A Cape Coral community celebrated a milestone with a unique partnership between local artists and senior residents. Gulf Coast Village and the North Fort Myers Arts Association marked one year of their collaborative “Gulf Coast Gallery,” an exhibit where artists of all ages showcase their work.
For the past year, this life plan community transformed into a creative hub, spotlighting local artists and those who picked up a paintbrush later in life. This exhibit highlighted the progress of the partnership and the community it built along the way.
“When I first started working here, I was amazed at how many of our residents actually have art, are artists,” said Lynne Talbott, a life plan counselor at Gulf Coast Village.
As the community learned more about the talents within Gulf Coast Village, they connected with artists from outside, forming the partnership that now fills the hallways with rotating exhibits.
“We started joining up with the North Fort Myers Arts Association, found out that there are a lot of artists that were looking to share their gifts. And we thought, what a perfect place to do that so that we could celebrate our artists and their talents as well as the community,” said Talbott.
The impact has extended beyond the walls of the gallery.
“Now we see just like this new beginning for them to have an opportunity to share their stories with folks in the community and their fellow residents as well as the staff,” said Talbott.
Artists expressed that the partnership has been meaningful for them and for the residents who have grown attached to the gallery.
“Between the shows, when they’re taking them down and putting the new ones up, the residents just have a fit. Where’s the art? Where’s the art? What happened to it? Are you going to bring it back?” said Sunny Lee, an artist with the North Fort Myers Arts Association.
Even residents who aren’t artists see the value in what the gallery brings.
“Well, it’s a new dimension, let’s put it that way, okay? You can look forward to say, probably going to have a good effect,” said Lew Dance, a resident of Gulf Coast Village.
As the gallery enters its second year, staff say this is only the beginning.
“You’re never too old. Now’s the time to explore all the possibilities,” said Talbott.