Visitors explore the local galleries while checking out Sanibel Art Hop merchandise. -COURTESY PHOTO
Sanibel is more than just an island.
It is a community that holds artists from diverse backgrounds who express their love of art through unique styles.
The galleries from all around Sanibel welcome visitors for their monthly event, Sanibel Art Hop.
Ilie Ruby, owner of Odessa Art Gallery, has been involved in communications for the Sanibel Art Hop and in creating an experience that keeps people coming back.
Odessa Gallery Owner and artist, Ilie Ruby, with a Sanibel Art Hop enthusiast. -COURTESY PHOTO
“Art Hop was the brainchild of City Councilwoman Laura DeBruce and Sanibel & Captiva Events Reporter/Photographer Diana Taylor as a way to bring attention to the thriving arts and cultural communities on Sanibel Island,” Ruby said. It serves a purpose to showcase the brick-and-mortar art galleries, to feature the plethora of local creative talent, and to connect the community—both residential and tourist—with art that celebrates the unique beauty and inspiration that our islands have to offer.”
According to Ruby, the Sanibel Art Hop is a self-guided tour of 8 island art galleries. It takes place on one Sunday a month during the season.
The event employs a passport system where visitors receive stamps when they visit each of the 8 Sanibel galleries. With a fully stamped passport, visitors can then receive a complimentary offer at one of our local sponsoring restaurants—this year, Rosalita’s Cantina and Doc Fords have been generous enough to sponsor.
Free golf cart rides are provided at the Hop, and visitors can also walk, drive or ride their bikes as they visit each gallery.
The event serves as a symbol that Sanibel and the other art communities are growing and working together to create.
“Art Hop signals to the world that there is a rich and vibrant arts community on Sanibel Island and that the arts are thriving here,” Big Arts Gallery Director Wilson McCray said.
Art galleries from all around the island have increased the attention visitors give to their exhibits.
“In just a few short months, Art Hop has already contributed to making Sanibel Island not only a popular destination spot for visitors looking for art, but a cultural hub for residents who may not have been familiar with the vibrant local arts scene,” Ruby said. “The feedback thus far has been overwhelmingly positive, and people have been incredibly enthusiastic. People who have been vacationing on the island for years have remarked that they had no idea these galleries existed.”
Although the Sanibel Art Hop is up-and-coming, Ruby and several other gallery members have seen the effects it has had on visitation on the island.
“We’ve had visitors driving in from all parts of Southwest Florida, including Naples, Fort Myers, and other surrounding areas, to shop for art, as well as visitors from all over the country,” Ruby said. “While Art Hop is only in its first season, there has been great feedback from seasonal and year-round residents as well, who are thrilled to meet and talk to local artists and encounter their work, often for the first time.”
Not only has the event helped strengthen the art community on Sanibel, but it has also led new and younger artists to start creating and to open up conversations with experienced artists on the island.
“Artists are learning that there is a huge art-loving audience out there—and that there is a market for locally-created art on the islands. Also, while the artistic life can be an inward-facing and sometimes solitary experience, opportunities like Art Hop create an environment for artists to come together in community, collaborate and share ideas, and for people to have meaningful interactions centered around art,” Ruby said. “I especially appreciate the collaborative environment Art Hop has created and the way participating galleries have helped promote each other. This speaks to the small-town nature of the islands, the vast number of talented artists living here, and the creative energy inspired by our gorgeous natural coastal environment.”
Guests shop for art prints at Tower Gallery during Sanibel Art Hop. -COURTESY PHOTO
Sanibel Art Hop offers a guide into story behind local galleries on the island. -COURTESY PHOTO
Several artists will agree that events like these encourage growth and the importance of artwork on the island, including artist Susan Sadler, who has been part of Tower Gallery for over 20 years.
“There are so many artists living on this island–it’s pretty remarkable. Art on the island represents the spirit of the people who live here and how much their art is an appreciation of what they see every day and what they feel every day,” she said. “We’re lucky to have so many artists here in one place. Tower Gallery is not only a group of artists—we’re a family of friends.”
Sadler has used the event to share her art style and why she creates. She describes her style as “colorful acrylic paintings with a dash of whimsy,” and through her work, she has built a community of local talented artists who feel like family.
Art Hop “passport” at Rachel Pierce Gallery. -COURTESY PHOTO
“Tower Gallery is an artist collective—our 26 artists run the gamut in terms of creativity and diversity. We have many incredibly talented contemporary artists—porcelain artists, jewelry artists, watercolorists, photographers, painters and textile artists—really a broad selection,” Sadler said. “In addition, we feature the late Charlie McCullough’s photographs of historic island life and local heroes, Ikki Matsumoto’s original vintage silkscreen and lithographic pieces and giclées and Katie Gardenia’s soft sculpture pieces.”
With plans to continue expanding upon the event, Ruby and the Sanibel artists are proud of the community they have built and the opportunity to inspire locals to create.
“That Art Hop will continue for years to come, and it becomes a seasonal island tradition that residents, tourists, businesses and local artists and galleries look forward to each year. We hope it becomes something that people will incorporate into their vacation itineraries when they visit the islands. We love that our galleries are getting creative with enhanced experiences for visitors,” Ruby said.
The next Sanibel Art Hop event will take place on Sunday, April 26, from 2-5 p.m. For more information, visit linktr.ee/sanibelarthop.
In The KNOW:
Sanibel Art Hop Featured Galleries
Big Arts—900 Dunlop Road—239-395-0900
Hirdie Girdie Art Gallery—2490 Library Way—239-395-0027
Kelson Art Gallery—2359 Periwinkle Way—508-740-0260
Odessa Art Gallery—2330 Palm Ridge Road, #15—239-579-0568
Rachel Pierce Art Gallery—1571 Periwinkle Way—239-292-3327
Sanibel Art and Frame—1618 Periwinkle Way—239-395-1350
Sanibel Community House Art Gallery—2173 Periwinkle Way—239-472-2155
Tower Art Gallery—751 Tarpon Bay Road—239-472-4557