Beach artists collect $500 worth in benefit
Two local artists donated 100 percent of their earnings and three other artists donated one piece of art apiece to a good cause during a local artisan craft show at The Mermaid Lounge this past Saturday during the Beach Lions Shrimp Festival.
Beach artists John Heim and Justin Pablis collected nearly $250 from their art sales alone during a show entitled, “Fort Myers Beach Arts For Action.” By the end of the day, that total was nearly doubled through other art sales, a raffle drive and donations to benefit the Children’s Art Program at Beach Elementary School. Artists Robyn Leakey, Christine Sullivan and Cristin Shaw-Nee Fisher also contributed to the school fund.
Heim said the monetary goal was to raise roughly $200 for the kids’ art advancement, but sales and donations kept coming in.
“By the time we counted the money, I was blown away from the generosity of the community,” said Heim.
The event actually brought in $474 for the Beach school Arts program. Heim decided to round up.
“I pulled the rest out of my pocket to make it an even $500,” he said.
The artists began the set up at 7 a.m., started selling at 8 and kept going until 6 p.m.
“There was a lot of preparation and planning g involved,” said Heim. “We were exhausted by the end, but there were smiles everywhere. Thanks go to the artists for plugging away.”
Heim stated he has been invited to be a “guest art teacher” tomorrow (Thursday) with Beach school Art teacher Holly Nichols.
“I’m to give the kids a project which is based on art through expression of a message,” he said. “In other words, each kid will create their own art with their own message or point they are making within the art. Holly thinks they will get a lot out of my lesson plan.”
This is the second time Heim has contributed to the Beach school arts recently. It won’t be the last.
“We already planning something else,” he said.