ST INS CARES-Collaboratory-FMBAA-Rebuilding Creativity After Hurricane Ian

The storm took the building, but the community kept the art alive. Join us as we sit down with Sylvia Montgomery and Suzan Lanz from the Fort Myers Beach Art Association to explore how a 1951 plein air tradition weathered Hurricane Ian, found a bright new home at Cypress Square, and transformed recovery into a creative movement. From a cozy hut on Denora Street to a modern gallery buzzing with workshops, rotating shows, and neighborly energy, this story is about resilience with a paintbrush.

We dive into the programs that turned occasional visitors into committed members: quick-hit lunch and learns, open paints, gentle-but-honest critiques, a Sunday art book club, and playful classes like “Bossy Pants” that spark experimentation. You’ll hear how membership doubled, why demographics shifted toward full-time locals and remote workers, and what that means for year-round programming in Fort Myers, Bonita, Punta Gorda, and the beach. Along the way, we highlight community partnerships that amplify impact—Women’s Club events, Lions Club Shrimp Festival murals and t-shirts, library exhibits, greeting cards at the Islander, and a growing First Friday art walk that now starts at Cypress Square before flowing to DAAS Co-op, Alliance for the Arts, and downtown.

If you’ve wondered how local arts strengthen a town, this conversation shows the blueprint: clear invitations, consistent events, shared walls, and open hearts. Whether you’re an artist returning to the easel after years away or a neighbor looking for a meaningful night out, there’s a place for you—paint in hand or simply curious. Come see the rotating exhibitions every four to six weeks, bring a friend to First Friday, or jump into a workshop and meet the good neighbors behind the canvases.

Explore events, join a show, or plan your visit at FortMyersBeachArt.com, and stop by 13451 McGregor Blvd Unit 1 in Cypress Square. If this conversation inspired you, subscribe, share it with a friend, and leave a review so more neighbors can find their creative community.

Fort Myers Beach Art Association
Sylvia Montgomery & Suzan Lanz
3451 McGregor Blvd. Unit 1, Fort Myers, FL 33919
(239) 463-3909
publicity@fortmyersbeachart.com
fortmyersbeachart

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