{"id":217700,"date":"2026-04-03T17:14:34","date_gmt":"2026-04-03T17:14:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/217700\/"},"modified":"2026-04-03T17:14:34","modified_gmt":"2026-04-03T17:14:34","slug":"discover-the-stories-behind-lee-countys-young-artists-this-april","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/217700\/","title":{"rendered":"Discover the stories behind Lee County\u2019s young artists this April"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Elementary school students put their creative designs on display at the Alliance for the Arts. -DAVID WISHTISCHIN \/ FLORIDA WEEKLY<\/p>\n

For many, art class fades into memory, but for some students, it\u2019s where identity, emotion and even a future begin to take shape.\n<\/p>\n

At the Alliance for the Arts this April, Lee County students are putting their emotions and skills on display, giving the public a glimpse into the journeys of local young artists.\n<\/p>\n

The 34th Annual Future of Art Show, organized by the Lee Art Education Association, showcases hundreds of student works from across Lee County, transforming the Alliance for the Arts into a monthlong display of young creativity across a variety of mediums. The exhibit is split by grade level, with elementary and middle school artwork on display from April 2\u201311, followed by high school pieces from April 17\u201325.\n<\/p>\n

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Two eighth-grade Lee County students, Camilla Losik and Ellie Cecil, create deep-sea designs from clay. -DAVID WISHTISCHIN \/ FLORIDA WEEKLY<\/p>\n

Selection for the exhibit is also a deliberate and competitive process. Throughout the school year, art teachers identify students who demonstrate strong effort, growth and commitment to their work. Each school is given a limited number of spots based on enrollment, typically one submission for every 100 students, resulting in roughly 300 pieces selected across the county.\n<\/p>\n

But beyond the paintings, ceramics and drawings, organizers say the exhibit is about something more, giving students a platform to express themselves while giving the community a reason to show up and support them.\n<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a really great outlet for students,\u201d said Angel Elza, coordinator for the Lee Art Education Association. \u201cWhether they\u2019re going to be an artist or a scientist or a banker, they\u2019re going to have an outlet no matter what.\u201d\n<\/p>\n

For Cape Coral High School senior Riley Scott, that reflection takes shape in a ceramic piece titled \u201cSweet Hostility.\u201d\n<\/p>\n

The piece, a coil-built vase that fades from deep pink to white and is lined with spikes, is both visually striking and deeply personal. Each layer was carefully rolled, stacked and smoothed by hand during class, requiring patience and consistency over time.\n<\/p>\n

\u201cI think it took about six weeks,\u201d Scott said. \u201cWe were building it during class, so it was a lot of time spent just working on it little by little.\u201d\n<\/p>\n

However, the most meaningful part of the piece goes far beyond the time spent creating it.\n<\/p>\n

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Walls become masterpieces at the LAEA\u2019S Future of Art Student Showcase\u00a0-DAVID WISHTISCHIN \/ FLORIDA WEEKLY<\/p>\n

\u201cI correlated this piece to myself,\u201d she said. \u201cA lot of people told me that before they met me, they thought I was a very intimidating person.\u201d\n<\/p>\n

The sharp spikes and fading colors offer a visual representation of how she says she is often perceived at first glance. Over time, she says that perception shifts.\n<\/p>\n

\u201cAs people get to know me, I\u2019m more of a sweet person than hostile,\u201d she said.\n<\/p>\n

Many students experience the contrast between first impressions and reality, and Scott said she has been able to express that through her art.\n<\/p>\n

Even as she looks ahead to life after graduation, Scott said art will remain a part of her life, even if it isn\u2019t her primary career path.\n<\/p>\n

\u201cI definitely want to keep doing it as a hobby,\u201d she said.\n<\/p>\n

Scott said having her work selected for the exhibit is very touching, making the time and effort she put into the piece feel worthwhile.\n<\/p>\n

And for those who walk through the gallery, she hopes her work leaves a lasting impression.\n<\/p>\n

\u201cI hope they find it unique,\u201d Scott said. \u201cSomething they\u2019ve never seen before.\u201d\n<\/p>\n

Like the process of understanding identity as a teenager, the path to the exhibit is not always steady.\n<\/p>\n

Just weeks before the show, senior Kadence Hulcomb said she had to pivot entirely, starting over on a new piece with limited time to complete it.\n<\/p>\n

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From Spiderman to squirrel drawings, talented students bring their designs to life at LAEA\u2019S Future of Art Student Showcase. -DAVID WISHTISCHIN \/ FLORIDA WEEKLY<\/p>\n

\u201cI do have to create a new piece,\u201d she said. \u201cI don\u2019t know much about it yet.\u201d\n<\/p>\n

Hulcomb said her schedule is busy, but she\u2019s learned to navigate it, especially with art.\n<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m more stressed\u2026 but I\u2019m kind of used to working under time crunches. I have so many things to create,\u201d she said.\n<\/p>\n

Despite the time crunch and the pressure that comes with it, being selected for the exhibit has served as evidence that her hard work has paid off.\n<\/p>\n

\u201cI feel very honored,\u201d Hulcomb said. \u201cIt really shows that all my hard work is paying off.\u201d\n<\/p>\n

Her connection to art stretches back years, long before high school deadlines and exhibition schedules.\n<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve been drawing and painting since I was little,\u201d she said. \u201cMy dad taught me how to look at something and draw it.\u201d\n<\/p>\n

Now, as she prepares to graduate, Hulcomb plans to attend Ringling College of Art and Design to pursue art more seriously, with the goal of building a future around it.\n<\/p>\n

Even without a finished piece yet, she already knows what she wants her work to give others.\n<\/p>\n

\u201cI want them to feel happy\u2026 or more aware about things,\u201d she said. \u201cIt just depends, but I want them to feel something.\u201d\n<\/p>\n

For educators and organizers, the moments of pressure, growth and the pride students feel seeing their artwork displayed are why the exhibit is important for local youth.\n<\/p>\n

But bringing the show together is a months-long effort that extends far beyond the classroom.\n<\/p>\n

Organizers say planning begins up to six months in advance, as teachers across the county coordinate submissions, select student work and prepare pieces for display. In the final weeks leading up to the exhibit, that work intensifies, culminating in a tight turnaround to install the show.<\/p>\n

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\t\t\t\tClose-up views of students\u2019 works from the Lee County Schools student exhibit at Alliance For The Arts. -DAVID WISHTISCHIN \/ FLORIDA WEEKLY<\/p>\n

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\t\t\t\tClose-up views of students\u2019 works from the Lee County Schools student exhibit at Alliance For The Arts. -DAVID WISHTISCHIN \/ FLORIDA WEEKLY
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\u201cWe usually have about four days to hang everything and make sure it looks right,\u201d said Julio Gonz\u00e1lez Batista, the gallery and artist relations manager.\n<\/p>\n

That process involves more than simply placing artwork on walls. Much of the time is spent carefully arranging pieces to create a cohesive experience for viewers and deciding how each work fits within the larger story of the exhibit.\n<\/p>\n

\u201cA lot of it is the visual arranging\u2026 how the pieces are going to go up on the walls,\u201d Gonz\u00e1lez Batista said.\n<\/p>\n

Despite the condensed timeline, organizers say the effort is worth it.\n<\/p>\n

Beyond the individual pieces, the exhibit gives students something they don\u2019t always get in the classroom: a chance to share their work with a real audience and see how it resonates with them.\n<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s really heartwarming,\u201d Elza said. \u201cSeeing them bring their families and realize that their work goes beyond the classroom.\u201d\n<\/p>\n

For some students, that moment is the first time their work is viewed not just as an assignment, but as something of value and something worth displaying.<\/p>\n

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\t\t\t\tViews from the Lee County Schools student exhibit at Alliance For The Arts. -DAVID WISHTISCHIN \/ FLORIDA WEEKLY<\/p>\n

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\t\t\t\tViews from the Lee County Schools student exhibit at Alliance For The Arts. -DAVID WISHTISCHIN \/ FLORIDA WEEKLY
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Organizers say the experience also helps students understand what it means to present their work publicly, offering a glimpse into what a future in the arts could look like.\n<\/p>\n

While not implemented this year, organizers say they hope to eventually allow students to sell their artwork at the exhibit.\n<\/p>\n

\u201cIt gives them an idea of what they can do with their work once it\u2019s out in the world,\u201d Gonz\u00e1lez Batista said. \u201cThat\u2019s something you don\u2019t usually learn in school.\u201d\n<\/p>\n

But the exhibit doesn\u2019t just impact students; it also invites the community to play a role.\n<\/p>\n

By attending, organizers say, visitors aren\u2019t just viewing artwork. They\u2019re supporting young artists, encouraging creativity and helping students see that their voices matter.\n<\/p>\n

Neil Volz, CEO and executive director of the Alliance for the Arts, said the exhibit benefits both young artists and the community.\n<\/p>\n

\u201cAlliance likes to be a healthy partner with artists and schools,\u201d said Volz. \u201cThese kinds of things are great for the community on all counts.\u201d\n\t\t<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Elementary school students put their creative designs on display at the Alliance for the Arts. -DAVID WISHTISCHIN \/…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":217701,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[14],"tags":[209,211,210],"class_list":["post-217700","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-cape-coral","tag-cape-coral","tag-cape-coral-headlines","tag-cape-coral-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/217700","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=217700"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/217700\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/217701"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=217700"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=217700"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=217700"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}