SANCAP CHAMBER
\nThe SanCap Chamber celebrated the Odessa Art Gallery on Sanibel with a ribbon-cutting on Dec. 18.<\/p>\n
The SanCap Chamber celebrated the opening of the Odessa Art Gallery in the Palm Ridge Plaza on Sanibel with a ribbon-cutting on Dec. 18.<\/p>\n
\u201cI wanted the gallery be a place where art and language meet,\u201d owner and artist Ilie Ruby said, adding that the gallery was \u201cborn from the storm.\u201d<\/p>\n
A lifelong oil painter and novelist, she returned to a daily studio practice after Hurricane Ian as a way to restore beauty and form.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are always pleased when we can further the islands\u2019 reputation for art and culture,\u201d chamber President and Chief Executive Officer John Lai said. \u201cOdessa represents the intersection of visual and literary art in a most intriguing way.\u201d<\/p>\n
Current collections include contemporary poetic figurative paintings characterized by expressive light and narrative depth \u2014 muses, mermaids and angels \u2014 all emblematic of transformation.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe also feature art drawn from historical island photographs \u2014 scenes and unsung heroes whose stories I encountered while researching a historical novel I\u2019ve been working on,\u201d Ruby said. \u201cWe continue to offer handcrafted sterling silver and semi-precious gemstone jewelry.\u201d<\/p>\n
She credits her participation in the Charitable Foundation of the Islands\u2019 Leadership Sanibel-Captiva Program and collaboration with a team of top-notch local professionals for helping to bring her vision to life and providing a framework of community insight and inspiration that helped shape the gallery\u2019s mission.<\/p>\n
\u201cI am thrilled to share Odessa Art Gallery with the community and hope it stands as a testament to the strength of our islands and the healing power of art,\u201d Ruby said.<\/p>\n
The Odessa Art Gallery is at 2330 Palm Ridge Road, Sanibel.<\/p>\n