Publisher’s Letter
OUR MISSION IS TO GO ABOVE AND BEYOND THE ORDINARY, TO SEEK OUT AND CREATE STORIES AND IMAGES THAT ARE BEYOND THE PALE IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA.
The world recently became just a little smaller through the World Cup 2014 soccer matches in Brazil. More compelling than the play itself was the way so many countries were, if only for a short time, truly engrossed in the fever of world sport, and the vibrant colors and expressive revelry were a spectacle to behold.
The World Cup started me thinking about how beautiful the pageantry of major sporting events has become—almost like a work of art within the competition. From the proud display of each country’s colors to the dance-like magic of the player’s athleticism, this event captivated the world like a masterpiece painting or an iconic sculpture. It was a thing of beauty to behold, an artistic endeavor on every front.
I was struck by the unbridled passion shown by each athlete in their efforts to secure the Cup for team and country. Their job was to leave nothing on the field—to go out and do their job at the very peak of their ability and to be the best at what they do.
That focus and drive reminded me of how we at TOTI Media approach the delivery of each and every issue of our magazines to you, our loyal readers. Our mission is to go above and beyond the ordinary, to seek out and create stories and images that are beyond the pale in Southwest Florida. During more than 19 years of publishing our four unique magazine titles and many specialty publications, we have learned that our readers expect a high caliber of content, design and quality not found in any other local publication.
As the leading magazine publisher in Lee County, with award-winning editorial specifically developed for Lee County, we never rest on the successes of our last issue. We strive each and every day to bring you only the most sophisticated and highly targeted content designed to meet your needs and tastes. Much like the teams playing in the World Cup, only one can emerge the victor. We focus on only the best when creating our artful publications for you to enjoy.
In this year’s Art and Design issue, we celebrate so many artistically compelling topics. In the story Art with a Personal
Touch on page 34, we visit with art dealers Lauren and Emily Greenough, a mother-and-daughter team who own the HW Gallery on Third Street South in Naples. The duo prides themselves in assisting art collectors in search of that perfect piece of art that works well in their homes, whether it’s by Andy Warhol or Robert Rauschenberg. In the article Where
Culture is the Catalyst for Change on page 22, we introduce you to the exciting public art movement going on in Bonita Springs. You’ll be surprised at the murals, sculptures and other art forms making their debut on city streets and in parks. As you read these and other articles in this issue, we hope you find something that brings out the inner artist in you.
As the heat of summer draws to a close and Southwest Florida prepares for our traditionally busier—and thankfully slightly cooler— season, we invite you to send us photos of how you celebrated summer. Whether it’s with a soccer ball rooting for your team during the World Cup matches, showing off your latest artistic creation or even a photo of you reading one of our magazines under a beach umbrella, we want to see what our readers are up to. Visit our website—toti.com—to like us on Facebook and upload your photos. We look forward to hearing from you.