August 25, 2020 | St. Lucie Cultural Alliance | Member Spotlight – Ronni Reed
Contributed by Laura Louise Tingo
Member Spotlight – Meet Ronni
Ronni Reed has a vision for the local artist community that centers on collaboration. The contemporary jewelry artisan can see it, and advocates going on six years now – for St. Lucie County to become the cultural ‘hub’ that she knows it will be.
“It’s about, ‘what will St. Lucie County be known for?’ said Reed, of Port St. Lucie. “When I go into a town, I am looking for art galleries, artists, unique shoppes. We need a physical presence here!”
What that looks like to Reed, is artists working together in co-ops, sharing gallery space, marketing together with online stores, and investing together. An active member of the St. Lucie Cultural Alliance for two years, Reed joined the ‘movement’ looking for a way to make her vision a reality.
“(The Alliance) provides an avenue to share, learn from one another, and create together,” she said.
Recently, Reed also participated in a frank workshop with local officials and leaders in the St. Lucie artist community to brainstorm about that ‘presence,’ she longs to see grow.
“The Alliance is helping us find artists and lead us as the conduit for that, so this can really begin,” she said.
An artist who designs jewelry and gift items from glass, polymer and beadwork, Reed describes her creations as, ‘contemporary, edgy, and colorful.’
“My approach is through an artist’s eyes,” she said, adding that when you are an artist, “you have to do it.”
A retired educator, Reed continues finding joy as an avid art collector, viewing art and bringing home ‘finds,’ from trips to South America, Europe, the Middle East, and more. From Cuba, a sculpture of a mother and child; from Spain, a hand-painted Menorah.
“Art is not only in the eye of the beholder, but the creation of the artist, the interpretation of the artist, and in the artist’s view,” she said. “When you see art, you either love it, or…you walk away.”
Reed currently invites private showings of her works for sale. “It’s fun, it’s an activity, it keeps me busy,” she said. “If I sell things, great; if not, that’s okay too,” adding that artists are constantly looking at the world differently.
“You see or hear something, and all of a sudden, you get creative ideas and you have to put it out there in so many ways.”
To learn more about the St. Lucie Cultural Alliance and the benefits of membership, please visit ArtStLucie.org, email: info@artstlucie.org or call 772-462-2783
To see more of Ronni Reed’s work, email her, at: ronniecreed@gmail.com