Jim Griffith's Happy Accidents

PHOTO Carl-John X Veraja Jim Griffith, founder of Florida Arts What more apt place than a post office to have the world of art delivered to downtown Fort Myers?

You can thank Jim Griffith, 44, of Fort Myers, founder of Florida Arts. He led the way to reviving the old federal post office building in downtown Fort Myers and turning it into a new cultural hub in Lee County. At his behest, the city council approved the 1933 U.S. Post Office on First Street for use as a gallery and performing arts center in 2003. It's now dubbed the Sidney and Berne Davis Art Center and is undergoing extensive renovation.

Although the interior construction is not expected to be completed until November, there have already been a series of events at the center. Most recently, there was a concert by New York based guitarist and composer, Raul Midon, who has appeared on the Late Show with David Letterman. It was the final act in last month's Florida Arts Festival.

Jim Griffith is himself a musician as are his wife, Kara, and his two daughters, Nina and Lily. His love of music may be what laid the foundation for many of his achievements since.

Griffith spent part of his boyhood in Cape Coral where he attended Caloosa Elementary. His music education began early, and he went on to Florida State University on a full scholarship.

What is Griffith's instrument of choice? It's the viola.

If you are not familiar, the viola might first seem like a violin but its sound is deeper, covering the sonic ground between cello and violin. It is also between one and four inches longer. Asked why he likes the viola, Griffith said, "It actually started by accident."

He explained that he was allowed one elective in school. Initially, he took Spanish but didn't care for the teacher. When he asked what else he could take he was told you can take study hall or orchestra.

"I wasn't about to take study hall," Griffith said.

When he first went to orchestra the teacher, Ken Bowermeister, was conducting. Upon Griffith's appearance, he stopped the orchestra.

"He said, 'Welcome, what would you like to play?'" Griffith said. "I asked which instruments were available. He said the viola was. So, I picked it up and I've played it ever since."

Griffith recalled that Bowermeister was a very inspiring mentor and he remains friends with him.

Bowermeister currently resides in Sarasota and said he remembered Griffith being a funny young man with a "wry sense of humor." He also remembered that Griffith could adapt very quickly.

"Once he was very nervous before playing Telemann's Viola Concerto," Bowermeister said. "…he started the solo on the wrong string. Then, after three notes he recovered and started playing it right and it went on fine from there."

Bowermeister didn't predict the viola's impact on Griffith's future.

"I never pictured him being a professional artist at first," Bowermeister said. "Very few young men pursue a career as an orchestral string player…Although I saw he had talent; that was obvious. In college he became very turned on to it…especially after he met Lillian Fuchs."

Lillian Fuchs is considered one the best violists of the twentieth century.

Griffith's standing as a musician was propelled forward when he attended the Aspen Music festival in the summer of 1981. It was there he encountered Fuchs.

Upon hearing him perform, she said, "…you must go to New York."

Taking heed of her advice, Griffith auditioned at The Juilliard School in Manhattan. He attended for five years on a performance scholarship and also got a position in the Southwest Florida Symphony.

"I flew back and forth," Griffith said.

After graduation, Griffith reestablished himself in Lee County and met Kara Walker, his future wife.

"She was teaching in Fort Myers," Griffith said. "…it was in the Arcade Theater… It was called Gulf Coast Music."

Keeping himself busy on the music scene, Griffith started the New Arts festival along with Patty Gair, currently a dance teacher at Cypress Lake High School and president of the Cypress Lake Center for the Arts.

The New Arts festivals involved dance, music and theater and brought in students from all over the world. It went on from 1990-97 and received assistance from public funds.

"Carl Smith, liason for the City of Fort Myers Arts Committee set up a grant program," said Griffith. "…so different artists and organizations could receive funding."

After ending the New Arts festivals, Griffith started Florida Arts.

"One goal was to bring in national talent to inspire local musicians," Griffith said. "But it didn't have a home."

Considering his experience in organizing festivals, it is not as surprising that Griffith managed to get the Sidney and Berne Davis Arts Center on to completion as the home of Florida Arts.

He has garnered lots of assistance from public funding and private patrons and some of his skills also help.

"I did lots of other jobs to support myself other than in the arts," Griffith said. "I've washed dishes and did construction work while in Julliard…That's why I know my way around a blueprint."

This enables Griffith to assist in the planning.

Inside the center, Griffith pointed out that there would be an entrance hall on the right hand side of the façade.

Currently, art displays do not hang on the walls but are on stands and partitions.

"We expect the inside to be done in November," Griffith said.

Asked who provides funding, Griffith was forthcoming.

"Since 2003, fundraising efforts have been ongoing," Griffith said. "We salvaged an acoustical shell and lighting cable from the former Exhibition Hall… John Sheppard is a major sponsor…he's a retired lawyer…there's Pamela Templeton of Fort Myers Toyota…FPL is a major donator. Also, Northern Trust."

Florida Arts received a $1 million donation from Berne Davis and this got her name and her late husband's in the center's name. There have also been monies from the National Endowment for the Arts and the Southwest Florida Community Foundation/Alliance of the Arts.

The Sidney and Berne Davis Arts center will end up with three floors including areas for the performing and visual arts.

In another fundraising event, the "Name that Room" auction, donators bid on recognition opportunities in each room, the marble stairs, a ceiling, the elevator and even on each of six chandeliers.

Beyond fundraising, what other challenges are there?

"There's lots of coordination," said Griffith, "between architects, designers and engineers. We work with what is donated and what you want and they have to get it to work in the final design of the center."

Michele Patrick is currently head of marketing for Florida Arts. She was asked what she thought about Jim Griffith.

"He's a very modest man," Patrick said.

Griffith hasn't proved her wrong. n