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Okaloosa Public Arts
Board of Directors

Meet the Okaloosa Public Arts Board

Our Board of Directors is a passionate group of community leaders, artists, and advocates dedicated to enriching Okaloosa County through public art. Their vision, guidance, and commitment help shape projects that inspire creativity, celebrate local talent, and make art accessible to all. Together, they support OPA’s mission of bringing meaningful, engaging art into public spaces across our region.

Board of Directors

Founding Members

Bernadette Sims

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Linda Carr

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Anne Johnston

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Linda Kernick

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Thalia Newton

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additional current board members

Pat Z. Roberts, President

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Gretchen "Gigi" Loch, Vice President

Helen Harris, Secretary

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Okaloosa Public Arts board member Blair Supplee

Blair Supplee, Treasurer

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OPA board member Karen Butler

Karen Butler

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Arthur Jenkins

current OPA board member Tuny Jennings

Tuny Jennings

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Board Member Kathleen Simpson

Kathleen Simpson

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Okaloosa Public Arts Board member Norma Supplee

norma Supplee

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Board Member Kim Urr

Kim Urr

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Thomas Walsh

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Board of Directors Founding Member Bernadette Sims
Artwork by Bernadette Sims - Founding OPA member

Bernadette Sims

Founding Member

Ms. Sims, local artist and founder of the Northwest Florida Ballet, was trained at Ballet Arts Studio at Carnegie Hall in New York City. She served as Director of the Northwest Florida Ballet for 28 years and presently teaches ballet in the NFB Académie. As an artist, she has won numerous awards for her watercolor artwork and digital photography and has served as chairman of the National Exhibition of the Watercolor Society of Alabama. Her work is on display at HH Arts in Fort Walton Beach. Ms. Sims is a founding member and current President of Okaloosa Public Arts.

Her Community and artistic involvement:

Past President of Florida State Dance Association

Past President of the Southeastern Regional Ballet Association

Board of Directors of the National Association for Regional Ballet

Board of Directors of the Okaloosa Arts Alliance

Past President of the Arts and Design Society of Fort Walton Beach

Past President of the Junior League of Fort Walton Beach

Linda Carr

Founding Member

Ms. Carr, a native of Niceville, graduated from Choctawhatchee High School and attended the University of Florida. She has trained with nationally known folk artists Priscilla Hauser and Betty Denton and is certified in stenciling by Adele Bishop. Her stenciling has been recognized nationally. Her decorative painted furniture, children’s table and chair sets and rocking horses sold in shops of northwest Florida. Her new found interest in photography has resulted in awards in juried shows.

Community and Artistic involvement:

Original co-chair of the Junior League cookbook, Sugar Beach

Past President, Northwest Florida Ballet

Past President, Okaloosa County Medical Alliance

Vice regent of the Choctawhatchee Bay Chapter of the Daughters of the Revolution

Sustaining member of the Emerald Coast Junior League

Mentor for AbbVie Drug Company for those interested in DUOPA for treatment of Parkinson’s Disease

anne Johnston

Founding Member

Ms. Johnston is a retired Okaloosa County School administrator with thirty-two years of experience in education. She served as Deputy Principal at Choctawhatchee High School for fifteen years. She holds an undergraduate degree in English and art and two master’s degrees—School Administration and Supervision, and Counseling and Human Development—from Troy University. Her art works have been displayed at Signature Studios Gallery in Destin and at the Dowling Center for the Arts in Ozark, Alabama as well as the Arts and Design Society in Fort Walton Beach. Her art works have also been accepted into many juried shows and have won several awards and recognitions.

Her Community Service Activities:

Past President, Arts and Design Society of Fort Walton Beach

Past President, Alpha Delta Kappa Honorary Educational Sorority

Member, Fort Walton Beach Woman’s Club

Member, Children in Crisis Change for Children Campaign

Linda Kernick

Founding Member

Mrs. Kernick is currently an exhibiting artist at several galleries. Over the years, she studied art with many instructors, all the while working as a School Psychologist. Her work is acrylic with mixed media on canvas.

She currently is in an art exhibit at Destin Library. She also is represented by Foster Gallery at Grand Blvd., Sandestin, Florida. She is a member of Arts and Design Society in Fort Walton Beach and the Cultural Arts Alliance, as well as a Board Member of Okaloosa Public Arts. She has taught several art workshops in the Arts and Design Society of Fort Walton Beach, the Cultural Arts Alliance in Walton County and in Pensacola.

Her Community Service Activities:

Past President of Florida State Dance Association

Past President of the Southeastern Regional Ballet Association

Board of Directors of the National Association for Regional Ballet

Board of Directors of the Okaloosa Arts Alliance

Past President of the Arts and Design Society of Fort Walton Beach

Past President of the Junior League of Fort Walton Beach

Thalia Newton

Founding Member

Thalia is one of the founding members of Okaloosa Public Arts (OPA).Their signature project was placing art in the new Courthouse Annex on Beal Parkway in October 2011. Later, art was placed in the new Student Services Building of Northwest Florida State University and the Northwest Florida Regional Airport. Art has also been placed in several local area libraries. OPA sponsors a yearly juried art show at the Okaloosa County Administration building in Shalimar, FL.

Since retiring as the owner of a successful interior decorating business, Thalia has had an opportunity to “Follow her passion”. She has developed her natural talent with a number of courses, workshops, classes, and sojourns. In addition to depicting places she has visited and loved, Thalia’s background in interior design is readily apparent in her works that depict interiors.

Her Community Service Activities:

Serving in the creative areas of her church and with local arts and design groups. She has participated in a number of art venues, displays, workshops and exhibitions both locally and abroad

Trustee of the Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings Society

Traveling the state of Florida as a participant of the Florida Humanities Council’s Gathering

Pat Z. Roberts

President

Pat Roberts has an AA degree from Ocean County college in Toms River, New Jersey. She has traveled extensively all over the world, and served for 10 years as a teacher’s assistant in the Camden, New York school system. Her artwork has been exhibited in New Jersey, Alaska and Florida. She has been honored with numerous awards throughout her career. Her paintings can be found in private collections in the United States and Europe.

Her community and artistic Involvement:

President of Okaloosa Public Arts, has painted several herons for the community to enjoy

Gallery Chairman of the Arts and Design Society, and OPA Board Exhibits

Instructor of acrylic painting at the Arts and Design Society of Fort Walton Beach Children’s summer camp

Visiting art instructor at Westwood Retirement Center and Belvedere Commons Assisted Living Facility

Teaches acrylic painting for the Center for Life Long Learning (CLL)

Volunteer at Fort Walton Beach High School, Edwin’s and Liza Jackson elementary schools

Volunteer at Jet Drive Community center

Helen Harris

Secretary

Helen Harris graduated from Fashion Institute of Technology, NYC, working in the industry for several years. She then made a career change working in the airline industry for 32 years, while drawing and painting on the side. Upon retiring to Fort Walton Beach, she continued her art, working in oil, acrylic, concentrating late in Encaustic and Paper cutting. As a member of the Art & Design Society, eventually she opened an art gallery; HH Arts. She has judged art shows, mainly Children shows at Hurlburt and local high and middle schools. She has won some local art awards.

Her Community Service Activities:

Past President of the Arts & Design Society, continuing on the board in various positions

Past Membership Chairman Daughters of the American Revolution, Choctawhatchee Bay Chapter

Past Curriculum Chairman & current teacher- Center for Lifelong Learning; Ran the Kids Art Camp for ADSO for a number of years

Okaloosa Public Arts board member Blair Supplee

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Artwork by Blair Supplee - OPA member

Blair Supplee

Treasurer

Mr. Supplee, a fine artist based in Fort Walton Beach, is known for his innovative work in digital/AI art, acrylic painting, and painted steel sculpture. He holds a BFA in Fine Art and Psychology from the University of West Florida. Through his art, Mr. Supplee seeks to evoke emotional connections, using color, line, shape, and texture to explore the intersection of emotion, introspection, and abstract expression.

His work has been exhibited at Foster Gallery, the ADSo Gallery, and the Shalimar Administration Building. Mr. Supplee is represented by HH Arts in Fort Walton Beach. He regularly teaches monthly workshops in digital art, including Adobe Firefly, Adobe Photoshop, and Adobe Lightroom.

Mr. Supplee is a member of Okaloosa Public Arts and continues to contribute to the local art community through his exhibitions, instruction, and creative innovation.

His Community and Artistic Involvement:

Exhibiting Artist at Foster Gallery, Miramar Beach, FL

Exhibiting Artist at ADSo Gallery, Fort Walton Beach, FL

Exhibiting Artist at Shalimar Administration Building (2022–2024)

Represented by HH Arts Gallery, Fort Walton Beach, FL

Monthly Workshop Instructor (Digital/AI Art, Adobe Software)

OPA board member Karen Butler
art by OPA board member Karen Butler

Karen Butler

board member

Karen Butler is an artist that works in a variety of artistic mediums including Oils, Charcoal, Watercolor and Acrylic painting, as well as Soft/Oil Pastels. Karen also has the unique skill of painting with hot wax known as Encaustic Painting, and then rounds
out her talent repertoire with another medium known as fused glass, creating everything from jewelry, and Zen Gardens to glass tapestries.

Community and Artistic Involvement:

Karen is a 20 year USAF VETERAN 

An active 27 year Realtor in NWFL

Past President of the Women’s Council of Realtors

Member of the Fort Walton Beach Chamber of Commerce

Past Committee Chair of the Cultural Awareness Committee 

President of The Alliance of Ebony Artists 

current OPA board member Tuny Jennings
artwork by OPAs board member Tuny Jennings

Tuny Jennings

board member

Ms. Jennings has had a diverse and colorful career—from teaching English and art at a Portuguese grammar school to working in a Pennsylvania shoe factory to eventually serving as Director of Library Services for a university on Hurlburt Field. (She credits the shoe factory job with helping fund her master’s degree.)

Art has always been part of her life, rooted deeply in her family background. Today, Ms. Jennings focuses primarily on collage work, with cats as her constant and beloved subject. Upon retiring from her role as a library director, she joined the Arts and Design Society (ADSO) to stay active—and has remained ever since, filling in wherever needed while continuing to create and enjoy her artwork.

This is her second year with Okaloosa Public Arts, where she also lends a helping hand wherever she’s needed. While she doesn’t take her art too seriously, she finds joy in experimenting with color, texture, and the creative process.

Her Community and Artistic Involvement:

Former Director of Library Services, University on Hurlburt Field

Member of the Arts and Design Society (ADSO), Fort Walton Beach, FL

Collage Artist Focused on Feline Subjects

Volunteer and Supporter of Local Arts Organizations

Board Member Kathleen Simpson
Art by Board Member Kathleen Simpson

Kathleen Simpson

board member

Kathleen’s non-traditional path to her present-day Creative Artist started as a Hospital Corpsman in the Navy. After which she worked as a Licensed Practical Nurse in many areas of medicine while raising her two sons and supporting her husband who was serving as a Military Medical Officer in the U.S. Navy. Meanwhile, she had been attending school over the years. After her husband retired, they lived in Upstate New York where Kathleen graduated from Syracuse University with a Bachelors Art Degree focused on Art History. All the while, her creative outlet stayed true to traditional Quilting, Textile Art, Photography and now recently, Mixed Media.

For Kathleen, linking her time in her studio with time in the outdoors is an essential daily routine in her life. This regularly includes yoga, paddleboarding, cycling, swimming, hiking, kayaking, gardening, and/or walking.

Her Community and Artistic Involvement:

Delavan Art Gallery, Syracuse, NY – Assistant Manager

Erie Canal Museum, Syracuse, NY – Program Coordinator – Assistant Museum Curator

New York State Fair – Art & Home Building – Juror

Central NY Scholastic Art Awards – Juror

Sewing Center Around the Block, Fort Walton Beach, FL – Volunteer

Matty Kelly Festival of Arts, Niceville, Fl – Award Winner

Arts and Design Society, Fort Walton Beach, FL – Award Winner – Speaker – Children’s Art

OPA Artists Choice Exhibition, Shalimar, FL – Award Winner

Studio Art Quilts Society, Arts & Design Society, Creative Strength Training Artist’s Community – Member

Okaloosa Public Arts Board member Norma Supplee

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handmade jewelry by Norma Supplee

Norma Supplee

board member

Norma is a jewelry artist based in Fort Walton Beach, Florida, who has been creating one-of-a-kind handcrafted jewelry for over 10 years. Her work, known for its unique design and craftsmanship, has earned numerous awards and recognition within the local arts community.

Norma’s jewelry has been featured in exhibitions and sales at the Arts and Design Society in Fort Walton Beach. She is currently represented by HH Arts Gallery, where her work is on display and available for purchase Tuesday through Saturday from 10 AM to 3 PM.

her Community and Artistic Involvement:

Jewelry Artist with 10+ Years of Experience

Award-Winning Designs at Arts and Design Society (Fort Walton Beach, FL)

Represented by HH Arts Gallery (Fort Walton Beach, FL)

Ongoing Sales and Exhibitions at HH Arts

Board Member Kim Urr
Art by Kim Urr

Kim Urr

board member

Kim is a resident of the Gulf Coast of Florida. Born with an eye for beauty and a deep connection to nature, this visual artist grew up immersed in the vibrant colors and textures and majesty of her surroundings. In awe of, and inspired, by nature she began exploring drawing at an early age, later expanding into the use of color in her art. Kim’s work keeps a deep engagement with realism. Kim’s has been influenced by the many different places she has lived from Iceland to Alaska, Ohio to Florida and California to New Mexico.

Kim was primarily self-taught; however, she has 2 years of Art Studies at the University of Alaska Fairbanks and has continued to study under various instructors over the years. Kim is currently studying locally under Vincent Zingaretti, Kim believes that art is a lifelong study!

Through the years she has completed several commissioned pieces including portraits and murals. She has been invited to participate in community projects, Kim refurbished one of the horses on antique merry-go-round at a community park in Fairbanks, Alaska. More recently, her design was one of many chosen to paint a 5’ Heron as part of Okaloosa Public Arts Emeral Coast Heron Project. Along with being on OPA’s Board of Directors Kim is also an active member of the Arts and Design Society of Ft Walton Beach.

Some of Kim’s’ artwork can be found in HH Arts Gallery in Ft Walton Beach Florida along with some pieces hanging in the Okaloosa County Administration Building.

Kim’s’ hope is that through her art, others will see there is beauty that surrounds us in our busy everyday lives!

Thomas Walsh

Board Member

Mr. Walsh is a Gulf Coast native and self-taught professional artist known for his coastal-themed wood-carved sculptures crafted from locally reclaimed materials and found objects. His mixed-media work combines carved wood with unexpected textures and whimsical flair, and can be found in homes, businesses, and rental properties throughout the Gulf Coast region.

Mr. Walsh began his art journey at Fort Walton Beach High School as an airbrush artist, painting T-shirts, murals, signs, and vehicles. He later worked for many years as a senior multimedia specialist at a leading aerospace company, where he led the development of computer graphics, 3D modeling, and animations.

In 2022, he was selected as one of twelve artists to paint stormwater drains as part of the “Keep Our Waterways Clean” mural project, sponsored by Erase the Trace Okaloosa and the Fort Walton Beach Cultural Arts League.

Today, Mr. Walsh continues to create playful, nostalgic pieces that reflect the charm and feel of old Florida. An avid paddleboarder, he draws inspiration from his time on and around the water.

His Community and Artistic Involvement:

Arts and Design Society of Fort Walton Beach Member

Selected Artist, “Keep Our Waterways Clean” Mural Project (2022)

Exhibiting Artist – Public and Private Collections Across the Gulf Coast