Sea Grape Gallery will be featuring two of their artists, James Beech (watercolor and acrylic artist) and Nancy Giffin (Nantucket basket and Shaker box artist), from March 5 to April 2.
Jim Beech’s background is primarily advertising design, graphic design and marketing communications. While living in New York, he focused on his advertising business. Eventually Jim moved to Canada where he opened a branch of his advertising agency. However, always having a love for painting, he began creating watercolor paintings as time allowed. Upon retiring to Florida, Jim has devoted his retirement to producing art. Having a real love of the outdoors, many of his paintings encompass water, landscapes, boat scenes, and his fascination of old buildings and their unusual character. When creating his art, Jim wants to tell a story and as he says” I want the viewer to see the history in the piece and let the imagination help create a sense of having been there”. Jim’s beautiful paintings truly do tell a story.
Nancy Giffin and her husband moved from Massachusetts to Florida in 1992 and brought with them the knowledge of the Nantucket and Shaker traditions and cultures which abound in Massachusetts. Nancy has always been inspired by American history and with her creativity, Nancy is continuing to preserve this time-honored American tradition by creating replicas of authentic Nantucket baskets and Shaker boxes. As Nancy explains, “I have always loved the creativity, simplicity, and beauty of Shaker furniture and the Shaker oval boxes and by creating my Shaker boxes and Nantucket baskets, I know I am preserving and passing on a unique American tradition”. Nancy’s award-winning baskets and boxes are not only beautiful but functional.
Many of Jim’s paintings and Nancy’s baskets and boxes are prominently on display at the Sea Grape Gallery. In addition, more of their art and the artworks of all Sea Grape artists can be viewed at www.seagrapegallery.com.
The gallery will hold its annual spring madness courtyard sale March 13 and 14 from 10 .am. to 4 p.m.
Sea Grape Gallery is located at 113 W. Marion Ave., Punta Gorda, and can be reached at 941-575-1718. In addition to its regular hours, the gallery is always open until 8 p.m. during downtown Punta Gorda’s Third Thursday Wine Walk.
