The Arts | There is much to learn about here
Hello, dear readers. I hope you’re having the time of your life here in the North Fort Myers area. We’d surely like to engage with you as we make efforts to tell you about some of the many local and regional opportunities that abound in our area and develop, with your help, new ones that clearly show we are community of creative citizens. Please read on — there is much to learn about here.
1. The NFM Arts Association, a division of Lee County Art Center, Inc., is proud to offer our last show of 2026. The title of this three-month long show is “Seasonal Impressions.” It opened Oct. 13 and runs through Jan. 5. Our Featured Artist for this show is Gail Novak of North Fort Myers. Several of her dynamic art productions will be on display during the entirety of this show and have also been shown as part of our Art In Public Places program (APP): The North Fort Myers and Cape Coral Library exhibits, NFMAA exhibits, the ART House Gallery, and at Sweet Melissa’s Restaurant, 16230 Summerlin Road, Fort Myers, and at the office of supporter, Ray Hair’s State Farm Insurance Agency on Pine Island Road, North Fort Myers, and at our CEO’s office on Pondella Road, Sunshine Realty, Marion Briggs, Broker.
The “Seasonal Impressions” exhibit is up at Gulf Coast Village Independent Living Center, 1333 Santa Barbara Blvd., Cape Coral. All of our exhibits here are open and free to the general public seven days a week, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. And, it will be in place until Jan. 5.
We’d love for you to see all the amazing paintings and other items made and presented by our amazing list of local artists. And, if you have time and would like to comment on the show in general or specific pieces, please use our email address: nfmaa.info@gmail.com or directly to me: delnora4@gmail.com or delnora62@yahoo.com. Or leave us a message on our webpage: nfmaa.org. Your feedback is important to us. I’ll have to wait until the next column to share with you who the Peoples’ Choice Awards went to and hopefully with a photo.
2. NFMAA has a lot of information, new exhibits, new group of exhibitors, and other important information to share with you and I don’t want to get too far ahead of ourselves that may be confusing to some — we’d love to have many more businesses to join us in promoting art in North Fort Myers and art is for all. For more information, contact Pam Cupp, Art in Public Places Director — pcupp181@yahoo.com.
3. NFMAA joined by North Fort Myers Academy for the ARTS and Gulf Coast Village have developed a new, exciting working and growing together intergenerational committee.
This was first investigated last spring. Now we have brought it closer to fruition in a major way. You will be seeing and hearing more about the collaborative events over the next several months. And, in the interim, please mark your calendar for your attendance and support for the North Fort Myers Academy for the Arts performance at Barbara B. Mann on Dec. 6. Tickets went on sale Oct. 2. When you get your copy of the North Fort Myers Neighbor Living magazine, on Oct. 21, we implore you to put your support for our students to work and order your tickets.
4. Our latest collaboration encompasses support and input by our members, our partners at Gulf Coast Village, assistant principal and art teacher from North Fort Myers Academy for the Arts, and Culver’s Restaurant on Pine Island Road where we met on Wednesday, Sept. 30.
We were pleasantly surprised that General Manager of Culver’s, Sara Weeks, was able to slip in and give us a list of how they can partner with us (they already partner with several of the area schools on projects of community interest with this new group of intergenerational activists. We have been added to that list of recipients of Culver’s Community Support functions. As we prepare to build on our participation with them in various future activities… HINT: Expect a Spring Art Show & Sale and plan to come out and offer your support to this community effort to bring more major art functions and opportunities into North Fort Myers, by North Fort Myers residents and visitors.
5. On Nov. 5, our members will be presenting their works of various forms of artworks for the Cape Coral Library, 921 S.W. 39th Terrace, Cape Coral. This exhibit will be on display through Dec. 29 and coming down on Dec. 30, beginning at 9 a.m. We hope you’ve seen the various publicity pieces presented by the Cape Coral Library and Art Curator, Monica Rahmen. She will be adding more photos and information in the coming months for both our Nov. 5 and Dec. 29 shows and our January — February 2027 Photography Only show.
6. We are working toward a beginning collaboration with the students at North Fort Myers Academy for the Arts on Nov. 16 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. We’re planning a “Chalk on the Walk” event and a “plein aire” session with NFMAA students and NFMAA members and GCV residents, to occur at Gulf Coast Village, on their side driveway and around the vast common areas surrounding the newly remodeled buildings. The options are vast. Recommendations include one or two students with one or two residents or members, and/or instructors. The object of these kinds of exercises is to begin to build confidence in each other’s abilities and interests toward development of a common, reliant and supportive relationship — sort of like a second set of grandparents for the students — and a second set of grandchildren for our members and GCV residents – much like what I did when my daughters were children on the east coast of metropolitan Florida in the 1970s.
What is old, is now new again!
7. Rachel Byrd, GCV publicity assistant, and others will be making strides in getting TV & news media coverage for these events. She, Kay Diller, Margie Pelegrino, James Samz, and Ryan Berganzer are trying to pull together a chorus group from one of their outstanding programs for a holiday presentation on the stage at GCV over the holiday season. And, maybe a “Caroling” session for residents of the various GCV locations. I hope these events come to be.
8. And, we have all been invited to attend the Dec. 6 performance of “The Nutcracker” performed by NFM Academy for the Arts students at The Barbara B. Mann Theatre. NFMAA members and North Fort Myers residents are encouraged to attend. Tickets went sale on Oct 2. Let’s show our support and encouragement for our area students. And, enjoy a night out on the town, similar to Broadway experiences. FUN, too.
9. In addition to the above activities, we are proud to announce that we will be participating in the Uncommon Friends Festival at The Burroughs House on First Street in downtown Fort Myers on Dec.19. Many thanks to new member, Eloise Pennington, for bringing this event to our attention. We are already working to gather materials from donations and purchases for planned activities to engage children of all ages to this auspicious event, thanks to our supportive and generous donors and board members, Donna and Steve Sillars.
10. We see this opportunity as a trial run for our Feb.5 -7 Art Fest Fort Myers. We will be providing artistic activities for children of 3 age groups at the 10 x20 booth for both Saturday and Sunday visitors. We’ve been working feverishly in the development of various activities for the different age groups of children. We are so proud to be included by the “movers & shakers” (Grisel and Juan) who’ve brought us some of the most interesting, well-attended and profitable art festivals in the country. They debuted as the winner of the contest for the new 2026 Poster and T-shirt at their first “meet and greet” for the committee chairs last week, where Eloise and I were recognized as newcomers to this awesome event.
11. Yes, my dear readers, we are busy but not too busy to stop and chat with you and listen to your ideas and your questions. Why not check out our webpage: nfmaa.org and our Facebook and Instagram pages for more interesting information, or join our meetings Nov. 20, @ The NFM Library, Rm. A/B, from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. and North Fort Myers Library, 2001 N. Tamiami Trail, NFM.
You are invited to attend.
12. Purchases are possible from both shows at The Cape Coral Library, but only through personal contact with Dee Stevenson, NFMAA President — delnora62@yahoo.com or Steve Sillars, Treasurer – patsguy1960@gmail.com. We also have some of our members’ artworks constantly on display at The North Fort Myers Library. FYI: The Lee Co. Library System does not allow for purchases to occur on-site.
13. We are working toward open hours at The Art House by mid-October and a December Open House for our members, and the public. Look for an invitation next month.
14. Which reminds me, we are looking for a new webmaster. Cindy Cone has been filling this position for over a year now and has found herself increasingly busy with her travel photography business which has taken her to exotic places like Africa, Europe, and soon to Antarctica. FYI: Cindy’s a retired high school English teacher from Ohio. Now see where her passion has taken her! We’re hoping to find a high school or college student who would be interested in helping us maintain our webpage and add to it if so inclined and approved by our Board of Directors.
15. ALL of these events and others will afford us the opportunity to develop our annual Art Scholarship program. Contact Dee for how you can join the wonderful supporters for our student artists/creatives (all kinds of artworks – not just paintings). The Rev. Willie and Heather Singleton have made a much-appreciated donation already. We’d love for you to join them and I’ll be most happy to put your name in the newspaper, too.
16. Yes, dear readers and hopefully supporters of our businesses, our artist members and your belief and support in growing North Fort Myers opportunities — it’s a lot to take in. I understand.
But, we are hopeful that you will mark your calendars now so as not to miss out on these interesting and the many free opportunities in the North Fort Myers, Cape Coral and Fort Myers areas, specifically designed for your pleasure and your support.
17. One last request for now: Do you have an interest in helping us find a place where we could have our own NFM ART WALK on the first Friday of each month, during “season?” We would very much like to have one where the patrons who attend this show will have the option to take the Lee County Transportation Authority’s trolley to the First Friday Art Walk, downtown Fort Myers and return by 9:30 p.m. last trolley and back to their car in North Fort Myers. This would help relieve the downtown parking clog while still being able to get there and partake of the many opportunities. And, would make your business much more recognizable and busy — which helps the businesses in your area. We would like to make this a seasonal opportunity for all of our friends, families, neighbors, and visitors. Please enter your comments on our webpage or email them to me at delnora4@gmail.com.
Many thanks for your help and support.
18. All good things can come to be when we work together to make little changes at a time. Gradual progress is a good thing. What do you think?
19. Thank you for your readership. I am hopeful you find the information I share interesting — hopefully interesting enough for you to attend our meetings, join our motivation for growth of our community and help us achieve at least one activity — well, maybe just one activity at a time!
20. The NFM Arts Association is a proud member and supporter of the NFM Civic Association, the NFM Chamber of Commerce and the Cape Coral Rotary Club and Paradise Vintage Market.
I have served as a jurist for the Cape Coral Art Festival & we have plans for future participation with all these groups.
Watch this space!