Don't miss a photo of "Captivating Captiva," the mural adorning the library wall at the Captiva Civic Association (CCA). Founded by homesteading women as a library, the CCA has served the island for nearly a century, acting as as a hub for civic and cultural life and fulfilling its mission to preserve community memory, dialogue, and the island’s natural beauty for future generations. 

Drawing from historical photographs and artistic interpretation, Ben Keller’s "Captivating Captiva" offers a window into the island’s past, honoring the island's heritage and natural beauty. It invites you to step back to a time when early settlers arrived to a lush, abundant landscape of turquoise waters, swaying vegetation, and quiet sailboats moving through sunlit bays.    

The mural reminds us that Captiva exists at the intersection of past and present, and that stewardship of the island is a shared responsibility for future generations. Symbolism deepens this message through the great blue heron, revered in many Indigenous traditions as a messenger of wisdom and balance between water and sky, and a reflection of ecological health. The artist’s mirrored lotus, his signature mark, represents emergence, reflection, and renewal, offering a hopeful expression for a community healing and transforming after the storms.