Artist Cheryl Ploegstra in front of photos of North Port St. Joe.

Exhibit at The Joe, located at 201 Reid Avenue in Port St. Joe. Starting at 11:00am on Friday, March 14 until Wednesday, March 19 at 5:00pm. Presentation of the residency by Cheryl will be at the Opening Luncheon at the Joe on Friday, March 14 at noon.

For six decades, (1938 to its final demolition in 2003), the St. Joe Paper Company brought prosperity to Port St. Joe, while discharging industrial pollutants into the soil, air, St. Joseph Bay, the Intercostal Canal, and Florida aquifer. Located contiguous to the chemical plant, the area historically known as Millville, Mill View, or North Port St. Joe, suffered the worst of the pollution while receiving the least benefit. It was also the area worst hit by the economic depression after St. Joe Paper shut down and by the destruction of Hurricane Michael.

Cheryl Ploegstra, a local plein air artist and former FCenPA board member and Ambassador, is researching and painting historical sites, remediation projects and hurricane recovery efforts in this historically black neighborhood. It’s a neighborhood she loves painting for the uniqueness of the houses and the resilience of the residents.