North Fort Myers Art Association: Moving forward
Hello, neighbors,
As I write this column for The North Fort Myers Neighbor Living magazine, I’m thinking what you might like to hear about from the North Fort Myers Art Association.
First, let me begin by telling you about our meeting on April 24. President Dee Stevenson convened the meeting at 2:02 p.m with few members in attendance. Johnni Bruce was our presenter. Her program consisted of she and two of her friends demonstrating how to make (assemble) her newest “art therapy” project. She brought along several of her kits for attendees to make their own. She sells at these to support her outreach of art for ALL, four times per year at Teen Challenge locations in Lee County. We enjoyed and appreciated her presentation and urge others to contact her for possible similar opportunities. Reach out to Johnni by emailing her: jebruce88@comcast.com.
We accepted one new membership at this meeting. Growth often comes slowly. Welcome, Marjorie Newton. Several of our members are ill with flu symptoms or have gone “home” for the summer. Those attending were asked to consider the question posed: What are your views on discontinuing our Summer meetings? A brief discussion ensued without vote. We will discuss this question at our Board Meeting on May 5. Hopefully we will arrive at a decision. Our Member Meetings are held at the North Fort Myers Library, 2001 N. Tamiami Trail (aka business 41), from 2 – 4 p.m., Room A/B.
As we move into the summer months here in sunny southwest Florida, we have many ideas, starting with a new murals project. We’re looking for artists within our organization, or those who would like to join our organization and may consider volunteering their expertise for this project. The murals will complement the exterior of our building and add interest to those who pass by on Santa Barbara or Southeast 13th Street. We’re developing plans now, with a unifying background theme for all walls, with background created by Sunny Lee, a longtime North Fort Myers Art Association member and master artist whose 80-year career spans both traditional techniques and methods and having taken all the usual painting lessons over 80 years of practice. She brings extraordinary energy to everything she does, and we’re grateful for her continued willingness to share her knowledge in our classes and other events.
Classes: Our next offering is a “Watercolor Line & Wash” class with Eloise Pennington. This a new technique that Eloise has perfected and states it is an easy technique which brings joy to every participant. A few seats remain; the cost is $35 per student. The class meets on Wednesday, May 6, at The Art House, 120 Southeast 13th St., Cape Coral, from 1 p.m. until 3 p.m., on the Gulf Coast Village campus. You can enter at 1333 Santa Barbara Blvd. or turn onto Souheast 13th St.; free parking is available. If you miss this one, please contact us if you’d like us to schedule a second we hope to have a second class using this technique.
Our next exhibit at Gulf Coast Village Independent Living Center: “Botanicals,” held its receiving on Monday, May 4, from 1 to 4 p.m. The featured artist is Jola Mart-Shani, whose work includes fabric arts and paintings in various media. The opening reception is May 13, from 2 – 3:30 p.m. and the chance to vote for your favorite artists’ pieces. The exhibit is open seven days a week at Gulf Coast Village Independent Living Center (1333 Santa Barbara Blvd.) from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., through Monday, June 29, until 1 p.m., at no charge. Please sign in and out at the reception desk for security. Enjoy the colorful range of media from our artist members, along with artwork by a few residents, who truly enjoy these rotating exhibits. We typically feature 12-15 artists, with works for sale at reasonable prices.
A key goal for us and our partners is expanding our venues to include a wider range of themes, topics, and age groups. If you’re an artist working in any medium, we’d love for you to visit, view our members’ works on display at both The ART HOUSE and the Gulf Coast Village Gallery, and get your questions answered. If you are interested in joining our organization with members skilled in a wide variety of media and techniques, please contact President Dee Stevenson, delnora62@yahoo.com. Or connect with us via our website (nfmaa.org) for opportunities to learn more about us and how to join us. You might also check our Facebook, Instagram or other media presence. Board positions are also available.
New intergenerational outreach collaboration group forming.
We are partnering with Gulf Coast Village Independent Living Center, the Scientists’ Society of Southwest Florida, local schools (K through college), the North Fort Myers Civic Association, the North Fort Myers Chamber of Commerce, the Cape Coral Chamber of Commerce, and other community-based groups interested in collaborative programming. We are looking to name this group. Have any suggestions? We are listening. Do we need to consider applying for 501-c-3 registration? Election of Board members will also occur soon. Are you willing to serve on this Board? Together, we will build a variety of intergenerational exhibits and events that welcome both residents and visitors of all ages.
For just one example of how our collaborative outreach program is working together in getting to the goal, North Fort Myers Art Association members joined the Scientists’ Society of Southwest Florida’s Annual Awards Dinner which resulted in the Cape Coral High School student science project founder, Mason Huffman, with a $4,000 scholarship for his future college plans. See the interview & resultant article on Page 42 of the latest edition of The Breeze – Neighbor: https://www.capecoralbreeze.com/e-editions/2026/04/24/weekend-breeze-04-24/ by Meghan Bradbury.
This was a very interesting evening, with several area school project leaders showing their ideas on a trifold with photos and supported by verbal responses to questions about their projects. They ranged from 12 – 17 years of age. These are some really dedicated, future scientists and “movers & shakers” of our world. Most school projects at this awards dinner were accompanied by their teachers and parents. In all there were 140 people present at this dinner.
The Scientists’ Society welcomes visitors to their fall monthly dinner presentations at $34 per person without requiring membership, which is only $35 per year. Their meetings are held from October thru May each year – summers, like schools, are not in session during the Summer. North Fort Myers Arts Association membership is also only $35 per year (Jan. 1 – Dec. 31 each year – due Jan. 1 each year.) Current conversations/surveys of our members are currently in progress requesting members’ wishes relating to eliminating our past program of Summer Meetings. If you have a comment and would like to submit your response to this question, please submit to delnonra62@yahoo.com, at your earliest convenience. Your input matters to us.
The next Lee County Intergenerational Committee meeting is being discussed for Thursday, May 7, from 4 to 5 p.m. at The ART .
History: As we adhere to our original charter from the Lee County Commissioners’ longitudinal study of the North Fort Myers demographics, completed in 2017, we continue to work toward making North Fort Myers a cultural mecca community… consisting of all age groups working together to bring all of our residents, visitors, and officials together to bring this plan to fruition. We urge all interested persons in our Lee County population to join us in bringing this goal to life. For more information, or suggestions for more ways to accomplish this goal, please contact the North Fort Myers Arts Association President Dee Stevenson (delnora62@yahoo.com), or call her at 740-804-4310, between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. any day.
Member Highlights: Some of you may also remember hearing the name Rudy Berndlmaier. He’s our founder and our eternal vice president. He’s very knowledgeable about what our goals are and what we do to help make the goal attainable soon.
I, on the other hand, am a relatively new member. I joined the organization in May 2023 while I was still a board member of another Lee County organization, from which I resigned. I have enjoyed various presidential or leadership positions roles with several other organizations in another state. When the president needed support, I offered my help and, to help soften the workload, I was assigned the co-president role. I was officially elected as President at the March meeting of the organization. So, with the support of other organization leaders in the area, I am now also writing this column. My motto is one word: Forward. Join our movement forward. Following our Mission statement below we believe this is in remaining true to our original organization plans and our organizational goals.
Mission Statement: We seek to foster artistic growth through art education, exhibitions and collaborations with community partners, so that we may transform lives through the arts.
In support of local artists, we will develop a collaborative and professional environment that will promote the appreciation of the arts as a vital part of our community.
By advocating for the arts, we hope to inspire, educate and engage others, as we work to ensure that art is accessible to all.
Your help needed: What we’d very much like to have your help with is in the more immediate future is a local, North Fort. Myers office and gallery – to honor our parent organization, Lee County Art Center, Inc. and to give all area residents and visitors We need a gallery space an easier commute to becoming involved in our organizational growth. We need a North Fort Myers gallery and small office space in this area. Yes! Even though we will remain in partnership with Gulf Coast Village in Cape Coral. This partnership continues to be a great source of pride and gratitude for us and all the wonder-filled opportunities to form friendships that have developed with their leaders, coordinators and residents.
Can you help us? Who do you know? Who are you willing to talk to about our mutual growth ideas, or possibilities for bringing the Arts to all who visit or live in the North Fort Myers area? Yes, neighbors, I am adamant about bringing our organization into the discussion fray to get us to our goal as assigned by the Lee County Commissioners in 2017.
Thank you for reading and responding to this column. Sorry – no photos this edition.
To reach Dee Stevenson, please email delnora62@yahoo.com