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

Jazz Combo Concert: new compositions inspired by the work of Onajide Shabaka in Wasmer Art Gallery, Tuesday, February 3, 2026, 6:30-7:30pm. (A Creative Connections collaboration between the Art and Music programs)

Kim Weitkamp – Roots of Compassion & Kindness

Kim Weitkamp grew up in Amish Country as the middle child of exhausted parents. Labeled by teachers as high-spirited, uncooperative and too talkative, Kim took those comments and channeled them into a lifetime of high-energy, heartfelt and hilarious artistry. We are better for it.

She is an award winning storyteller, author, singer-songwriter and humorist. After using applied storytelling in her work with adjudicated and at risk youth for 12 years, Kim took a turn onto a different avenue of story and song which led her down the path of full time touring for the last 15 years where she gathered an armload of awards.

She performs regularly at festivals and theaters around the country, has written a well received folk operetta and has been a guest editor and contributor for various publications. Kim's material gets regular airplay on Sirius XM and NPR Affiliate Stations.

She has 8 award winning albums, has produced and/or designed 32 albums for other performers and has hosted a morning show for a DOVE Award winning radio network. She has been honored with leadership and speaking awards for her coaching/speaking work with internationally known companies like Purina, Leibherr, Grifols, and Edward Jones as well as nationally recognized non-profits like, Feeding America, Habitat for Humanity and Conflict Resolution Centers. She is ranked as one of the top 20 business coaches in the Columbus, Ohio region by Influence Digest, teaching the power of story to help grow organizations and build teams.

"Story is at the foundation of all I do. Whether I am making an audience laugh, writing a new song or presenting a keynote, story is the springboard for each and every step I take. I share and teach the art of storytelling with great intention. Why? Because I have witnessed, firsthand, its incredible power." ~ Kim Weitkamp

Kim Weitkamp – TBA

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"

FGCU Storytelling - "Spoken Stories Creating Community"

FGCU Storytelling - "Spoken Stories Creating Community"

FGCU Storytelling - "Spoken Stories Creating Community"

FGCU Storytelling - "Spoken Stories Creating Community"