Sigrid Style

Compulsively Creative...a new gallery in Florida.

Posted by Sigrid Olsen on January 09, 2011 8 Comments

Curtis and I were just in Sarasota to attend a dear friend/business associate's memorial service a week ago. The day was overcast, but beautiful...gentle breeze and a hint of sparkling sun on the bay as we sat in the shelter of ancient banyan trees and palms at the local Botanical Gardens. Slowly we became enchanted with Sarasota...a place that had never really appealed to me before. The idea of opening a  southern location for my gallery had been percolating for a few years, as we shuttled ourselves back and forth between Massachusetts and Mexico or the Caribbean during the winter months in search of a tropical getaway. The escape was great , especially for the first couple of years after exiting my hectic stress-filled world of fashion and business. But now that I have begun to shape a life for myself that is more relaxed, integrated and healthy, I find myself itching for a new creative challenge. My retreats grew in part out of this restlessness, as well as a desire to connect with women around the country who share a love for the outdoors and a hunger for a healthy, happy life.

Well, now I have a happy,healthy life and my inner "compulsive creative" has been on the look out for some action. In 2008, I left my fashion line behind and poured myself into developing my art website and gallery. In 2009 we opened a second store in our art colony, ISLA beach house where we spotlight clothing and accessories we have purchased to reflect our love of the island lifestyle. I also established my Inspiration Retreats during that year. 2010 was a "maintenance" year without any new projects surfacing. There were a few things in the works but nothing really new happened last year, despite my trying.

I said goodbye to 2010 one night with my favorite book group friends and we performed a quick outdoor ritual ( it was snowy) of writing down things we wanted to let go of and also our wishes for the new year on slips of paper that we then tossed into the fire pit. Without disclosing either of my scribblings, my desire for new creative challenges has been met.

In Sarasota we wandered around and found the artsy Burns Court district on the advice of a very hip and well-traveled friend who lives there. My first impulse in a new area is always to seek out a yoga studio and so I did. We had an instant rapport with Robin, the owner of Yoga SRQ who is not only a new friend, but our new neighbor. We signed a lease yesterday on a space right next door for our second location of the SIGRID OLSEN art gallery and ISLA design studio. We plan to open sometime in February (yes this February!) with a showcase for my artwork, cards, prints, ceramics, artfully mixed with textile prints, home furnishings and a splash of wearables.

My one concern as we contemplated a new location was to find a community that we love as much as Rocky Neck. Feeling connected with people is important to me and already we have met so many wonderful, interesting locals that have welcomed us with open arms. This new enterprise has unfolded effortlessly...that tells me we are in for some fun! And plenty of opportunity to be compulsively creative.