeve, and the television series “Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman.” Her work has earned her an Emmy, two Golden Globes and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

While at The Studio, she was asked if this was her first time on Anna Maria Island.

“Yes,” she answered, “but it won’t be my only time.”

Jane Seymour

Jane Seymour unveils sculpture in Bradenton

Written by Tom Vaught on . Posted in Archives.

BRADENTON – A well-known actress unveiled a sculpture at Riverwalk this morning, discussing what the work means to her and hoping it could have the same meaning to others.

Jane Seymour, whose artwork is on display at The Studio at Gulf and Pine in Anna Maria, visited the area with the help of the Bradenton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau and Realize Bradenton.

Jane Seymour – Tom Vaught | Sun

Bradenton Mayor Wayne Poston and a number of dignitaries spoke after the unveiling of the sculpture, which has the lines of two hearts open at each end, like her Open Hearts by Jane Seymour® jewelry line.

The open heart is a state of mind to Seymour, who urges people to keep their hearts open and love will come. It also says love has no boundaries and flows unconditionally.

Seymour has a website that provides an interactive forum for people to discuss how keeping an open heart has changed their lives.

The Manatee School for the Arts provided big band music for the event and two students, a middle school girl and a high school senior, talked about what happened when they opened their hearts, bringing a tear to Seymour’s eye.

Seymour is best known for performances in the James Bond film “Live and Let Die,” the film “Somewhere in Time” and the television series “Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman.” She has earned an Emmy, two Golden Globes and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. In addition to being a celebrated actress, Seymour is also a noted author and painter.

Studio at Gulf and Pine

Jane Seymour artwork at The Studio

Written by Tom Vaught on . Posted in Art, Entertainment.

The Studio at Gulf and Pine, 10101 Gulf Drive in Anna Maria, will host Up Close and Personal: The Art of Jane Seymour on Tuesday, Jan. 15, with nearly 50 original watercolors, oils, open heart bronze sculptures and limited-edition giclee prints on display and available for acquisition through Feb. 9.

Jane Seymour
Jane Seymour

The Emmy and Golden Globe award-winning actress, artist, author, designer and philanthropist will unveil the art exhibit and attend events throughout Bradenton area this month.

The Bradenton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau (BACVB) and Realize Bradenton invited Seymour to help unveil a new piece of public art on the Bradenton Riverwalk at 11 a.m. on Friday, Jan. 18, directly across from Veteran’s Monument Park.

Additionally, Seymour will appear at the Manatee Performing Arts Center at 502 3rd Ave. W., Bradenton on Saturday, Jan. 19, at noon, when she talks about her artwork. This intimate event will conclude with a short Q & A, followed by a book signing, and rare photo opportunity with the artist.

Tickets for this highly sought-after event are available for purchase through the Manatee Performing Arts Center.

Seymour is best known for her performances in the James Bond film “Live and Let Die,” “Somewhere in Time,” as well as the television series “Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman.” Her work has earned her an Emmy, two Golden Globes and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

In addition to being a celebrated actress, Seymour is also a lauded author and painter and designed the widely successful line of jewelry – Open Hearts by Jane Seymour. Crediting her mother’s advice and personal philosophy as her inspiration behind the line, the Open Heart design has become a universally-recognized symbol of giving and receiving love.

Bradenton Anna Maria Island Longboat Key

New tourism initiatives address red tide challenges

Written by Cindy Lane on . Posted in Business, Tourism.

ANNA MARIA – Despite red tide in area waters since early August, tourism grew in Manatee County during the fiscal year October 2017 through September 2018, according to the county’s tourism consultant.

“If you consider the challenges we have had, and to some extent, still have, the data for the fiscal year really are impressive,” Walter Klages, of Research Data Services, told the Manatee County Tourist Development Council on Monday, Dec. 10.

Visitation grew by 1.6 percent over the last fiscal year to 724,200 visitors, “a significant number,” Klages said, producing an economic impact near $977 million.

Occupancy was down nearly 14 percent in August from August 2017 and down nearly 22 percent in September from September 2017, but red tide was not the only reason, he said, pointing out an increase in available vacation rentals.

“Looking ahead, we have challenges with the environment,” Klages said. “The tide has a significant impact, but looking down the road, I think our markets are strong and next year we will see significant growth again. I don’t think the stigma is going to carry very significantly into the season.”

Carol Whitmore

“This red tide has caused a blip,” TDC Chair Carol Whitmore said, adding that her home’s canal had dead fish in it three weeks ago, but no longer has an odor.

“Our Island is starting to fill up, and that’s a good thing,” she said.

Anna Maria City Pier progress

Anna Maria Mayor Dan Murphy updated council members on the progress of the construction of the new Anna Maria City Pier; the historic pier was demolished after damage done by Hurricane Irma in 2017.

The city has a contract to build the pier platform, partially funded by up to $1.5 million in tourist tax funds, he said, adding that materials will be barged across Tampa Bay, alleviating road congestion on Anna Maria Island.

The platform is contracted for completion by Aug. 26, 2019, Murphy said, with the first pilings scheduled to be driven next month.

The restaurant and bait shop are scheduled to be completed by January 2021; an unavoidable delay resulted from permitting problems with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and FEMA, he said.

New tourism initiatives

Several initiatives are underway to promote more than just Anna Maria Island and Longboat Key beaches to visitors.

Ed Chiles
Ed Chiles

Former Bond girl and star of “Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman” Jane Seymour is scheduled to have a cookoff with TDC member and Island restaurateur Ed Chiles next month while visiting the area for an undisclosed Riverwalk event, said Elliott Falcione, director of the Bradenton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB).

Four “unplugged” concerts, including one by folk singer Judy Collins, are in the planning stages at The Center of Anna Maria Island in Anna Maria and the Manatee Performing Arts Center in Bradenton, he said. The TDC voted to recommend that Manatee County commissioners approve the plan on Tuesday, Dec. 18.

The council also approved a recommendation to the commission that $50,000 in tourist taxes be allocated to a Women’s Entrepreneurial Empowerment Summit at the Bradenton Area Convention Center or IMG Academy.

“We are starting to brand the Bradenton Area as a viable conference destination,” Falcione said.

Sean Walter, the CVB’s sports commissioner, reported that in fiscal year 2017-18, the county hosted more than 90 events in 16 sports, ranging from Frisbee to hockey.

Sports further diversifies the destination so that environmental impacts from red tide are not as devastating, Falcione said.

“What a way to finish the year,” Chiles said, citing the new developments, including news that Allegiant Air will add nine new nonstop destinations at Sarasota/Bradenton International Airport.

“It’s been tough but there is reason to be optimistic,” he said. “We could use a little good news out here, and we have gotten a lot of great news today.”