Ding Darling FREE Lecture

Daughter speaks about Ikki Matsumoto at ‘Ding’ lecture

Following last year’s publication of the first book ever to chronicle the life and work of legendary

Southwest Florida artist Ikki Matsumoto, Amy Matsumoto Urich addresses “The Captivating Art

and Times of My Father, Ikki Matsumoto” at a free, in-person lecture on Thursday, Feb. 24. It

will take place at The Community House at 2173 Periwinkle Way on Sanibel Island starting at 10

a.m, hosted by the “Ding” Darling Wildlife Society-Friends of the Refuge (DDWS) and

sponsored by Bill and Laurie Harkey.

Ikki, his wife Polly, and daughter Amy – all artists – moved to Sanibel Island in the mid-1970s

and quickly grew involved in the community. Amy attended school on Sanibel and became a part

of the close-knit island community.

“I grew up in the midst of art and creativity,” said Urich, whose Japanese-born father worked in

commercial art, newspaper advertising design, and textbook illustration before moving to

Sanibel. Her most recent efforts resulted in the publication of Captivated: The Art of Ikki

Matsumoto by Steve Saari.

Urich will be signing copies of the coffee-table, limited-edition book, which will be available for

sale that day, following her lecture. It features rare examples of Matsumoto’s nature-inspired,

graphic posters plus family photos.

The two Refuge Nature Stores at “Ding” Darling and 2250 Periwinkle Way on Sanibel are also

carrying a selection of limited-edition framed and unframed Ikki Matsumoto works signed by the

artist, some of which will be available for purchase the day of the lecture.