With the changing of the seasons, so comes the changing of the banners along Main Street in Destin. From sea turtles to beach balls and everything in between the colorful artistic banners depict scenes from the coastal area.
The banners are part of the Destin Banner Art Project headed by Ron Sandstead of Flutterby Antiques.
This is the sixth year for the banner project and all the artwork displayed on each of the banners is done by local artists. This time around, Sandstead had eight new artists submit art for the project.
Cheryl Jones of Gulf Breeze painted a blue heron.
Jones, who has been painting steadily for the past six years, said she chose the heron because they have several around where they live.
“I have one particular that likes to hang around the deck and look in our windows,” Jones said. She did admit the heron probably hangs out because she once gave it a can of sardines.
Jones started painting in high school, and then stopped for about 40 years due to taking care of family and a career.
But about six years ago Jones got back into it and is not happy unless she has a painting of some kind in the works.
And the day her painting of the heron was transformed into a banner and hoisted up on Main Street was a major event.
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“It was very thrilling … the day we all got in a car and went over there to see it happening … I can count that as probably the best single day of my life, except for when I married my husband,” Jones said.
“Just the thrill and the experience and how gratified I felt, having that done, was just amazing,” she said.
“I admire the whole inception of the project,” Jones said
Cynthia Galante of Navarre painted baby turtles.
“I have an affinity for turtles,” Galante said.
She explained that 40 years ago she was in the Caribbean, stationed there in the Navy, they witnessed turtles hatching.
“They didn’t have the education they have now for turtles,” Galante said.
They had a bonfire on the beach at the time the turtles were hatching.
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“We were scrambling around trying to make sure they didn’t go in the fire,” she said.
Since then, she has had an “affinity” for turtles.
Galante said they remind her of home and protection, because “they carry their home on their backs.”
As for the painting, this was her second-ever painting.
“I was really surprised and proud,” she said when it was chosen for the banner project.
She was one of four that came over from the Gulf Breeze area to watch the banners go up.
“We were all just giddy watching them go up,” Galante said.
Sharon Sims, a retired pharmacist, was one of the ladies in the group from Gulf Breeze. She painted a turtle as well.
“That was my fourth painting,” Sims said, noting she is still new to painting.
“I find that it is relaxing … and the people we paint with are so nice,” she said.
Sims tries not to take painting too seriously.
“I just do it, if it doesn’t turn out … do another one,” she said is the attitude she takes.
“I never thought I could paint,” Sims said. And now her son wants to hang the original of her painting his office.
Leslie Durrant, of Destin, painted a beach jar and shells.
She also belongs to a group of painters, but her group meets at the Methodist Church in Destin.
Durrant knew the theme was coastal for the banners.
“So, I thought of what kids do when they come to the beach. Kids like to collect shells and bottles … that’s how it came together,” she said of her painting.
Painting is not new to Durrant.
“I’ve done art since I was a little kid,” she said. But like many others, art took a back seat for family.
About five years ago, the 74-year-old got back into it and is going full force.
As for her banner going up on Main Street, “It is very exciting. Just doing that made me feel important for a while,” Durrant said.
Other artists participating in this round of banners are Jackie Thompson, who painted a silhouette bird; Jennifer Foley, black and white swimsuit; Nancy Moore, beach ball; and Sharon Richards, sailboats.
