Home For The Holidays

A special exhibition in celebration of the holiday season, showcasing the work of fiber artist Mary Jane Amato, basketry artist Mary Bower, and furniture artist Jim Rivers, will open at Butterfield Garage Art Gallery during the First Friday Art Walk, December 4, with an opening reception from 5 to 9 p.m.   Nothing speaks of home more than a handcrafted quilt, and Mary Jane Amato’s stunning art quilts — featuring geometric forms in many colors, fabrics, and textures — are a focal point in homes across the country.  A graduate of UCLA with a degree in fashion design, textiles and clothing, Amato has taught quilting throughout northeast Florida and her work has received many awards at local and national shows.  Mary Bower learned pine needle basketry from a Creek woman who was a master of the traditional Native American art form.  For her baskets, bracelets, and “doodads,”  Bower collects pine needles in the forests of Florida, then cleans, dries, and dyes them brilliant colors.  Her basket bottoms may be stamped leather, quahog shells, ceramics, car reflectors, cigar box parts, amberlite, sea glass, faux turquoise, stones, painted wood circles, walnut rounds or gourds. Each piece is unique. She has exhibited widely, and weaves baskets while enjoying the ever-changing view from her houseboat on the St. Johns River near Satsuma. Often called “The Wizard of Wood,” Jim Rivers is a self-styled artist who sees art in every fallen tree in the Florida woods.  Beginning with rough logs, he carves, sands, and handcrafts distinctive tables, benches and chairs — useful sturdy pieces that are also amazing works of art.  In crafting his furniture, Rivers pays special attention to the grain of the wood, exquisitely exposing the imperfections and knotholes as examples of the beauty in nature. His work is in collections throughout the region.  For further information, call, visit the website or contact Jan Miller at janmille@bellsouth.net.