Focus Magazine of SWFL Swimsuit Heat Wave | Page 166

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One of a kind handmade fashion
Photography by Tone Imaging
Model Wendy Wil liams

Sidney & Berne Davis Art Center

www.GerroArt.com

Powerhouse
for the arts,
education &
celebration!

By Kayla Dacosta

The Sidney & Berne Davis Art Center, located on
the banks of Fort Myers’ Caloosahatchee River,
supplies the community with world-class performances, educational opportunitie s, and above
all-amazing exhibits! Their contribution toward
enriching their community through the arts is
astoundingly spectacular.

The center, which was originally constructed for
business in 1933, has an opulent and impressive history. During the depression, the building
was developed to serve as a post office. Due
to the economical climate of the time, funding
for the building was in short supply. Apart from
help donated by President Hoover in 1929, it is
rumored that Edison took part in a majority of
the building’s funding.
After serving as a post office for thirty-two
years, the building was slated for demolition. At
this time, the center was remodeled to serve as
a courthouse, and equipped with federal offices.
By 1998, the building was once again vacated
and for six years remained unused, until it was
acquired by the city. Jim Griffith, director of the
center, approached the city of Fort Myers with
the intent of turning the building into a center
for the arts. After an extensive lease negotiation, the center was turned over to him.