Art for Your Home
Robb & Stucky’s Art of Sanibel exhibit and seminar spotlighted works by local artists
This past June, artists came from beautiful Sanibel Island to Robb & Stucky’s Fort Myers showroom to display and sell their art. It was a star-studded event, with the stars being the works of art sprinkled throughout the showroom. Floridainspired paintings, sculptures, beaded jewelry and other handcrafted pieces created a tropical ambience at the luxury home furnishings retailer’s showroom.
Christina Wyatt, who works in acrylic and charcoal, was one of many participating artists. Her pieces spoke to the female form and explored a depth of femininity through grace. A Florida native, Wyatt grew up in Miami where she lived
until moving to Maine to pursue a degree in fine arts from the University of Maine at Presque Isle. After completing school, Wyatt spent time in Virginia before making her way back to Florida, where she now lives and works full time on her art. Describing her paintings as her “poetry,” Wyatt explained that her work is inspired by “grace found in the natural world and by the reverence inherent in the sanctuary of peace.” This feeling unquestionably comes across when viewing her paintings.
Another gifted artist featured in the show was Megan Kissinger, who using acrylic and charcoal creates scenic Florida paintings. She has dubbed them “Art of the Southern Wild.” Among Kissinger’s
display was a painting particularly interesting because of the artist’s usage of old yardstick remnants on the canvas. Giving customers complimentary yardsticks has been a longstanding tradition at Robb & Stucky. With so many of the measuring tools lying around her home—many left by the previous owner—Kissinger was able to incorporate them into her art.
Myra Roberts, an acrylic artist who essentially captures the essence of vacation bliss in her work, also had a display at the Art of Sanibel exhibit. Her specialty is painting women in tropical settings. Ladies dressed in vintage bathing suits are portrayed enjoying the beach’s sand-and-surf scenery. The concept was inspired by her mother’s vast collection of bathing outfits from the 1940s and later eras. In some of Roberts’ newer works, known as her “Black Suit” series, she uses brighter colors and the silhouettes of the suits. The artist admits that she was partially inspired by the works of Andy Warhol.
Another noteworthy artist, JoAnne Bedient presented her collection of “rapid fire” ceramic figurines. She
has been creating her “explosive” art for about 30 years. The term “explosive” is fitting because in her work she uses a process known as “rapid fire,” where the pieces quite literally ignite, creating an interesting effect on the finish.
Among the speakers at the seminar was Robb & Stucky interior designer Kimberly Kreller. She spoke about incorporating art into your home, elaborating on the different eras and themes of art, and offering tips on how to display each piece properly. Although art can be part of virtually any living space, Kreller stressed the importance of matting and framing your art. She encouraged homeowners to diligently research their options to get it just right.
As for the variety of art on display, Kreller said, “In my opinion, each of the artists that joined us was fantastic. As an artist myself, I love to see the expression of each artist, whether it is through photography, painting or any form of sculpture. Each piece displayed was as unique as the artist that created it.”
Besides learning about, viewing and buying art, guests enjoyed tasty bites— poké tuna bowls with Asian slaw and mahi-mahi tacos—from the local food truck Rollin’ Raw Bar.