How To Make Art With Your Sanibel Shells
How to make art with your Sanibel shells! Local shell artist Ginny Dickinson knows all about it! Ginny is not your typical shell artist. For many years she was an extremely successful businesswoman. She held leadership positions in top companies such as City Mattress and Robb & Stucky.
When she turned 50, Ginny decided to pursue 50 things she had never done before. She had boxes and boxes of shells accumulated through years of fanatical collecting. She decided, it was time to do some shell art and wow, Ginny went for it. Ginny has created several stunning pieces including a manatee and seahorse.
Her work has been displayed around Sanibel and Fort Myers airport. Some pieces have been auctioned off to help various local charities. Her latest creation, a huge heart, will be on display at the upcoming 85th Annual Shell Festival.
Check out podcast #44 where Ginny tells us about her inspirational journey from the boardroom to the studio.
2022 Sanibel Shell Show
The Annual Sanibel Shell Festival is in its 85th year! Held at the Sanibel Community House, the festival attracts shell enthusiasts from all over. It is the largest and longest-running shell festival in the world! There are shell crafting contests both for the novice and the expert, scientific exihibits, live mollusk tanks, shell art, and a wealth of information that serves to inspire and educate. The festival is free however, there is an admission price of $5 if you want to see the artistic & scientific exhibits inside the building. The festival is held every year on the first Thursday, Friday and Saturday in March. This year (2022) it will be held on March 3, 4 & 5.
The Shell Show was started by the founder of the Island Inn, Harriet (Granny) Matthews. She and her husband moved to Sanibel from Kentucky and she loved collecting shells. She held the fist shell show on the porch of the inn in 1937. The fair continued to develop and eventually, had grown so much that it moved to the Sanibel Community House where it remains today.
Want to know more about shelling? Find out about the Sanibel Six or Sanibel’s most sought-after shell the Junonia!
Major enthusiast? Learn all about the Sanibel-Captiva Shell Club!
