There’s something special that happens when a group of people gather each week to create art. A shared sense of possibility emerges, confidence grows, and connections form.  

For nearly two decades, Toby Meyer has been a steady and inspiring presence in the JCC Denver’s Fine Arts program. She was even a Camp Shai counselor 50 years ago! Through classroom changes, gallery renovations, and even a global pandemic, her commitment to teaching art and mainly dedication to her students has remained unwavering. 

This spring, that dedication comes to life once again at the Mizel Arts & Culture Center Annual Student Art Show, where Toby’s students share their work, growth, and unique creative journeys. 

Toby began teaching at the JCC as the Mizel Arts and Culture Adult Art Educator (MACC) around 19 years ago, drawn back to a place she had known since her early days teaching at Camp Shai. After art programs were cut from her previous school, she sought a community that valued creativity—and she found it here.  

Her classes, spanning acrylic, watercolor, and mixed media, welcome artists at every level.  

“I love to paint and to teach,” she says. “The Fine Arts Program of the JCC and MACC makes it possible for individuals to experience the structure and thrill of creating their own art… It’s joyful to see the different and creative ways that individuals grow and express themselves.” 

That growth is something her students feel deeply.   

“Toby Meyer is a master teacher,” says student Elke Barter. “As an inexperienced painter, she gave me the tools to take my art to the next level—but more than that, she gave me confidence in myself as an artist to follow my instincts and trust myself. I look forward to my time with Toby every week very much.” 

For others, the class is both a creative outlet and a source of motivation. 

“She is the best of the best,” shares Lea Fyzakov. “Without her I could not sit and paint. She encourages me to come to class, which I enjoy very much, and my practice has tremendously improved.” 

What makes Toby’s classes unique is not just her technical expertise, but the environment she cultivates, one of encouragement, exploration, and shared inspiration. “Seeing students enrich each other through their work is something I truly love,” she says. “Helping shape and develop their ideas is my greatest joy.” 

The Annual Student Art Show, one of Toby’s favorite traditions, offers a chance for that joy to extend beyond the classroom. It invites the wider community to witness the creative talent of each artist on display. 

“Being a part of the JCC community to me means being a part of a larger mission to bring the thrill and opportunity of taking an art course to our community,” she says. “And long-term, sharing those pieces created within the program to bring joy and happiness to others.”