Poetry and Paintings at the Sanibel Historical Museum
The captivating charm in an island’s past, as represented in the seven buildings of the Sanibel Historical Museum and Village, will be celebrated in poetry and paintings in a special presentation at the Old Schoolhouse at the Village on Wednesday, Feb. 25, at 3 p.m.
There will be no admission fee to for the event which includes, hearing the schoolhouse bell of 1898, listening to a poem written by the Village poet Raymond Buck and seeing the paintings created by visiting artists-in-residence from the Sanibel/Captiva Art League.
The poems written by Buck were part of a series of 12, along with photographs and prose descriptions of the buildings surrounding the Village garden. Island folks have enjoyed his poetry on a wide range of subjects for the past four years at the semi-annual Writers Reads at BIG ARTS, at ArtPoems events, at Open Mic at the Bean, and at Sanibel Library readings.
Buck is also a docent who on occasion provides an entertaining and informative tour of the Village. Since he finds much of the inspiration for his poetry in the natural world, it is not surprising that he teamed with fellow docent Karl Rodman to create this year’s well-received Village vegetable garden.
On the first Wednesday of February, soon after the 10 a.m. Village opening, there were eight easels set up on the grounds by artists-in-residence for the month from the Sanibel/Captiva Art League. The group’s coordinator Neil Glaser was at one corner of the garden; Betty Weise was at the other. She had a small portfolio of her work on hand for Village visitors to look through while she painted.
Karen Berger was under a cabbage palm in front of the Burnap Cottage, not far from Peter Zell in the shade of the Rutland House. Ann Kittell was at the far side of the grounds with a full view of the white buildings; Carolyn Johns was by the garden; and Terry Shattuck had the color of the oranges and grapefruit above her.
No one seemed concerned about the whereabouts of Dan Winters who was thought to be painting out behind the Old Bailey Store, right where the biggest bobcat on the island had been seen only two weeks ago.
The paintings of Village scenes and many others will be on display in the Old Schoolhouse on Feb. 25 .The ringing of the historic school’s bell will ring just before the event.
Editors note:
On the Wednesday of Village poetry and painting, Miss Charlotta’s Tearoom returns, perhaps for the first time in decades, to its original function. Iced tea and cookies will be the complimentary refreshments served there after the Village poetry reading and the Village art exhibits. It will be an opportunity for poet Ray Buck and the artists to chat with guests of the Historical Museum.