Floriopolis – St. Andrews Arts & Culture Metropolis

Situated between buzzing shops and restaurants on Beck Avenue, the thriving main street in Historic St. Andrews, Floriopolis Arts and Culture Center made its grand entrance into the community in mid-January.

At first glance, it appears to be just another modern art gallery, but it is much more than that, says its founder, Heather Parker. As you walk into the long room, a vast variety of artwork created in a range of mediums is effectively hung throughout the room on stark white walls. Eye-catching art pieces (two dimensional and three dimensional), a handful created by Parker herself, invite closer inspection. In the back, several tables set up as a large classroom/studio are awaiting participants to create their own masterpieces.

‘Floriopolis’ was among the early names discussed but ‘Panama City’ was the name ultimately chosen when the city was incorporated in 1909. St. Andrews was incorporated in 1908 as a separate city. Carl Bennett gave Parker copies of the 1888 deed to his mother’s property in the Bunker’s Cove area, identified on the plat as “Floriopolis.” “We wanted a name with historical significance, that was fun to say, and made you wonder what it was,” she said. “Floriopolis fits the criteria perfectly.”

It is unthinkable that just a few months ago the space looked very different. It took months and numerous volunteers spending countless hours scraping up old linoleum floors, cleaning, tearing down old and building up new walls, painting, installing gallery lighting, plumbing fixtures and display areas to transform a neglected space into what ultimately became an inviting, contemporary art gallery, gift shop and classroom/studio, prompted by Parker’s passion for the arts, and supported by financial backers and an advisory board of like-minded individuals.

Less apparent to locals and visitors stopping in for the first time is that Floriopolis was created to serve as St. Andrews’ Arts and Culture Center. A wide array of art happenings and art classes for all ages are scheduled to increase and diversify participation.

“The vision for Floriopolis focuses on curating open art exhibits, public art events (art created by members of the community and placed on display) and other art-related activities effectively making a positive impact in the St. Andrews area. Floriopolis is not just for artists. It is an open center, there are no members, nothing to join and lots of low or no commitment ways to be involved with the center and the arts. I wanted to create a space that exists to serve the entire community where all artists can participate in the exhibits and sell through the gift shop.” says Heather Parker and she adds: “It took me being at CityArts, developing as an artist and identifying my passions for exhibitions, installations and public art to realize this is what I really wanted to create.”

Board member Pat Syfrett says Parker’s passion for the arts and artists can be contagious. “You can’t help but contribute when you are confronted with Heather’s passion,” Syfrett said. “She is all about St. Andrews and making it a better place for everyone. She feels so strongly about the area that you can’t help but feel that way, too. I think St. Andrews itself is such a treasure to Panama City.”

Another board member, Celeste Hansel, has known her since Heather served as president of the Panama City Artists group six years ago. “Heather is always so enthusiastic and such a great leader she gets everyone else on board, I think the museum (St. Andrews Publishing) and Floriopolis complement each other. We have a lot of people coming through here, some locals and some tourists. People are always looking for something inexpensive to do without having to drive long distances,” said Hansel, who serves on the Floriopolis Advisory Board and gives walking tours of the area (a program run by the publishing museum).“Heather has a vision and works very hard without pay to accomplish her vision,” Hansel added “And she’s good at getting others to follow in creating her vision.”

A self-taught artist, Parker said she has always loved art, the power of art to connect and inspire people, and she loves St. Andrews. Not only is she an artist but she is an art instructor of all ages, the resident artist for Chautauqua Learn and Serve Charter School and has spent eight years with her close friend, Xan Miller, cultivating CityArts Cooperative in downtown Panama City.

They started the Co-op in a house in 2004 and helped grow it to its current size. Heater left CityArts in 2012 to pursue her dream of creating an arts and culture center in St. Andrews.

“My focus grew from there,” Parker said. “The Co-op is for artists with different needs. Some need display areas to sell their work. Some like the social connection with other artists. Some need space to teach, while others prefer working in their studios.” The focus of the Co-op has always been to nurture the artistic development of its artists – visual artists, musicians, writers, dancers, performers.

In contrast, Floriopolis’ mission focuses on connecting people, both local and tourists. The center serves as a conduit for the people who appreciate the creativity of others and the people who actively create, Parker said. “We’ll host super events, big and small, lots of them all the time,” Parker said.

Future plans include community murals, public art projects (those involving participation of members of the community), performing artists, musicians, mobile puppet shows and a doodle cart and an outdoor art garden. It is a place where anyone interested in art can visit and maybe learn something new, she said. Exploratory art classes start at $10, and there will be other more intensive workshops throughout the year for the more serious artists as well. Classes are available for children and adults.

Currently anyone can participate in Art Tuesdays, Finish It Fridays, Saturday Art on the Spot, Zentangle meetups, and Kids Afterschool Art instruction. For parents of young children Floriopolis schedules Kids Nights two evenings a month so parents can drop off their child to do art projects for up to an hour and a half while the parents enjoy some grown-up time.

Rotating exhibits revolve every three months around a given theme. Panama City artists and artists in surrounding areas are invited to exhibit. Most of the work is for sale. The current exhibit, “St. Andrews Inspired” which shares the artists’ representation of historical St. Andrews, ends in March. The next exhibit “Spinning the Yarn” runs from April to September and will include public art as well. So far, about fifty-seven artists and artisans (writers, illustrators, crafters, and culinary artists) have placed their creations on display or in the gift shop which is another venue to sell their work. But that number changes frequently. When items are sold they must be replaced, Parker said.

It took many people to help Parker take her vision from an idea to reality. For more than a year she has been enlisting the help of financial backers and unpaid volunteers. Her husband, John Parker, is one of her biggest supporters. Overall, more than 300 individuals and businesses have contributed to get it this far, she said. Their application for the 501-(c)(3) designation for nonprofit status could take up to a year before approval. Floriopolis is led by an advisory board consisting of nine members with four positions available.

Floriopolis’ next big project involves raising $12,000 to convert the unsightly corner of its building, at Beck and 11th Court, into a courtyard and Art Garden. They have started a web-based kickstarter fundraising campaign to help create the outdoor Art Garden. Donors can go to the rockethub.com and search for “Floriopolis: We’re cleaning up the corner for public art.”

“There is so much we can do, and plenty of desire and talent in this community,” Parker says. “Everyone can be part of it, by contributing financially, volunteering or just by saying yes and cheering us on.”

Find them online at www.painterparker. com/floriopolis or on their facebook site www.facebook.com/floriopolis

[box type=”shadow” align=”aligncenter” ]Floriopolis is located at 1125 Beck Avenue, Panama City, FL 32401 across from the St. Andrews Publishing Museum

Hours: Tuesday and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, noon to 6 p.m.; closed Sunday and Monday

Ongoing meetups: Art Tuesdays, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., drop in and create for $10; Finish It Fridays, noon to 6 p.m., work on your unfinished projects or choose from our stash, $10; Saturday Art on the Spot, gallery specials and drop-in art; Mixed Media Workshop, March 15 and April 19, 1-4p.m. $45; Kids Nights, March 14 & 22, $10 [/box]

 

By Diane Mercado