Le monde
There is no shortage of beauty in Northwest Florida’s beach communities, but the Emerald Coast Association of Realtors (ECAR) has discovered a way to add just a little bit more splendor to their offices—without spending a penny.
Opposite top: Paintings by Allison Wickey Opposite middle: Painting by Amy Fogg Opposite bottom: Paintings by Tim Ryals
When ECAR was expanding its office space in Santa Rosa Beach, it became obvious very quickly that, due to budget limitations, the beautiful training facility was a bit underwhelming—even with its abundance of natural light and scenic views. That’s when the lightbulb went off, according to 2018 ECAR president Liz McMaster. “We knew we needed some art, so we said, ‘Let’s consign local artwork and see what happens.’” Everyone loved the idea, but the next question was how to execute it and make it happen.
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“We reached out to local artists to see what they thought about the idea,” McMaster says. “We couldn’t believe the response. Everyone was saying that it was a fabulous idea.”
So plans began to turn a plain-walled training center into a real-life art gallery. Unlike a traditional gallery, this space is owned by a nonprofit organization, so there was no financial incentive for ECAR. However, using the space would create an amazing gallery for local artists—especially those who work or live on famed 30-A, a breathtaking stretch of coastal highway just east of Sandestin. From the time discussions began, it took just a week to get most of the walls filled with original pieces from the area’s most influential artists. Some of the works have already sold; others have inspired the commissioning of new pieces. McMaster says the idea of the gallery allows her to combine two of her passions—real estate and art. “I love the art community and try to support them as much as possible,” she relates. “In Phase I of the office, we had a few pieces from Allison Wickey, a top-notch local artist. But when the office was expanded and we had used up our decorating budget, we decided to reach out and see if any artists were interested in the concept. The ECAR board liked the idea and approved us to move forward.”
