Bay Area art center reopening with 'Rising from the Hurricanes' exhibit
INDIAN ROCKS BEACH, Fla. - In the midst of ongoing repairs, the Beach Art Center decided to open its doors for the first time since the 2024 hurricanes.
"You know what, we said hey we're taking the makeup off. We're taking the studs down, and this is how we wanted to do this show," Beach Art Center President Jeni Bond said.
The show is called ‘Rising from the Hurricanes.' The 80-plus pieces are anchored to the walls, which are still down to the studs in many areas thanks to damage from the storm surge of Hurricane Helene.

The Beach Art Center in Indian Rocks Beach has opened its doors for the first time since the hurricanes.
"I think it shows the real, raw nature of what happened here," Bond said.
The center has been receiving calls and messages asking when it will open again. Members thought this exhibition would be a good first step.
"I was here to take in art the first day, and I was amazed," artist Pequeeta Renfroe said. "People just kept coming in and coming in and bringing more art, so it's obvious that people want to get the art center up and going again."
Renfroe comes to the center for the social aspect of it, in addition to the creativity. Fellow artist Roberta Romeo comes for the same reasons, but she also teaches watercolor classes.
"The Beach Art Center is the heart of Indian Rocks. It's part of my heart because I've always been a teacher, and teaching is one of my passions, so if my students can't come and I can't teach them, you know, that's a hole in my life, in my social, in my emotional, in my psyche and everything. It's just a big hole," Renfroe said.

The Beach Art Center in Indian Rocks Beach has opened its doors for the first time since the hurricanes.
The center has been able to hold some classes at different locations. The damage wiped out plans for two different exhibitions. Bond hopes the center will be fully open in 4–5 months.
Renfroe said the bond between artists helped them through the last couple of months. Many of the artists live in the area and suffered damage to their own homes and businesses.
"When I see all of the color, the expression that people are using in their art, there's hope, and that's what it's all about, I think. It's just having that hope that we can rebuild. We will rebuild. We just have to be patient," Renfroe said.
What you can do: As for how the public can help, Bond says they just need support from the community in any way possible, whether it’s taking classes, becoming a member or purchasing a 2025 fundraising calendar.
'Rising from the Hurricanes' will be open to the public the next two Saturdays, from noon to 3 p.m. Bond says if there is more demand, they can adjust the center’s hours.
The Source: This story was created using information that FOX 13 Photojournalist Barry Wong gathered.
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