These elongated forms, representing the jobs of yesteryear, are created and displayed by Tyler Voorhees from Michigan. -CASEY BRADLEY GENT / FLORIDA WEEKLY

For art enthusiasts eager to view the work of creators from in and around Florida and beyond, the Sanibel-Captiva Rotary provided an ideal venue at the Community House on Sanibel Island over the weekend. The 43rd Annual Rotary Arts and Crafts Festival was held Feb. 14 and 15, where nearly 80 vendors set up booths showcasing original artwork for sale. While a number of artists said they attend the show annually and will continue to, others shared that while shoppers seemed eager to browse, this year, very few were buying. Still, the wide array of art and style had Rotary members cheering.

Debbie Small, a member of the Sanibel-Captiva Rotary for less than a year, said she was impressed by the event. “This is a wonderful turnout, particularly since it is the only annual fund-raising event we do,” Small explained. A $10 donation for admission was accepted at the gate, and vendors paid $500 to participate in the two-day event. Savannah Kelly, a resident of Fort Myers, said she joined the Sanibel-Captiva Rotary three years ago because she loves their mission of service. “This yearly event helps us to provide Rotary scholarships,” Kelly explained. “We provide scholarships for technical schools and conventional universities. Students who live on the islands do receive priority when it comes to allocating our scholarships.” Scholarship applicants are not required, though, to live on Sanibel or Captiva.

Creator Joyce Curvin holds one of her Art-Official Pets, a Blue Jay, crafted with Papier-mâché and placed in a banjo. -CASEY BRADLEY GENT / FLORIDA WEEKLY

Along the perimeter of Sanibel’s Community House, a gathering place located on Periwinkle Way where lectures, holiday events, celebrations and art shows like this one keep the community buzzing, tents lined the building on three sides during President’s Day weekend. Joyce Curvin, an artist from Palm Harbor, FL, creates paper mâché pets and creatures painted with vivid color. “These pets are very well behaved,” Curvin teased, commenting on the fact that her creations are – well – motionless sculptures. Curvin also said that she has been attending the Sanibel-Captiva Rotary Arts and Crafts Fair as a vendor for three years. “This show has a great vibe. From the guests, to just being set up on an island. I love doing this event,” Curvin stated. She added that she plans to return next year, on Valentine’s Day weekend, for the Sanibel-Captiva Rotary event.

Artist Tyler Voorhees traveled to Sanibel from his home in Michigan. Voorhees creates elongated forms; gritty historic surrealism representing “the jobs of yesteryear,” he explained. Voorhees said he began experimenting in elementary school with long, lean figures as doodles. “I’m also really into history,” he added. Among Voorhees’ collection is a lineman and a major league pitcher. He said he had not had many sales on Saturday, but hoped buyers would be coming back to the Rotary Arts and Crafts Festival on Sunday to make purchases. Fellow vendor, Andee Axe, agreed. “It isn’t the show’s fault, but people aren’t buying,” she said. Axe creates brilliantly colored paintings of blooms, books and even fashion. Her home base is Naples, Florida.

Art vendors weren’t the only businesses set up outside of the Community House. Food trucks with big colorful lemonades, kettle corn and hot dogs were scattered between artists. Camy’s Kettle Corn operator, Macy Robinson, said her truck had been busy. “We have had a small line most of the day,” she added. “People always love our lemonade.”

Inside the Community House, tables were laden with silent auction items like a Sanibel-themed gift basket and locally crafted jewelry. Every part of the event was designed to raise money in the spirit of serving others. Savannah Kelly was confident this year’s Sanibel-Captiva Rotary Arts and Crafts Festival had done just that. Bids on the silent auction items grew throughout the weekend, and winners were announced Sunday evening. At 4 p.m. Sunday, an announcer thanked the weekend’s attendees for visiting and stated the show will return bigger and better in 2027.

For more information on future Sanibel-Captiva Rotary Club Arts and Crafts Festivals, visit sanibelartfair.com/.

Ricardo Soriano, who spent a decade living in Botswana, describes his collection of butterflies to an interested collector. -CASEY BRADLEY GENT / FLORIDA WEEKLY