Firestarter

Submitted by Stephan R. Leimberg
February 18, 2016 12:47 p.m.

I’ve always thought of myself as person who strikes matches and helps build bonfires. See if this idea kindles a spark in your mind and heart. See if it inspires you to use the resources we have on our island to inspire people through art to look at our world in new ways. (and not so coincidentally, attract new people to our island and showcase the vibrant art, music, and rich cultural community we already have).

Picture holding hands with your children or grandchildren and walking up the steps to the Amelia Island Museum of Art – the newly converted Post Office on Centre Street. From the outside, it’s a repurposed landmark, like walking back in time to the day this significant architectural structure, one of the most distinctive styles of the period, was finished. You note meticulous and loving attention was paid by the architects and builders to the details and spirit of this historically important building.
You are about to walk into an important cultural focal point for not only Fernandina Beach but for the entire county. This post office building has always been central to our way of life. Now, you can see that it has been transformed – though a unique public-private partnership – into a family friendly world class arts center. Its mission: to present and originate high-quality exhibitions with related educational programs and community outreach activities. Amazingly, it owns no art of its own but showcases on an ever rotating basis (say every 6 to 8 weeks) – on loans from other museums – high quality exhibitions of some of the finest art the world has ever seen.

But your eye is not the only indication that you have arrived at a very special place. As you approach the upper level, you hear the lively sounds of young people working in a hands-on station that inspires them to become – or understand the mind of – an artist. They are creating prints and collages, sketching and painting, and exploring the building blocks of art, color, pattern, texture, and perspective. And, like the art in the galleries, the art projects at these stations changes – so there is always something interesting to try. And as you look around, you see that grandparents, parents, and children of all ages are involved – and trying new things.

This is the (next) fire I’d like to start here in Amelia Island. Think about it! Think about how you could be part of something great – something lasting – something that’s a win-win-win! Think about how – to whatever degree you’d like – this could be part of your legacy!
Steve Leimberg
P.S. Although this has been my dream from the moment Jo-Ann and I moved here on Amelia, we discovered this weekend on a trip to Nashville, that someone named FRIST – and the community of Nashville – has made this dream come true already! Go to http://fristcenter.org/about/the-frist-center and see the first class job the citizens of that city have done. So we know it can be done! If you are enthused, contact me: [email protected]

Editor’s Note: A native of Wildwood, New Jersey (another barrier island), Leimberg makes his home on Amelia Island. While residing in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania, Steve taught Estate and Business Succession Planning in the Tax Masters Programs at Temple University Law School , Villanova University Law School, and the American College.

On Amelia Island , Leimberg works as a professional portrait and wildlife fine arts photographer. To view more of Leimberg’s work visit www.unseenimages.com  We appreciate Leimberg’s many contributions to the Fernandina Observer.