The plein air art show is underway at the Sanibel Historical Museum & Village. The Sanibel-Captiva Art League plein air exhibit runs through February 24. Members of the Art League over the past months have been painting plein air (in the outdoors) on the Historical Village property. Paintings displayed in this exhibit will showcase the various historical village structures. Works are done in watercolor, acrylic, gouache (opaque watercolor), and oil.
Paintings will be on sale at the exhibit. “The exhibit offers a great opportunity to own original artwork of the village,” said Historical Village Executive Director Emilie Alfino. “We enjoy hosting the painters, who come often to the village – rain or shine – and watching them painting our unique and wonderful buildings. It’s a delight to have them exhibit their work at the Village, and we hope many people will come to see their work and possibly purchase a painting of the village for their home or office.”
One such painting by Sheila Wissner depicts Miss Charlotta’s Tea Room, one of visitors’ favorites in the village. “When I arrived at the Historical Village on a rainy November day, I was intrigued by the lacy curtains and old kitchen pump I could see through a window of the Tea Room. So I set up an easel under the roof of the nearby Packing House to paint this pastel out of the rain,” Wissner recalled.
The exhibit is located in the Shore Haven building at the historical village. The art show is open to the public at no charge. Admission to the Historical Village is available for the regular $10 fee per adult. The exhibit and Historical Village are open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The Sanibel Historical Museum & Village opened in 1984 and consists of nine authentic historical buildings representing various aspects of life in the pioneer days of Sanibel, including a one-room schoolhouse, a fishing house, a Cracker-style farm house, a tearoom, and more. The mission of the historical village is to preserve, share, and celebrate Sanibel history.
In accordance with the city of Sanibel’s regulations, masks are required inside the buildings at this time. Guided tours of the village take place at 10:30 and 1:30, and advance reservations are not required. There is no additional fee for these tours. The historical village is located at 950 Dunlop Road (next to BIG ARTS). Admission is $10 for adults over 18; members and children are free. The village has handicap access to all but one building, the tiny Post Office. For more information, call (239) 472-4648 during museum hours or visit www.sanibelmuseum.org.
