Art exhibit features Captiva
“Capture Captiva,” a juried art exhibit, presented by the Captiva Civic Association, is open to the public through Jan. 12.
An opening reception was held last month on Dec. 8, which was the same day the show opened for the public. The show dates are Tuesday and Friday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., or by appointment, by calling (239) 472-2111.
“There were roughly 120 people here on opening night,” Captiva Civic Association Executive Director Paul Garvey said.
The opening night was in conjunction with the CCA Holiday Social.
“We had a nice mix of people from Sanibel and Captiva,” Garvey said.
Kathy Taylor, who has three watercolor paintings in the exhibit – “Jensen’s Marina,” “Just Coconuts” and “Chapel,” said she loves the gallery because there is special attention to the natural lighting and hanging system.
“There are no bad corners,” she said of the hung paintings.
Garvey said 35 artists participated and 84 paintings were selected and hung on the wall. Although a good portion of the artists are members of the Sanibel Captiva Art League, some artists outside of the league were also selected for the show.
Professional artist Judith Brust, a Captiva resident, stopped by the hall three times once the art was hung to look at the paintings before opening night. Garvey said she selected a first, second and third prize and three honorable mentions.
First place went to Stan Timson for “Beach Reading,” Judith Clark received second place for “Historic Captiva Boats for Hire” and third place was given to Boomer Carroll for “Lady Chadwick.” The honorable mentions went to Michael Moukios for “Blue Heron,” Shelia Wissner for “Lunch at the Bistro” and Audrey Chiaradio for “Fruit of the Palm.”
“What’s nice about the show is it represents the island. It’s nice when artists represent their surroundings,” said Anita Force Marshall, who has three paintings hung at the show. “They are different interpretations of the same place.”
Garvey said 22 paintings have been sold, about 33 percent of the show’s total value. He said a member, and a friend, who recently bought homes, each purchased six or seven paintings.
Force Marshall’s watercolor paintings include “Sittin’ on the Dock at Jensen’s, “‘Tween Waters” and “Contemplating Coconuts.”
All of her paintings are from the Sanibel Captiva Art League Plein Air Paint Outs. She said the league visited eight different venues on Captiva before the show. She said she loves attending the Plein Art Paint Outs because everyone enjoys the same passion – painting.
“It’s a joy to see what everyone comes back with,” Force Marshall said. “Whatever is inside has to come out on paper.”
Although the artists meet at the same location, what is painted is completely different due to perspectives and where they are sitting at that specific location.
“Everyone has a different interpretation,” she said.
Watercolor has always been Force Marshall’s medium because there is a “yumminess about watercolor that is so satisfying.” With watercolor, she said, it’s about letting one color collaborate with another to create her whimsy, decorative and vibrant paintings.
Taylor, who garnered inspiration from her mother, began seriously painting in the late ’80s.
“I paint a lot in Florida. I love the light here,” she said. “This time of the year it is really beautiful.”
Taylor said the drier weather conditions brings out the yellows in the palm trees. She also enjoys adding a touch of red to bring out the green in the palm trees.
Her paintings selected for the show were also a result of the Sanibel Captiva Art League Plein Air Paint Outs.
Garvey said the Captiva Civic Center Hall is roughly 2,300 square feet with a good amount of wall space. Two years ago the old Captiva Civic Center, built in 1961, was torn down. Now the building is almost twice the size as the original.
“It’s one of the favorite places on the two islands for the artists to come to and display their art,” he said. “It’s an all-purpose room. We do meetings, events, socials and art shows. It’s worked out very well and people enjoy coming here.”