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JOLEEN MERCEDES RAHO
“What Beats Beneath”
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CAPTIVA CIVIC ASSOCIATION
The Captiva Civic Association will present Perfectly Paired: Greek Wines with wine steward Calli Johnson duPont on March 23 at the Captiva Civic Center on Captiva.
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CAPTIVA CIVIC ASSOCIATION
A Sip And Paint with local artist Sissi Janku will take place on March 24 at the Captiva Civic Center on Captiva, hosted by the Captiva Civic Association.
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MAUREEN GINIPRO
“Split Personality”
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SHERYLL FONSETH-LAIS
“Beautiful Danger”
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The Captiva Civic Association (CCA) has its final art exhibition and two programs coming up.
The Sanibel-Captiva Art League’s (SCAL) Juried Art Exhibit will debut on March 19 at the Captiva Civic Center. The next session in the CCA’s Perfectly Paired Wine Tasting Series will be held on March 23 at the center, and a Sip And Paint with local artist Sissi Janku will take place on March 24.
JURIED ART EXHIBIT
An Opening Reception for the SCAL’s “Refections” will be held on March 19 from 5 to 7 p.m.
“We think it’s important to be able to share the talent of our local artists with the community and the tourists visiting our island and to bring people together to support our local artists,” CCA Director Lauren McCraney said.
SCAL Secretary Joleen Mercedes Raho reported that the exhibition will feature about 30 artists and close to 50 submitted pieces from members of the league, CCA and Art Council of Southwest Florida.
“We have a range,” she said of the mediums on display, adding that photography and giclee are not included. “In the past, we’ve had statuary, mixed media, collage, acrylic, oil, fiber arts, pottery.”
Raho noted that there were no size limits on the works for the first time.
She explained that the exhibit’s theme of “Refections” was left up to each artist for interpretation.
“Reflections are inner reflections, like self reflections. Reflections can be commentary on social issues,” Raho said. “Reflections can be spiritual. You also have physical reflections and memories.”
As a juried exhibition, awards will be handed out for first, second and third place.
In addition, a Captiva Award will go to a painting that most represents the island.
The judge for this year’s exhibit is Monica Rahman. Involved at the Cape Coral Art League and art gallery chair for the Friends of Cape Coral Library, she has been judging shows for decades. Prior to her retirement, Rahman was an assistant art director for a fashion catalogue company. She holds an Associate of Arts in commercial art and a Bachelor of Arts concentrated in painting and printmaking.
The pieces will be available for purchase.
“Because the CCA has allowed us to open-end our size and price structure, they will see pieces from $150 to well into the thousands,” Raho said. “So it’s a wide spread — something for everyone.”
A portion of the sale proceeds will benefit the CCA.
The reception will feature food and drinks, along with music.
“We’ll announce the winners, so there’ll be a little ceremony,” she said.
“As local artists, we love to mingle, support and celebrate art, so we look forward to meeting the community,” Raho added.
The event is free and open to all, but tickets are required.
The community is welcome to come out.
“The SCAL exhibition is the local artists’ league, so you have community members who are novice artists to well-established, well-known artists,” McCraney said. “See what they bring to our community in defining what reflections mean to them.”
“Refections” will be on display from March 19 through April 16.
Free to the public, the gallery is open Monday through Friday from noon to 3 p.m.
Bank of the Islands is the sponsor for the 2025-26 Art Series.
PERFECTLY PAIRED
Perfectly Paired: Greek Wines will take place from 5 to 7 p.m. A Bit of Bailey’s and The Island Store wine steward Calli Johnson duPont will host the session, with food pairings by Chef Karl Hamme.
“We adore Calli’s talents and skill when it comes to being a sommelier and Karl’s expertise in cuisine,” McCraney said. “And it’s fun to explore wines from around the world together as a community.”
This session will highlight the diversity of Greek wines.
“Since we are going with the Greek theme for some of our lovely Captiva ladies who have Greek heritage or are from Greece, I have decided to use as many indigenous grapes as possible, so people will get to try a lot of new wines,” duPont said.
“We always offer two whites and two reds, and I want to ensure that there is surprise to be had, but each will be a light white, heavy, white light, red and then heavy red,” she added.
Hamme will put his spin on Greek dishes.
“He is from New York, so he loves working with international foods,” duPont said. “Greek is a personal favorite for me because I love Mediterranean-style foods, so this will be a treat for all of us.”
Attendees will have the chance to order the featured bottles for pick up at The Island Store.
“I always like to share tips and tricks I’ve learned from being in the wine industry, so they will hear an insider tip to help them enjoy wine wherever they are in the world,” she noted.
Tickets are $60 for members and $70 for non-members.
The public is encouraged to secure theirs.
“This season has been our most attended season ever,” McCraney said of the Perfectly Paired wine tastings. “They don’t want to miss out on a good time.”
Florida Trust Wealth Management is sponsoring the 2025-26 series.
SIP AND PAINT
Led by Janku, the Sip And Paint will be held from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. at the Captiva center.
“We’ve done the Sip And Paint class for a couple of years, and they’re always a welcome, fun event for our locals and our visitors,” McCraney said. “Sissi also has been a featured artist at our exhibitions.”
Participants will paint a colorful, whimsical sea turtle.
“They’re going to be learning the new techniques with acrylics on canvas to create their own masterpiece,” she said. “Sissi is a great teacher and a wonderful local artist.”
No experience is necessary.
“All are welcome,” McCraney said.
Complimentary wine and light snacks will be served.
Tickets are $65 with materials and an apron included.
The community is invited to attend.
“You get to have a day of finding your inner artist with friends, new and old,” she said. “And it’s a great time and you leave with your own masterpiece.”
Karen Bell and the Bell Team, with Michael Saunders and Company, is the CCA’s season sponsor.
For event tickets or more information, visit https://ccacaptiva.org/.
The Captiva Civic Center is at 11550 Chapin Lane, Captiva.
…..
IF YOU GO
What
“Refections” Opening Reception
When
March 19 from 5 to 7 p.m.
Where
Captiva Civic Center, 11550 Chapin Lane, Captiva
Details
Free to public, but tickets required
…..
IF YOU GO
What
Perfectly Paired: Greek Wines
When
March 23 from 5 to 7 p.m.
Where
Captiva Civic Center, 11550 Chapin Lane, Captiva
Details
Tickets are $60 members and $70 for non-members
…..
IF YOU GO
What
Sip And Paint
When
March 24 from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m.
Where
Captiva Civic Center, 11550 Chapin Lane, Captiva
Details
Tickets are $65