College of Arts & Sciences Creative Connections

Showcase of FGCU Student Stories. Join the outdoor storytelling event of Final Projects by "Storytelling as Healing" students.

The Trees Know: A Creative Connections collaboration between the Art and Language & Literature
Cohen Student Union and Sugden Hall Thoroughfare
November 20, 2025 – October 31, 2026

Opening talk and reception Thursday, November 20, 2025, 3:30-4:30pm, Sugden Hall, Room 115

The FGCU Art Galleries is partnering with the Art Program and Language & Literature to create a hybrid visual art and creative writing site-specific outdoor public exhibition. Under the guidance of their professors, this exhibition features the coursework of FGCU students from Introduction to Nature Writing and Art and Community Engagement. As the arts become increasingly integrated throughout campus, these cross-curricular efforts promote collaboration between students. The end result of one such project is a large-scale multi-panel mural on display between the Cohen Student Union & Sugden Hall on the pathway to Parking Garage 1.

Faculty: Hannah Harley, Assistant Professor of Art and Community Engagement and Stephen Cavitt, Instructor II, Language and Literature

Sponsored by Gene and Lee Seidler, the Wasmer Endowment, WGCU Public Media, and the State of Florida Department of State, Division of Arts and Culture, the Florida Council on Arts and Culture, and the National Endowment for the Arts.

Photo: Tyler Yodzio, The first frost hasn't arrived yet, but the trees know winter is coming c. 2024, Digital photograph, courtesy of the artist.

Disaster Day: - An interprofessional education (IPE) simulation event to achieve readiness and preparedness requirements for emergency first responder training. 

Special Holiday Performance:

Junie B. in Jingle Bells, Batman Smells
by Allison Gregory
directed by Anne Carncross

December 5 & 6, 2025 at 6:30 p.m.
The Courtyard Amphitheatre near GameTime, Gulf Coast Town Center, 10037 Gulf Center Dr, Ft. Myers

Junie B. Jones, excited for Secret Santa, got May's name and planned a "special" gift. Holiday cheer, however, made her rethink her plan. She chose a thoughtful present, surprising herself and May. Junie B. learned kindness could be funny and unexpected. Even May seemed a little less tattletale-y. This charming play reminds us why Junie B. Jones is a beloved character for children of all ages A hilarious and endearing tale based on the best-selling book series by Barbara Park.

Sponsored in part by Kindness Takes Center Stage, a faculty-led initiative supported by a Kindfulness Grant through the Roots of Compassion & Kindness (ROCK) Center, using the power of theatre to promote kindness, compassion, and creativity among young audiences at FGCU and in the broader community. 

This production is free and open to the public, but be sure to bring lawn chairs and blankets. 

Special Holiday Performance:

Junie B. in Jingle Bells, Batman Smells
by Allison Gregory
directed by Anne Carncross

December 5 & 6, 2025 at 6:30 p.m.
The Courtyard Amphitheatre near GameTime, Gulf Coast Town Center, 10037 Gulf Center Dr, Ft. Myers

Junie B. Jones, excited for Secret Santa, got May's name and planned a "special" gift. Holiday cheer, however, made her rethink her plan. She chose a thoughtful present, surprising herself and May. Junie B. learned kindness could be funny and unexpected. Even May seemed a little less tattletale-y. This charming play reminds us why Junie B. Jones is a beloved character for children of all ages A hilarious and endearing tale based on the best-selling book series by Barbara Park.

Sponsored in part by Kindness Takes Center Stage, a faculty-led initiative supported by a Kindfulness Grant through the Roots of Compassion & Kindness (ROCK) Center, using the power of theatre to promote kindness, compassion, and creativity among young audiences at FGCU and in the broader community. 

This production is free and open to the public, but be sure to bring lawn chairs and blankets. 

Special Holiday Performance:

Junie B. in Jingle Bells, Batman Smells
by Allison Gregory
directed by Anne Carncross

December 7th at 4:00pm, Veterans Pavillion, FGCU Campus

Junie B. Jones, excited for Secret Santa, got May's name and planned a "special" gift. Holiday cheer, however, made her rethink her plan. She chose a thoughtful present, surprising herself and May. Junie B. learned kindness could be funny and unexpected. Even May seemed a little less tattletale-y. This charming play reminds us why Junie B. Jones is a beloved character for children of all ages A hilarious and endearing tale based on the best-selling book series by Barbara Park.

Sponsored in part by Kindness Takes Center Stage, a faculty-led initiative supported by a Kindfulness Grant through the Roots of Compassion & Kindness (ROCK) Center, using the power of theatre to promote kindness, compassion, and creativity among young audiences at FGCU and in the broader community. 

This production is free and open to the public, but be sure to bring lawn chairs and blankets. 

Becoming Tomorrow's Dream: Onajide Shabaka
Artist Talk, Thursday, January 22, 2026, 5:30-7:30pm in U. Tobe Recital Hall followed by a reception in the Arts Complex

January 23 - February 19, 2026

Can we bring a place out of obscurity and expose it to renewed scrutiny? A promising starting point is to delve into its intricate history. Uncovering the hidden history of a place is akin to finding a way back into the place-world, allowing us to savor the rebirth of place even on the most resistant terrain.

In this exhibition, we embark on a temporal journey, speculating about the people, places, and times of the 1850s to the present. Born before the end of US enslavement, Shabaka’s paternal grandfather and other family members migrated to St. Lucie County around 1920. They carried with them tales of lives filled with hope, redemption, and reconciliation.

Onajide Shabaka’s artistic endeavors are deeply influenced by a fusion of historical and biographical content, particularly drawing inspiration from the southern United States population comprising African and Native American descent. Additionally, his practice incorporates elements reminiscent of Florida’s unique ecology, which holds profound significance in relation to the history of medicinal plants and folk healing practices.

Sponsored by Gene and Lee Seidler, the Wasmer Endowment, WGCU Public Media, and the State of Florida, Department of State, Division of Arts and Culture, the Florida Council on Arts and Culture, and the National Endowment for the Arts.This event is free and open to the public.

Sponsored by Gene and Lee Seidler, the Wasmer Endowment, and WGCU Public Media

Image credit: Onajide Shabaka, He bathed in the river's floral scent, 2020, Archival ink photographic print (edition of 5), 13.25 x 20 in. Courtesy of the artist.

Jazz Combo Concert: New compositions inspired by the work of Onajide Shabaka

The Jazz Combo has visited Onajide Shabaka's studio to get a preview of the work that will be on display in January and February. From this visit, they composed new works that they will perform in the Wasmer Art Gallery, within the exhibition. Seating is extremely limited, and tickets may be needed for this event. Check back for more information.

(A Creative Connections collaboration between the Art and Music programs)

Tamiami Tale Tellers - Storytelling Showcase "Love Stories"

Sheila Arnold - Roots of Compassion & Kindness: The Single Act

FGCU Storytelling - "Spoken Stories Creating Community"

Sheila Arnold - Stories of the Underground Railroad: Law & Order

FGCU Storytelling - "Spoken Stories Creating Community"

Josh Goforth - Appalachia Music and Song

FGCU Storytelling - "Spoken Stories Creating Community"

Josh Goforth - Music and Story from Hills and Hollers

FGCU Storytelling - "Spoken Stories Creating Community"

The 24-Hour Festival

Bower School of Music & the Arts is teaming up with Ghostbird Theatre Company for the 24-Hour Festival -- March 14 & 15, 2026. Join visual artists, filmmakers, theatre artists, dancers, musicians, and poets as you race against a 24-hour clock to create unique works based on prompts. You will have exactly 24 hours to create your instant masterpiece. This event is open to all, and multi-disciplinary artworks are encouraged.

FGCU Storytelling - "Spoken Stories Creating Community"

FGCU Storytelling - "Spoken Stories Creating Community"

April 10, 11, 17 & 18 at 7:30 p.m.
April 12, 18* & 19 at 2:00 p.m.

FGCU Theatre presents Qui Nguyen’s She Kills Monsters as part of the celebration of American playwrights in honor of USA250. A young woman, grieving the loss of her family, embarks upon what may be the greatest adventure of her life. Can she navigate a dangerous world full of dungeon masters, paladins, elves, bugbears, demons, dragons, and evil cheerleaders? Qui Nguyen’s Dungeons & Dragons-inspired play features fight choreography by Dr. Russell Hogg, a faculty member from FGCU's Physical Therapy Program.

Tickets are $15 for the general public and $7 for students and can be purchased at fgcu.edu/theatrelab

*There will be a discussion with the cast and crew following this performance

She Kills Monsters is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals on behalf of Samuel French, Inc.
www.concordtheatricals.com
Directed by Dan Bacalzo

Season images created by Olivia Daley ('23, Theatre)

FGCU Storytelling - "Spoken Stories Creating Community"

FGCU Storytelling - "Spoken Stories Creating Community"