The Sebastian River Art Club has, for most of its 75 years, been known not only for its creative, artistic endeavors and various open-to-the-public art classes, but also for its strong dedication to community outreach.
Historically, explained club President Judy McNamara, it has provided support, through paintings, money and volunteer time, to numerous community service entities and, for the past seven years, has presented its annual Rosalee Taylor Hume Scholarship to a local student.
More recent beneficiaries of the art club’s artistic community service have been the Sebastian River Moose Lodge #1767 and Indian River Habitat for Humanity.
The Moose Lodge, on U.S. 1 in Micco, invited the art club to paint a lagoon scene on the front of its building, which was unadorned and in need of brightening. Moose members wanted something that would include the Indian River Lagoon and, of course, their majestic symbol. The art club was, as usual, happy to oblige and submitted several concepts. From these, lodge members choose the final design and, during many creative, paint-splattered hours last month, the artists completed the mural, giving the lodge a colorful and distinctive new look.
“The mural is just beautiful. We couldn’t be happier,” said Lodge Governor Jim Gleason. “We were lucky to have such talented local artists work with us. The mural brings color and energy to our property, and adds visual enjoyment for all residents, since its location is so visible from U.S. 1 and the lagoon.”
“It was a pleasure to work on this joint project,” added Art Club President McNamara. “We had fun meeting the Moose membership and bringing art to them.”
The Sebastian River Art Club Cultural Art Center is located at 1245 Main Street in Sebastian, and is open to the public Tuesday, Thursdays, and Saturdays, 11 am to 3 pm. The club conducts various art classes and holds art shows in Riverview Park monthly from November through April.
Member Norwood Stanhope recently approached the club about helping Indian River Habitat for Humanity. “Many of our artists wanted to donate paintings,” McNamara says.
The initial idea was to provide paintings for the interiors of Habitat homes which the non-profit provides for families in need in Indian River County (including those in the North County Habitat community of Grace Meadows in Fellsmere). Stanhope, however, learned that Habitat does not decorate the interiors of the homes it provides, but leaves that to the new homeowners.
Instead, Stanhope was referred to Sheradi Monroe, General Manager of Habitat’s fundraising arm, the Habitat Home Center ReStore, which does carry, among a broad range of furniture, electronics, building supplies, tools and appliances, lots of home décor items.
Working with Stanhope, Monroe was delighted to determine that the art works could be utilized both in the ReStore’s monthly Silent Auction (the most recent one closed May 2), and also on the sales floor, enhancing the home décor section with original paintings from local artists.
The artists whose works were part of the Silent Auction and/or are currently available for sale as part of Habitat’s home décor offerings are, besides McNamara and Stanhope themselves, Rosina Carosa, Kathy Costa, Mary Rahmig, Joan H. Riley, Lee Gorman Smith, Shirley Warwick, Lois Woodrum, Vito Derasmo, Ann Emery, Maureen Fitzpatrick, Bill Flaherty, Joan Riley and Grace Savage.
“Indian River Habitat for Humanity Home Center ReStore is thrilled to partner with the Sebastian River Art Club to showcase local artists from our county in a Silent Auction and Art Show,” Monroe said. “We were blessed beyond measure when the members decided to donate their artwork to help us serve more families. Proceeds from the sale of the 60-plus pieces of art both in the auction and the store will provide decent housing for needy families. I want to thank the entire membership for the generous donation.
“It is not too late to purchase some of the artwork, experience the variety of artistic styles, treasure hunt for bargains, and meet great people at our store who volunteer,” Monroe added.
The Home Center ReStore is open daily 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
