provided to The Santiva Chronicle
The artists and owner of Hirdie-Girdie Art Gallery at 2490 Library Way on Sanibel Island felt fortunate they suffered little damage from Hurricane Ian and are able to reopen for their regular season, October to mid-May. The SanCap Chamber was on hand to celebrate its reopening Tuesday, Oct. 17.
“We did not lose any art because the gallery is elevated,” said gallery director and artist Oliver Martin. “The roof is new, our original road sign washed away, and there are still a few small things that need to be addressed. The water never got inside the gallery.”
“As Hirdie-Girdie celebrates its 30th season, we welcome the occasion of its reopening this year with special enthusiasm,” said SanCap President and CEO John Lai. “Sanibel and Captiva have always been known for their art galleries, and this week we welcome two back to the scene, including the Rachel Pierce Art Gallery.”
Home to about 15 local artists, the Hirdie-Girdie co-op displays photography, paintings, ceramics, fused glass, and other media. “Among the artists, we are a true co-op,” said Martin. “Think of a big family.”
The artists thank the community for its support in encouraging the soft opening Oct. 2 and grand opening reception Oct. 12. They served coffee and donuts for the ribbon-cutting, attended by the artists and chamber representatives.
“We appreciate how the chamber has kept us informed through the entire year,” said Martin. “The availability of up-to-date local data on traffic and business data continues to be very important.”
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