Discover Englewood 2023
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arie Laforge may be best known in Englewood for the culinary delights at her Mango Bistro on West Dearborn Street. But locals got to see expressions of Laforge's artistic vision on display in the Mangrove Gallery of the Englewood Art Center at 350 S. McCall Road this year. Originally from France, where she studied graphic arts and advertising in Paris, Laforge discovered how a camera could frame "the extraordinary in the ordinary." She took up street photography, taking walks and photographing what she saw. She still goes for walks, but instead of people, she often finds herself enlightened by nature. A photo of a blue heron taking off at Stump Pass Beach caught the attention of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. The photo, entitled "Water Dancer," captured the blue heron just as it Finding the art in the ordinary A Community of Artists Marie Laforge, iPhone at the ready, is always looking for an extraordinary image started taking off from the shallows. Laforge doesn't lug around burdensome cameras and lens and other photographic equipment. Instead, her iPhone serves her well. "I always have my tool in my pocket," Laforge said. "I can always capture the moment." Describing her process, Laforge wrote, "Part of the limitations of the iPhone are, in my opinion, what make my photos more fun in the sense that I have to overcome the lack of advance features from the camera itself by post-processing." Laforge's work can be found on www.marielaforge.com. The Englewood Art Center is part of the continuing studies division of Ringling College of Art and Design. The center focuses on education programs, exhibitions, and other events. The center is open 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesdays to Saturdays. For more information, visit www. ringling.edu/eac/, call 941-474- 5548 or email eac@ringling. edu. By Steve Reilly Marie Laforge likes to capture what she describes as the extraordinary in the ordinary. Her photographs are on display at the Englewood Art Center. Marie Laforge and Ricardo Ruggiero are owners of Mango Bistro in Englewood. PHOTOS BY STEVE REILLY 14 14 Discover Englewood 2023