Japanese Artist Returning to Sanibel Shell Show

provided to The Santiva Chronicle

Japanese artist Hatsue Iimuro is returning to the Sanibel Shell Show March 8-9 at the Marriott Sanibel Harbour, after an absence due to the pandemic and Hurricane Ian. She first encountered Sailor’s Valentines while in Boston in 2005 and has been fascinated by shell art ever since. Not only is she entering her artwork in this year’s Sanibel Shell Show’s Artistic Division, but she is also bringing several of her students with her from Japan and her artwork will be sold at a vendor’s table.

Iimuro is particularly known for her exquisite Sailor’s Valentines that remind one of kaleidoscopes, but has a keen appreciation for all shell art. She and her students are entering a total of 9 (nine) works of art this year and are very much looking forward to being back at the prestigious Sanibel Shell Show put on by the Sanibel-Captiva Shell Club.

The 2024 Sanibel Shell Show will be from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday, March 8 and Saturday, March 9 at the Sanibel Marriott Harbour. A cash donation of $5 is requested.

Sponsored by the Sanibel-Captiva Shell Club, the Sanibel Shell Show is the club’s annual fundraiser that provides research and education grants to local non-profits such as the Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum and Aquarium, and the Sanibel Captiva Conservation Commission. These grants support work in water quality, conservation, malacology and conchology.