By E.G. Merkel
The J.O.Y. Center is designed to serve the 54% of the Upper Keys population that is 50 years old and older. The physical, musical and mental activity needs of this mature majority have been met through a variety of programs, but expression through the creation of art has been missing.
This void has been noted through informal feedback and in a formal survey conducted by Gail Kennedy-McManus early last year.
Thanks to generous grant funding, four six-week courses taught by a professional artist will be available to J.O.Y. members in the next few months. A budget of $5,500 from the Community Foundation of the Florida Keys’ 2025 In Paradise for Good Grant with funds coming from the Future Fund for the Upper Keys, $3,850, and the Jack Baron Visual Grant Endowment, $1,650, will allow classes to be provided at no cost to participants.
Two beginner watercolor classes, one beginner drawing class and one creative expression class will be offered in two six-week cycles. The instructor will be Diane Whitney Smith, a well-known local artist. She’s a retired public school art teacher from Havertown, Pennsylvania. She has a master’s degree in education from Tyler School of Art at Temple University and over 40 years’ experience teaching all age levels. Now living in the Keys with her husband Jim, she is very active in the art world here.
Smith is on the board of the Art Guild of the Purple Isles and an adviser for the Florida Keys Council for the Arts. Her work is being exhibited in multiple places throughout the Keys and is in many private collections. She teaches at Ocean Reef and on multiple cruise lines including American Cruise Lines, Regent, Celebrity, Royal Caribbean and Princess. She is also an avid traveler and has visited over 100 countries. Smith loves teaching art and spreading the joy of learning.J.O.Y. Center is excited to offer this to our interested current and potential new members. Classes will begin at the end of January. The easiest way to get detailed information on classes and to register is to go to the J.O.Y. website at justolderyouthinc.org/contact to register for J.O.Y.’s newsletter, complete the annual registration waiver and get the link for class registration.
