Legendary local artist Paul Arsenault will highlight the Holiday Hootenanny shopping event with promotional deals being held from 2 to 6 p.m. on December 5 at the Rookery Bay Environmental Learning Center’s nature store in Naples. From 2 to 4 p.m., Arsenault will sell and sign the recently published book, An Artful History of Naples and Collier County, created by Paul Arsenault, his wife Eileen Arsenault and Donna Murphy. 

The 240-page, fine art, richly illustrated, coffee-table book features Paul Arsenault’s distinctive work paired with vintage postcards, historic and fine art photographs, and lively narratives that celebrate the dreamers, visionaries, personalities and pioneers that shaped the region. Both Arsenaults have lived in Collier County for more than 50 years. The store will also have Paul Arsenault’s notecards, scarves and giclees available for purchase.

The Holiday Hootenanny will feature discounts on items such as sun-protective clothing, adult and children’s books, jewelry, plush toys and children’s games, hostess gifts and Rookery Bay honey as well as a gift membership promotion. Refreshments including hot cider, cocoa, cookies and brownies will be served. 

The connection between art and the local environment continues with Rookery Bay’s sale this holiday season of gift items from pre-eminent photographer Clyde Butcher. These include calendars, books, ornaments, Tervis tumblers and notecards. Known for his stunning black-and-white images of the Everglades, Butcher received a 2022 National Medal of Arts citing him as “America’s most acclaimed landscape photographer today.”