Chamber, CCA celebrate latest neighborhood mural
In partnership with the Lee County Visitor & Convention Bureau (VCB), the SanCap Chamber cut the ribbon on Jan. 6 on a new mural on the side of the Captiva Civic Center on Captiva, shared by the Captiva Civic Association (CCA) and Captiva Memorial Library.
The mural is the ninth out of 10 that the VCB has been debuting throughout the county in past years.
“The murals identify places throughout our destination and what’s special about them,” VCB Product Development Manager Nancy MacPhee said. “We wanted to touch every one of our 10 communities. Each mural is interactive, and people can have their pictures taken with it.”
World-renown artist Ben Keller’s “Captivating Captiva” honors the island’s heritage and natural beauty, drawing from historical photographs. It invites viewers to step back to a time when early settlers arrived to a lush, wild landscape uncluttered by man’s footprint.
“The mural reminds us that Captiva exists at the intersection of past and present, and that stewardship of the island is a shared responsibility for future generations,” CCA Director Lauren McCraney said. “As the Captiva Civic Association celebrates its 90th anniversary, the mural stands as a symbol of stewardship and continuity. It is both a visual invitation and a testament to CCA’s enduring commitment to nurture community life and preserve Captiva’s land and heritage.”
The VCB selected the CCA’s building for its long-standing role, visibility and accessibility as a community anchor on the island. The selection highlights the CCA as an ideal setting for meaningful, place-based public art.
“We are so proud to have another of the VCB’s neighborhood murals in our island community,” chamber President and Chief Executive Officer John Lai said. “In 2023, we cut the ribbon on the fifth mural right here at the chamber visitor center on Sanibel. It’s a wonderful program that unites us and gives visitors a very real, very beautiful way to emotionally connect with our communities.”
McCraney noted that the chamber supported the project.
“As a chamber member, the CCA values the chamber’s continued role in fostering community connection and collaboration across Captiva and Sanibel,” she said.
The Captiva Civic Center is at 11550 Chapin Lane, Captiva.