Sea Grape Gallery President Renee Farr presided over a reception and ribbon-cutting ceremony Jan. 30, marking the fifth time the gallery has reopened following a catastrophic event.
The artists’ cooperative gallery opened in 1988 in downtown Punta Gorda. Through the years, it was forced to close following hurricanes Charley, Ian, Helene and Milton and during the COVID-19 pandemic, Farr said.
The event was attended by the public, artists and members and supporters of the Punta Gorda Chamber of Commerce, who have been attending other reopenings throughout the area following hurricanes Helene and Milton.
Artist Barbara Albin, the gallery’s president during Hurricane Charley in 2004, said flooding from hurricanes Helene and Milton was unlike anything the gallery ever experienced.
While Helene brought in about 2 to 3 feet of floodwater, Milton’s muddy water rose about 4 feet from the floor.
Although Sea Grape’s landlord is responsible for the structure and roof, the gallery owns the furniture and display cases, which are insured. However, artists are responsible for insuring their art.
The gallery lost $11,000 in furniture and display cases. Meanwhile, many artists lost their creations during Hurricane Helene because “nobody took anything out,” Farr said.
Albin’s matted originals, which were stacked in a floor shelf, were destroyed, along with her custom cards.
Artist Bob Rioux lost his kaleidoscopes, some of which sold for hundreds of dollars.Artist Beverly Yankwitt said Rioux, a seasonal resident, will not be returning to the gallery.
Following Hurricane Helene, the artists returned to the gallery and removed anything salvageable and dry. The furniture, display cases and pedestals were not removed.
Albin remembered Hurricane Charley caused the gallery to miss an entire tourist season. Fortunately, the gallery’s closure following the back-to-back hurricanes was much more brief.
After Milton flooded the gallery Oct. 14, the artists banded together to reopen their enclave.
Improvisation played a large part, and Sea Grape Gallery was able to participate in the downtown Christmas tree lighting event, which is on the other side of Marion Avenue from the gallery.
Since Sea Grape had no display shelves in December, tables were set up with black tablecloths on which the art was displayed, Farr said.
By its appearance, the newly constructed gallery looks none the worse after the recent hurricanes, due in part to the creativity of its owners and the artists, including Perry Thompson, who created two wood and glass display cases in the shapes of fish and seahorses.
Farr thanked everyone for coming to the gallery and said, “Let’s do this for another 36 years.”