Pine Island artist Mel Meo will open the Gallery @ Pine Island Community Church on Friday, Jan. 10, 2020.

The gallery will be open from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., with a premier party open to the public from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. with smoked mullet, homemade food, libations and raffle prizes.

Mel Meo, a prolific artist who owned Mel Meo Studio in Bokeelia from 1994 to 2014, is managing the Pine Island Community Church Thrift Store and will showcase her work and talents for transforming cast-offs into treasures in the gallery. Proceeds from the gallery will support the work of the Pine Island Community Church.

Meo said the idea to create a gallery within the thrift store was born when a book was donated to the store about the late artist Robert Rauschenberg. He was known for using non-traditional materials and items in his work.

“I said, ‘Thanks, Bob, you would get this!’” said Meo, who has been living on Pine Island for more than 40 years. “The whole idea was born to repurpose stuff and turn it into art to make the store more profitable, which also helps the community. It’s my dream job — painting, recycling, creating and serving the community, all under one gigantic roof.”

Meo will offer classes to teach others how to paint and repurpose furniture. The gallery will be at 5320 Doug Taylor Circle, St. James City. The gallery is open when the thrift store is open, Monday-Saturday, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday services with Heidi Grueser are at 10 a.m. For information visit pineislandcommunitychurch.com or call 239-283-9944.

About Mel Meo

Mel Meo’s art reflects the peace she has found on Pine Island over more than 40 years. Her painting is eclectic and exuberant, bursting forth through an astounding variety of mediums and surfaces, always exhibiting her spirituality and sense of humor in watercolors, painted furniture, silk-screened clothing and much more. Her art is all at once whimsical, cheerful and tropically colorful. For information, visit melmeoart.com, or call 239-283-0236.