The First Week Of March All Seashell Roads Lead To Sanibel: So What’s A Shell Show?
Written by: Kathleen HooverPublication Date: March 1, 2009
The excitement has been building and there’s a palpable sense of anticipation in the air. The 72nd Annual Shell Fair and Show is only 6 days away. The Sanibel Shell Fair and Show is hosted by the Sanibel Community Association and the Sanibel-Captiva Shell Club. The 2009 show begins on March 5th and runs through March 7th. The hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Thursday and Friday and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday. There is no charge for the Shell Fair but there is a three dollar admission donation for the Shell Show, which houses the juried artistic and scientific exhibits. Parking is free. The event takes place at the Sanibel Community House which is at
The show consists of two divisions of juried exhibits, scientific and artistic. Amateurs, expert shell collectors and every skill level in between, display single shells or collections of shells in various categories. This year there are 388 exhibits including the scientific and artistic divisions. Much more than simply placing a shell(s) on a display table is involved. Countless hours are spent labeling and arranging shells, conducting research, developing supportive content, and creating display boards.
The artistic division hosts a variety of entry categories. The seemingly endless process of creating an artistic entry begins with developing a design concept, collecting or purchasing the necessary project supplies/shells and then creating the original piece. There are amateur and professional categories in this division as well. Sailor’s valentines are a popular category along with lamps, mirrors, picture frames, jewelry boxes, treasure chests, furniture and floral bouquets of all kinds.
Shell Show entry forms are submitted about a month prior to the show. On the Monday before the shell show opens, exhibitors arrive at the Sanibel Community House to set up their displays. That’s when the judge’s job begins. There are two judges for the scientific division and two for the artistic division. This year’s scientific judges are Emilio F. Garcia, Ph.D. and Harry G. Lee, M.D. and the artistic judges for the 72nd annual event are Anne Joffe of Sanibel Island and Barbara Lawmaster, of
As with most large community events, there is much that goes on behind the scenes. For a year, a committee assembled by the Sanibel-Captiva Shell Club, meets and coordinates the planning and execution of the event, including speaker selection, making the arrangements for the Judges dinner, placing advertising, arranging for publicity, choosing judges, and selecting vendors for the fair.
The shell fair takes place on the grounds of the Sanibel Community House. Those who roam the grounds will find that there is something for everyone including shells and craft items than can be purchased, a live tank sponsored by The Bailey-Matthews Shell Museum and Sanibel School, and fair food like elephant ears and ice cream.
Several days a week for the entire year, dedicated volunteers meet on the grounds of the Sanibel Community House to sort shells donated by shell collectors throughout the community. These shells are sold at the Shell Fair and the proceeds are used to support Sanibel Community House operations. Stephanie Payson is
On March 5th visitors from around the world will converge on Sanibel to enjoy the longest running and largest Shell Show in the country. As Peter Dance indicates in his presentation title, during the first week of March, all seashell roads lead to Sanibel.
SHELL SHOW PARTICIPANTS EXPLAIN WHY THEY HELP WITH OR ENTER THE SHELL SHOW
Barbara Hanson has lived on Sanibel for twenty-five years. She reports that nothing makes her happier than taking a walk on the beach. “I enter the shell show because it’s my way to share with others the beauty and intrigue shells embody. One day as a child I scooped up a live shark’s eyes and their operculum slammed shut. It was then that I realized that an animal created that shell. That’s all it took, I was hooked on shells,” said Hanson.
According to Ethel Sinow, her greatest spiritual revival occurs as she walks the beaches of Sanibel which she has been doing for over 20 years. “This island has a special ambiance that just doesn’t exist anywhere else in our country. I enter the shell show so I can help others to see that there is a rhythm for everything that is scientific; like the size, growth, and structure of shells. I hope that those who attend the show can begin to appreciate the secrets the sea holds,” Sinow reports.
Anne Joffe has experienced the shell show both as a judge and as an exhibitor in both the scientific and artistic division. According to Joffe, “The greatest challenge in the scientific division is just to see if you can be competitive. I enter the craft division because I thoroughly enjoy making something totally unique.”
Hal Pilcher has been a member of the Sanibel-Captiva Shell Club since 1993. “I enter the scientific division of the shell show because I enjoy the competition as well as the opportunity to educate others about the shells of Sanibel,” Picher shared with a quiet enthusiasm. Pilcher has won the self collected Sanibel shells division twice. He’s also carried home several trophies for
Jeff Oths is the General Manager for the Sanibel Community House and Vice-President of the Sanibel-Captiva Shell Club. He moved to Sanibel in 2003 but was a shell collector for over thirty years before arriving on the
Smokey Payson has been shelling since 1949 when his father was stationed in the Keys. The first shells I ever noticed were bleeding teeth. He entered the shell show for the first time in 2005. “In 2001 my wife was seriously injured in an accident. We survived that experience through the wonderful outpouring of gifts of the community. I entered the shell show for the first time in 2005 because I found a very special shell at
Stephanie Payson accompanied her husband when he went to the Sanibel Community House to drop off shells he was donating. “I noticed how much fun they were having so I starting coming along with him. I felt welcomed. Everyone was so accepting and supportive even though my injuries impacted my fine motor skills. Twice a week I go to the Shell Crafters group at the Community House to sort shells which are eventually sold at the Shell Fair. I’ve made so many good friends and learned so much about shells. I have so much fun, those are my favorite two days of the week,” Stephanie said with enthusiasm and joy.
Sue Sprout became a Museum volunteer four years ago. Her job is a labor of love. Every Wednesday morning from January 21st to March 25th, Sue goes to the
Joyce Matthys is best known for her video productions which have enlightened hundreds of thousands of worldwide visitors and students about the “shell makers.” She spent eight years filming her first video release, “Mollusks In Action.” Joyce began shelling in 1988 during a week-long Sanibel vacation and from that point on there was no looking back. She and her husband Ken helped with the Museum opening. Then she began volunteering, first serving at the front desk and then as an education docent working with fourth grade students. “I was completely enamored with mollusks in part because of my background as a radiographer. I discovered that they have most of the same body parts that humans do. I was intrigued by how mollusks moved, protected themselves, ate, . . . I just love sharing this knowledge with others, especially children,” said Joyce. About 5 years ago Joyce entered the shell show for the first time with a fascinating display dealing with Sanibel’s albinistic shells. She won a blue ribbon and a special judge’s award, but more than that, she caught “the shell show fever.” This year you won’t see an entry with her name as since she is serving, as she has the last few years, as the chairperson of the scientific division. “When I am walking by the water, it’s like nothing else exists. I never tire of looking for a new shell or a more perfect specimen than the one I have but even if I don’t find either one of those things it’s still a great day at the beach.”
Irene Longley is the chairperson for the 2009 Shell Fair and Show. Her sister Vivian asked her to take a walk on the beach with her. It was at that moment that her life changed. Shelling became a passion she and Vivian shared, the sisters and the shells were inseparable. Irene became involved with the shell show in 1993 and she began entering the event in 1998. She started off with a bang, winning the COA Award for her display entitled “Treasures of the Sea.” Since that time she has won a long string of awards, including recognition for displays of shells gathered on trips to the
SHELL SHOW AND MUSEUM SCHEDULE
March 4, 2009 The
March 5th – March 7th The Sanibel Shell Fair and Show is hosted by the Sanibel Community Association and the Sanibel-Captiva Shell Club. The hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Thursday and Friday and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday. There is no charge for the Shell Fair but there is a three dollar admission donation for the Shell Show, which houses the juried artistic and scientific exhibits. Parking is free. The event takes place at the Sanibel Community House which is located at
March 6th The Sanibel-Captiva Shell Club and The Bailey-Mathews Shell Museum will host the annual Shell Show Judge’s Program at the Museum on Friday evening, March 6th at 7:30 p.m. The speaker will be scientific judge, Emilio F. Garcia, Ph.D., of
March 8th The
March 9th The Bailey-Matthews Shell Museum 2009 Membership Meeting will be held in the Museum’s auditorium at 10:00 a.m. The Museum is located on