Fort Myers Beach Art Association Named This Year’s One Wall Grant Recipient
Photos by Zoe Alexander
Betsy Bohrer presenting easels to the FMBAA, 2023
“Last year, I introduced the newest addition to The Bohrer Gallery's creative portfolio: the One Wall Artist Exhibits and Materials Grant Project. I am delighted to announce our first recipient: The Fort Myers Beach Art Association. In 2022, FMBAA experienced incomprehensible destruction to their gallery and educational facility from Hurricane Ian.I met with their current president, Star Sherwood, and learned how their organization has stayed strong and rebuilt the arts within their community. Their story moved me, and it was a great pleasure to meet this wonderful group of creatives in person and present them with our first materials grant of five new tabletop easels to use in their educational workshops.The following is the FMBAA story of recovery as told by Star Sherwood.”— Betsy Bohrer, Bohrer Gallery LLC.Hurricane Ian destroyed our gallery on Fort Myers Beach, along with much of the island. Our community and our lives would never be the same.
After checking with our 150+ members, we found that they were all safe, but some had experienced serious property damage. Some were unable to get to their houses, and some did not have houses to go back to. Many members were without electricity, water, sewer, or cell service, but there was a glimmer of hope that sustained us: we were there for each other!
Hurricane Ian's Damage to the FMBAA building
Hurricane Ian's Damage to the FMBAA building
Though our gallery is gone, we are not! Our art association has been profoundly reshaped by this catastrophe, but we continue to paint together once more. We are more than a building!
This isn't the first time the FMBAA functioned without a building. In 1951, our association held its first meetings in a chickee hut built by the members. We didn't have a permanent location until we acquired our current piece of property on the island and broke ground on our gallery and headquarters in 1968. Our gallery was the very first cultural center on Fort Myers Beach, and it served us wonderfully for all these years as a venue for exhibits, classes, and art openings until Hurricane Ian flattened it.
Our Ft. Myers gallery was a place where member artists could go to create, teach, learn, and share their art. On the walls hung the finished paintings of our juried shows, exhibitions, and scholarship events.
Today, we meet in temporary spaces and hold shows when galleries offer us space. We have several shows lined up!
Coco Gallery, in Estero, FL, from February 8th to March 1, 2023
Alliance for the Arts, Fort Myers - 'Resilience' - March 3 - April 3
Big Arts Gallery, Sanibel Island - 'The Power of Light' - March 14 - April 24
Tribbey Arts Center, Shellpoint, Fort Myers - July through September
You can also check our website for updates on activities, shows, classes, and workshops: fortmyersbeachart.com.
The 2022 Cypress Lake High School Scholarship Art Show
A painting class with FMBAA at Fort Myers Congregational Church
If you are in the Fort Myers area, our art education and painting groups are still active at the Fort Myers Congregational United Church of Christ, located at 8210 College Parkway. You can contact us to reserve a spot and learn about watercolor, collage, mixed media, oil painting, pastels, and more. We offer both indoor and Plein Air settings!
We have been a part of the FMB community for over 70 years and we intend to carry on that tradition and fulfill our mission statement. We love Fort Myers Beach and we are going to rebuild and carry on!
If you would like to donate to FMBAA, we accept monetary donations and art supplies and all donations are tax-deductible. Monetary donations can be directed to our Phoenix Rebuilding Fund:
fortmyersbeachart.com/donations
Sincerely,
Star Sherwood, President of the Fort Myers Beach Art Association.
